Bronte uses the character of Cathy (Elder) to suggest that we cannot always follow out hearts and that unbridled passion can lead to destruction. To what extent do you agree?

Essay by bridgettecHigh School, 12th grade October 2014

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Bronte uses the character of Cathy (Elder) to suggest that we cannot always follow out hearts and that unbridled passion can lead to destruction. To what extent do you agree?

In Emily Bronte's novel "Wuthering Heights", Bronte contrasts two parallel love stories to demonstrate the consequences of following ones head, over heart. Through defiance of Catherines heart, toxic consequences resulted, ultimately ending in the tragic ending of Catherine's life. Bronte uses Catherine Earnshaw Linton as an example to show what following ideals, over love can lead to destruction, evident through revenge, and subsequently, death. However, whilst this ending may have been avoidable through different decisions made by characters, Bronte also emphasises the importance of social class, and its influence on relationship choices. There is also great importance in the love story of Hareton and Cathy, that ultimately restores faith in the power of love, ignorant to the importance of social class.

Bronte employs Catherine's decision to marry Edgar, despite her condemning passion for Heathcliff to demonstrate that cannot always follow our hearts, which was often evident in the 1800's. Catherine's desire to be the "greatest woman of the neighbourhood" overruled her "love for Heathcliff (that) resembles the external rocks", thus establishing the importance of love in contrast to wealth and social standing. Catherine and Edgar love is proper and civilised, opposed to Heathcliff and Catherine's all consuming love for each other. This contrast in love can be considered a point that Bronte was trying to make in her novel, by empowering the love for Edgar opposed to Heathcliff. This was to demonstrate how love can be avoided, and in Catherine's case, she did so by cheating her "uncomfortable conscience" through convincing herself Heathcliff "does not know what being inlove is" to justify her choice. This decision dictates the events...