Wuthering Heights, the only novel written by Emily Bronte, is considered one of the masterpieces in English literature. The novel was published when the Romantic Age was taken over from Realism. It still reflected the British’s society during the Victorian era, albeit this novel was written in the Romantic style. Wuthering Heights touches upon many issues in the society during the 19th century. Today, there have been studies about Wuthering Heights in many aspects such as setting, characters, the love and revenge between Catherine and Healthcliff. In 1992, Peterson referred to Sigmund Feud’s claim in his work that understanding human psychology can help people appreciate works of literature more. Basing on Freud’s theory, it is possible to apply the knowledge in psychology to explain change in character’s psyche and behaviors. Therefore, the writer has decided to examine the novel in terms of characters from psychological perspective. In this study, the researcher aims at analyzing the reasons why the main characters are isolated and finding the influences of isolation on people’s life presented in the novel. After completing this study, it can be seen that, the characters in the novel experience isolation and loneliness imposed by other people as well as by themselves. In addition, the isolation has big influences on characters’ lives, personalities, and behaviors. It also causes them troubles in maintaining relationships with people. Therefore, their lives are despaired and miserable.
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATION PAPER ISOLATION AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON THE CHARACTERS IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY EMILY BRONTE Supervisor: Đỗ Thu Hương M.A Student: Kiều Thị Hà Course: QH2010.F1.E1 HÀ NỘI - 2014 ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH KHÓA LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP SỰ CÔ LẬP VÀ NHỮNG ẢNH HƯỞNG TÂM LÝ CỦA NÓ TỚI CÁC NHÂN VẤT TRONG TIỂU THUYẾT ĐỒI GIÓ HÚ CỦA EMILY BRONTE Giáoviênhướngdẫn: Đỗ Thu Hương M.A Sinhviên: Kiều Thị Hà Khóa: QH2010.F1.E1 Ha noi May, 2014 Signatures of Approval: _________________________________________________________________ Supervisor _________________________________________________________________ Second Grader ACCEPTANCE I hereby state that I: Kiều Thị Hà, QH2010. F1.E1 being a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (TEFL) accept the requirements of the College relating to the retention and use of Bachelor’s Graduation Paper deposited in the library. In terms of these conditions, I agree that the origin of my paper deposited in the library should be accessible for the purposes of study and research, in accordance with the normal conditions established by the librarian for the care, loan or reproduction of the paper. Signature Date: 05/05/2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I have taken efforts in this study. However, it would not have been possible without the tremendous support and help of individuals. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to my honor supervisor, Ms. Đỗ Thu Hương, for her guide, advice and suggestions as well as correction during the course of my writing. Secondly, I would like to express my gratitude to my close friend for helping me get access to necessary information regarding the topic and their support in completing the study. Thirdly, my thanks go to Ms. Nguyễn Huyền Ly for her comment and corrective feedback on my work. Last but not least, I also would like to thank my family for their indispensable support and encouragement. Therefore, it is possible to state that without the help from the aforementioned people, this paper would never have been finished 6 ABSTRACT Wuthering Heights, the only novel written by Emily Bronte, is considered one of the masterpieces in English literature. The novel was published when the Romantic Age was taken over from Realism. It still reflected the British’s society during the Victorian era, albeit this novel was written in the Romantic style. Wuthering Heights touches upon many issues in the society during the 19 th century. Today, there have been studies about Wuthering Heights in many aspects such as setting, characters, the love and revenge between Catherine and Healthcliff. In 1992, Peterson referred to Sigmund Feud’s claim in his work that understanding human psychology can help people appreciate works of literature more. Basing on Freud’s theory, it is possible to apply the knowledge in psychology to explain change in character’s psyche and behaviors. Therefore, the writer has decided to examine the novel in terms of characters from psychological perspective. In this study, the researcher aims at analyzing the reasons why the main characters are isolated and finding the influences of isolation on people’s life presented in the novel. After completing this study, it can be seen that, the characters in the novel experience isolation and loneliness imposed by other people as well as by themselves. In addition, the isolation has big influences on characters’ lives, personalities, and behaviors. It also causes them troubles in maintaining relationships with people. Therefore, their lives are despaired and miserable. 7 TABLE OF CONTENT 8 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1. Statement of research question Wuthering Heights is the only novel written by Emily Bronte and it is considered one of the masterpieces in English literature. The novel was published when the Romantic Age was taken over from Realism. Although this novel was written in the Romantic style, it still reflected the British’s society during the Victorian era. Like other literary works of this period, this masterpiece is also set in a new conventional context when a brand new flow of moral values is stemmed from the Industrial Revolution (Shapiro, 1969). Considered a social novel, Wuthering Heights touches upon the class structure and the treatise on women’s role in society as well. Bronte also mentioned other matters in society at that time such as the effects of racism on people’s relationships, social class and spouse selection. The social and cultural contexts of the novel are significant elements that can somehow explain the characteristics of the characters. For a long time, this work of art has been appreciated for its literature values and its place among readers of all generations. Today, there have been studies about Wuthering Heights in many aspects such as setting, characters, the love and revenge between Catherine and Healthcliff. In 2003, Tamura touched upon the love between the two main characters of the novel, Catherine and Healthcliff, their perception of life and the ways they behave toward other people. The article would be more persuasive if the author could present reasons to explain