[WH] - Oh, you're bad.

"Is Mr. Heathcliff a man?  If so is he mad?  And if not, is he a devil?" (pg 118).

This was in Isabella's letter to Ellen and I'm embarrassed to say this, but I was wondering the same thing for awhile now.  I mean, let me remind you of the direct characterization from earlier in the novel.

"But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living.  He is a dark-skinned gypsy aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire" (pg 3).

I cannot help but see the word "gentleman" and laugh.  Did he not just almost pull and Othello and crush the life out of Cathy after she told him how much she loved him?  Heathcliff can be described in so many ways that he reigns supreme thus far as the most confusing character that I have ever had the misfortune to read about.  I suppose that is the definition of a round character, so congratulations Heathcliff, you won a literary term in your honor that was not hubris, but if you did get one of those it would be jealousy.

Heathcliff reminds me a bit of the Frankencreature (yes, I have now made two references in the same blog) in that I cannot really decide if I find his evil qualities kind of exciting since without them the story would be absolutely awful or if I hate him because he clearly has a heart, but chooses to put it on the back burner to be a blood thirsty monster.

Let me explain (cause you know, that's what I am being graded on... wit and analysis)

• Heathcliff clearly has much hate after sending dogs at Lockwood and nearly physically killing Catherine after she said that she had so many feelings for him.  He also had the indecency of putting Nelly in such an awkward position probably would have gnawed her head off in the garden had she stayed any longer afterwards.
• He is obviously a very loving person though judging by his pure emotions that he showed for Catherine (I think).  Not only did he love her so much that it drove him to insanity that he could not have her (like a teenager when she realizes she can't be with Justin Beaver), but he stood outside her window and knew before being told that she had died.  Obviously I do not know his true motive, but I like to give all evil people who were thought to be devils a benefit of the doubt that his intention was out of love and not revenge to kill her if she lived.

Now is it ironic that she just happened to have her baby two months premature and name it Cathy later or is this what the rest of the plot will be because both seem like a pretty lame cop out to add another 150 pages to this boring story.

Here is an entire song dedicated to my favorite literary term to think that any sentence is (Note: This is a cover because covers are more fun than the original).

[WH] - Catherine, Catherine, Catherine...

"This writing, however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small- Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton" (page 15).

Everyone knows the old Brady Bunch episode entitled "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha," but I never would have guessed that the director stole the idea from the world's most confusing love story known to man.  There is no worse feeling than reading the first few chapters of a novel and have barely any clue where the plot is heading than to go to Sparknotes for aid and read...

This blog will be dedicated to me trying to understand the entire cast and crew of the horrific tale of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange through the direct characterizations hidden throughout the novel... and I mean hidden.  Obviously it would not be a Max Browning blog unless it was all depicted in a bulleted list, because let us all be honest now.  The only thing better than a bulleted list is fonts that have serifs such as in Wuthering Heights (which was probably the sole reason for me choosing the novel anyways).

• Lockwood - He seems to be a narrator who does not actually narrate, but rather was used by Bronte as an outcast who shows us the inner workings of this family feud.  The effect of this strange narration style will be analyzed in another blog because it is the strangest thing I have ever seen.
• Heathcliff = Mr. Heathcliff - First described as a gentleman, he later is called the devil and asked if he is a human.  I think he loves Catherine, but his actions seem to contradict this love for her so I am not really sure if he is just overwhelmingly jealous or what.  Iago 2.0 would be a nice plot twist to this novel.
• Nelly Dean - I did not think initially that she would be important, but I think she is telling Lockwood what she has experienced through the years on Wuthering Heights.
• Mr. Linton - Marries Catherine, but he does not actually love her as much as Heathcliff so I think that he is the antagonist.  He and Heathcliff have external conflicts of love and jealousy for Catherine.

Did I mention this novel confuses me?