Gothic Elements in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights
Gothic Elements in Emily Brontë’s *Wuthering Heights*
**”Wuthering Heights”** is the only novel of English author Emily Brontë (1818-1848). It was first published in 1847 under the author’s pen name, Ellis Bell. Although contemporary critics considered the novel controversial because of its mental and physical cruelty, nowadays, “Wuthering Heights” is a classic of 19th-century literature.
Gothic Influence in *Wuthering Heights*
Whether or not *Wuthering Heights* should be classified as a Gothic novel, it undeniably contains Gothic elements.
As Mary Ellen Snodgrass wrote in her book, *Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature*: “‘Wuthering Heights’ was the forerunner of Gothic ghost tales that built intensity through sensational revelation of character, fascinating details, and shifting fortunes.”
Gothic Characters: Heathcliff and Isabella
For example, in *Wuthering Heights*, Emily created a typical Gothic character, the villain-hero called Heathcliff, and also a typical Gothic female character, Isabella. All the criteria of good and evil in the real world had lost their values for Heathcliff. Sometimes depressed and sometimes fiery and brutal, he was treated unjustly while being distorted by revenge. His evilness was not in his nature but caused by his origin and the environment. The revenge he put into force was extremely devastating and rebellious. However, Isabella is pure, innocent, romantic, and totally helpless when she was maltreated. Being beautiful, sensitive, and naive, she was seduced, caged, and tortured by Heathcliff. She finally escaped and raised her son by herself, dying miserably and sacrificed for Heathcliff’s revenge.
Supernatural and Uncanny Atmosphere
Also, in *Wuthering Heights*, the gloomy and horrible color of the Gothic story is manifested in different ways. Dreams are mentioned throughout *Wuthering Heights* by Emily Brontë, but the dreams that stand out the most are the pair of nightmares that Lockwood has. The scary ghost, the bloody hand, the broken window, or the pale face outside all contribute to the uncanny atmosphere Emily created. At the end of the novel, some supernatural phenomena, like the wandering ghosts of the couple, also contribute to the Gothic color.
Beyond Gothic: Romantic and Naturalistic Elements
Emily Brontë wanted to present much more than the Gothic elements used throughout the novel. Being realistic, romantic, and naturalistic, Emily is dedicated to telling a story with strong feelings and drawing resonance with the readers. Brontë uses the elements of the old traditional Gothic novels yet depicts deeper feelings and strong emotions for a higher purpose.
The Setting: English Moors and Wuthering Heights
In addition to the typical Gothic characters, there are also the scary and horrible atmospheres that appear throughout the novel and are typical of Gothic stories. The story happens on the harsh and uncultivated English moors. The setting, which is often depicted as dangerous and confusing, contributes to the dark mood and tone of the novel. In the novel, Heathcliff’s home in the English moors is named Wuthering Heights. The strong house is like a castle or a dungeon, which appears in most Gothic novels, and makes readers shiver before knowing what happens inside. The word “Wuthering” vividly delivers the terrible, wild, and windy weather on the moors. The whole of Wuthering Heights is like an old, decadent painting, cold and lifeless.
Weather as a Gothic Element
Finally, there are many descriptions of the weather in the novel, too, which are another example of the Gothic genre. When the narrator, Lockwood, arrives, Heathcliff emphasizes the dangerous landscape when he mentions the weather. He tells Lockwood, “I wonder you should select the thick of a snowstorm to ramble about in. Do you know that you run a risk of being lost in the marshes? People familiar with these moors often miss their road on such evenings…” Lockwood, weather-bound, spends a terrifying night at Wuthering Heights. He can’t understand the residents because of their inhospitable behavior, which parallels the inhospitable weather and setting. We have other examples of Gothic style expressed through the weather: when Heathcliff disappears, a tree is struck by lightning; when Catherine is buried, there is a storm; or when Cathy decides to marry Edgar, there is another storm.