the characters’ behaviors and reasons that drive them to react in these ways rather than others. While Dawson (1989) was attracted to find ways to approach this novel, Adam would like to dig further into the use of fictional factors like dreams in the work which was 9 demonstrated in an article “ Wuthering Heights: the Land East of Eden”, (1958). In this novel, other aspects offer good topics for further studies as well. Among those aspects are the psychological features which are depicted in the novel. There are studies on the psychoanalytical criticism of Bronte’s work. Abdulkareen in 2011 conducted research for his master degree thesis entitled “A psychoanalytical reading of Wuthering Heights”. In this thesis, the researcher concentrates on analyzing denial, repression, sublimation as well as projection in characters. Apart from that, in Peterson’s work (1992), he refers to Sigmund Feud’s claim that understanding human psychology can help people appreciate works of literature more. Since it is possible to apply the knowledge in psychology to explain change in character’s psyche and behaviors, the writer has decided to examine the novel in terms of characters from psychological perspective. Factors which drive the characters to behave in some certain ways in Emily’s novel will be investigated in this study which is entitled “Isolation and its psychological impacts on the characters in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte” 2. Aims and objectives of the study By conducting this study, the researcher aims at finding the influences of isolation on people’s life presented in the novel. In addition, the researcher also analyzes the reasons why the main characters are isolated. To achieve these aims, the researcher carries out the study to address the following questions: What are the reasons for making characters isolated? What are the psychological effects of isolation on the characters? 3. Significance of the study Once completed, this study would bring about some certain benefits for teachers and students and for those interested in this novel to understand more about the 10 [...]... depression and other psychological effects, which will be analyzed in this study 21 CHAPTER 3: EMILY BRONTE AND THE NOVEL “WUTHERING HEIGHTS” 1 Emily Bronte Emily Jane Bronte was born in July, 30 th, 1818 in Thornton, Yorkshire, England She was the fifth child in a literary family After the death of her mother in 1821, Emily and her sibling lived in a bleak moorland rectory They started writing stories and... indicated that Emily began writing Wuthering Heights in 1845 and accomplished it the next year In July 1847, this novel was accepted to publish but it was not until December that the work was printed In the fall a year later, Emily Bronte left home to attend her brother’s funeral She went down with severe cold that spread to her lungs On 19 December, 1848 she died of tuberculosis 22 Emily Bronte was the... contact with the community Emily describes the house full of brightness and warmth The place is covered with crimson, and “crimson-covered chairs and tables, and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold, a shower of glass-drops hanging in silver chains from the center.” (Bronte, p 40) However, the heavy decoration of the house cannot hide the sense of isolation In the novel, Bronte places Thrushcross Grange... the Irish father who prized learning and the power it had to change lives Her father encouraged his children to read and write In 1835, Emily accompanied her sister, Charlotte, to Miss Wooler’s school at Roe Head where she was offered a teaching position However, Emily just stayed there for three months because of homesickness In 1838, she worked as a teacher in Miss Patchett’s school near Halifax... affected by isolating condition, Hareton from a clever and agile boy became “disagreeable and bad” (Bronte, p.166) Furthermore, he is “never taught to read or write; never rebuke for any bad habit which did not annoy his keeper, never led a single step towards virtue, or guarded by a single precept against vice” (Bronte, p.167) Hence, at Wuthering Heights, Hareton is kept away from civilization, care and... However, he does not know the man calling himself his father and just answers his father’s questions with “vacant fear” (Bronte, p 176) In addition to that, Linton is feared being left with his father, he cries in his room in vain, “don’t leave me! I’ll not stay here! I’ll not stay here!” (Bronte, p 178) From the beginning, Heathcliff does not love Isabella When she gives birth to his child, her husband... with excessive care They are well educated with proper manners that suit their social status For example, Bronte describes the ways Edgar interrupts Catherine by “[preserving] his ordinary tone, and a due measure of politeness”, such a respectful and standard manner In addition, there are many times Emily describes Edgar and Isabella sitting in the library to read books, which hardly ever happens at the... about class structure and the treatise on women’s role in society The novel depicts two sides of the society through sharpening the main characters The people living at Wuthering Heights are described as strong and passionate but gloomy and doomed On the other hand, the people living at Thrushcross Grange set a typical example of the ways of behaviors that society expects from people, in elite, noble and... Catherine talks to Nelly about who she should get married to, “he [Linton] will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the 24 neighborhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband” (Bronte, p 66) and it will degrade her to marry Healthcliff In conclusion, exploring the main elements of setting which are place, time and social context can help readers prepare for what will be written... exists a story of two ghosts wandering on the moorland Hareton and Cathy are going to get married 26 Chapter 4: DEVELOPMENT 1 Isolation in Wuthering Heights 1.1 Geographical isolation In Wuthering Heights, Bronte brought the land where she lived into the novel She depicted Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange as isolated societies from all other societies in the world due to their geographical locations, . explain change in character’s psyche and behaviors, the writer has decided to examine the novel in terms of characters from psychological perspective. Factors which drive the characters to behave. round characters. Flat characters are often unchanged in their personality during the development of the plot. They can play a major or a minor role. Unlike flat characters, round characters have. living condition is one of the factors that has a big influence on character formation and development. Besides, character formation and development can only happen in certain environmental conditions.