Novel: Wuthering Heights ENG4U105/Joanna Lu

Double Entry Journals | Five Key MomentsTheories: Marxist, Feminist, PsychoanalyticQuotation & ContextAnalysis Connection to either Marxism, Feminism, and/or Psychoanalytic theory

It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because hes handsome, Nelly, but because hes more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same and [Edgars] is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire.[Chapter 9]

Context:This quotation was Catherines speech to Nelly about her acceptance of Edgars proposal. After Heathcliff hears Catherine say this, he leaves Wuthering Heights. Edgar Linton is very high up in terms of social class, and by Catherine marrying him, she would similarly obtain the status of the greatest woman in the neighbourhood.

(Nelly is the housekeeper and the narrator that shares her point of view throughout the story.)The significance of this quote can be related to two theories: Marxism and the Jungian Theory. In relation to the Marxism Theory, it can be seen that Catherine is torn between authenticity and social convention (Thampi 87) based on an article regarding Marxism and the Literary Criticism. This quotation explains the authenticity Catherine feels towards Heathcliff, but her ultimately decision to accept Edgars proposal shows that there is an underlying issue regarding who is a better fit for her. Evidently there is a social class divide between the two male, where status is valued similar to the gap between the proletariats and bourgeoisie outlined in the Marxism theory. Edgar evidently controls more of the means of production and thus catches more of Catherines eyes. Catherine has very old social ideologies where she believes that marriage should benefit more than just individual feelings, but also social class. The marriage between Catherine and Edgar would result for her to become the greatest woman in the neighbourhood.

In relation to the Jungian theory, this quotation speaks to the characters bonding on a psychological level where Catherine speaks to whatever our souls are made of. Souls can be related back to an individuals individuation the process of becoming an individual separated by other based on fully realized differences. Evidently, Catherine believes to have understood the individuation attributes of herself, Heathcliff and Edgar. The soul can also speak to all aspects of the psyche including the shadow which also affects who we are in our souls.

Mr. Hindley came home to the funeral; and a thing that amazed us, and set the neighbours gossiping right and left he brought a wife with him. What she was, and where she was born, he never informed us: probably, she had neither money nor name to recommend her, or he would scarcely have kept the union from his father.[Chapter 6]

Context:

Frances joins the unwelcoming Earnshaw clan. Though unknown and without family or fortune (just like Heathcliff), she has managed to win Hindley's affections. Curiously, this is one of the only mentions of neighbors. She is greeted with no affections as the her past is muddy and her whereabouts in terms of family is unknown.

Similar to the first quotation, this can be analyzed through two lenses: The Feminism Theory and the Marxism Theory.As Wuthering Heights takes places in the 16th century, where society was dominated by social conventions regarding status, gender, wealth and more, there were many limitations for the people at the time especially women. In this quotation, it outlines the shock and disruption of social norms as Mr. Hindley brought a wife with him. Mr. Hindley evidently has very high views of Frances and has won over his affections; however because of this almost equal viewing and her joining of the Earnshaw clan she is only met with disapproval. She is seen as the other in terms of feminism lens, where she is an outcaste based on her gender and economic conditions.

In terms of the Marxism theory, Frances economic background is addressed with distain in this quotation. Social status is something that is normally flaunted and shared in the introductory phases when meeting other individuals. Social status is associated with class, and thus more respect is gained for the individual. However, in this quotation, it outlines that there is an automatic degradation of Frances as she does not explain her economic situation immediately. Her family did not control the means of production as bourgeoisie, rather, they are proletariats; thus not matching the theme of higher class individuals found in the rest of the Earnshaw clan.

"Were I in your place, I would frame high notions of my birth; and the thoughts of what I was should give me courage and dignity to support the oppressions of a little farmer!"[Chapter 7]

Context:

Nelly speaks in this quotation as she attempts to provide Heathcliff with advice as he does not know where he is from. As social class is such an important factor, she advises him to dream of an noble and exotic background for himself, rather than the oppressions of a little farmer.

Using Marxism lens, this quotation speaks to the value of class in a background within the society. As Heathcliff does not know where he is from, Nellys advice is to imagine himself coming from a bourgeoisie family rather than that of a proletariat that would not have to suffer the oppressions of a little farmer. Thampi speaks to Emily Brontes novels about the recurrent ideologically oriented categorical structure of roles, values and relations which function as the primary mediation between the novels and social reality. This secondary source speaks to the reflectionism involved in the novel as the novel highlights the social reality of the constant belittlement of the proletariats and the over-appraising of the bourgeoisie. It is shown as the advice and speech all revolve around class, something every individual in the novel yearns for.