To say the least, I found the opening chapters of this book...confusing. Mainly, the abundance of Catherines was what I had trouble wrapping my head around. Either way, I felt very badly for poor Lockwood, threatened by dogs on multiple occasions, made to walk through a blizzard by himself, and being having the life scared out of him by the ghost of a Catherine, and getting thrown into the mix of the complex relationships and emotions at Wuthering Heights. The guy must not have had many options for himself (ha!).
While, at first, I found Heathcliff to be unfairly cruel and mean-spirited, but after considering how Hindley and Mrs. Earnshaw thought of him and treated him, how could you really expect much different an outcome? And, after all the further foul treatment of Heathcliff by everyone, I don't blame him one bit for wanting revenge on Hindley. I'm sure he takes delight in watching Hindley drink himself to death, and Hindley deserves so. His abuse toward his family and servants is completely uncalled for, especially when he accidentally (not that it matters) drops Hareton over the banister (81).
There aren't really any subtle tones of racism in this book. It's just kind of in-your-face-bro and serves as a reminder that, in those times, locking the black kid in the attic was the normal thing to do. WTF?
You made me laugh out loud sir. It is very sad that the "normal" thing to do was to treat other races unjustly. That is why I feel for Heathcliff so much. His bitterness is bread from his mistreatment, so I do not blame him one bit for not like Hindley.
ReplyDeleteThe parts about the Catherine's confused me as well, but reading further it all makes sense. Even the use of the name Catherine is symbolic, to what effect I'm not 100% sure yet.
The beginning was indeed a dozy for me also. I had to read it a couple of time just to understand where I was. I don't believe there is a tone of racism either. I just think everyone was not use to his dark skin. Why would anybody treat a guess in that manner was my big question, until the story began to exposed to happenings around that time.
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