Oppressiveness of Society Exposed in Emily Jane Brontes Wuthering Heights :: Emily Jane Brontes Wuthering Heights

Oppressiveness of Society Exposed in Emily Jane Brontes Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights, the creation of Emily Jane Bronte, depicts not a thaumaturgy realm nor the depths of hell. Rather, the novels focuses ontwo main characters battle with the restrictions of VictorianSociety. Societal pressures and restrictive cultural confines exileCatherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff from the world and then from eachother. The humbug commences in the desolate moors of Yorkshire, home ofthe estate Wuthering Heights. True to its setting, the novel developsCatherine and Heathcliff as mischievous children who wander theisolated bogs, separating themselves from the activities of WutheringHeights. Catherines childhood exile stems from her lack of respectwith the rules concerning the conduct of a Victorian lady. As a child,her father was too ill to reprimand the free spirited child, who wastoo mischievous and wayward for a favourite.(33). Therefore,Catherine grew up among nature and lacked the sophistication of highsociety. Catherine removed herself from society and,had ways with her such as I never saw a child channelize upbefore she put all of us past our patiencefifty times and oftener in a day...we had not a minutes securitythat she wouldnt be in mischief. Her spirits were always athigh-water mark, her tongue always going--singing, laughing, andplaguing everyone who would not do the same. A wild, flagitious slipshe was--(37). Catherine further disregarded social standards andremained friends with Heathcliff despite his degradation by Hindley,her brother. Miss Cathy and he Heathcliff were now very thick(33)and she found her sole consumption in his companionship. Catherine grewup beside Heathcliff, in the fields. They both promised to grow up asrude as savages the young master Hindley being entirely negligenthow they behaved,(40-41). During her moldable years Catherinesconduct did not reflect that of a young Lady, and one of their chiefamusements was to run away to the moors in the morning and remain in that respect all day,(41). Thus, Catherines behavior developed and rejectedthe ideals of an oppressive, over-bearing society, which in turncreated an isolation from the institutionalized world. The two existedon their private island unchecked until Catherine suffers an injuryfrom the Lintons bulldog. Forced to remain at Thrushcross Grange, theLintons home, after her injury, isolates Catherine from Heathcliff andher former world of reckless freedom. Living amongst the elegance ofthe Lintons transforms Catherine from a coarse youth into a falliblelady. However, sublimation into Victorian society does not fit her