Wuthering Heights is the only novel of Emily Bronte, published in 1847. The novel remarks one of the great contributions to the English literature from female author so it calls the public’s attention to various aspects from detail to general. With its popularity and values in terms of literature, the novel became a significance subject for researchers and scholars to study. The researcher took a decision to investigate “the effect of living circumstance on characters (Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine) in Wuthering Heights”. It is considered a new and practical thesis for study because its aim is to discover and analyze the contribution of living circumstance on characters. First, the background for the study will be provided with some terms related to living circumstance, novel as well as information of the author Emily Bronte and Wuthering Heights particularly. Secondly, the next part will be a development of the contribution of living circumstance on some protagonists of Wuthering Heights based on the terms mentioned before. Finally, the researcher will summarize the outcomes and give out some limitations of the study together with suggestions for further studies. The researcher hopes that the thesis will be meaningful for those who are interested in the book and that it will provide the foundation for future related studies.
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATION PAPER THE EFFECT OF LIVING CIRCUMSTANCE ON CHARACTERS (HEATHCLIFF, CATHERINE AND YOUNG CATHERINE) IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY EMILY BRONTE Supervisor: Nguyễn Thị Thơm Thơm Student: Phạm Thị Lụa Course: QH2010.F1.E13 HÀ NỘI – 2014 ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH KHÓA LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP SỰ ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA MÔI TRƯỜNG SỐNG TỚI NHÂN VẬT (HEATHCLIFF, CATHERINE VÀ YOUNG CATHERINE) TRONG TÁC PHẨM WUTHERING HEIGHTS CỦA EMILY BRONTE Giáo viên hướng dẫn: Nguyễn Thị Thơm Thơm Sinh viên: Phạm Thị Lụa Khóa: QH2010.F1.E13 HÀ NỘI – 2014 ACCEPTANCE I hereby state that I: Pham Thi Lua, QH2010.F1.E13, 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, 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In order to complete this thesis, I owe indebtedness to many people for their help and support. Firstly, I would like to be grateful to my supervisor: Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom Thom for her exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement during the course of this thesis. Secondly, I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to all authors listed in the references as their ideas are great help for me to conduct the thesis. Thirdly, my completion of this thesis could not have been accomplished without the support of my classmates of 10E13 who always give advices whenever I need. Last but not least, I show my great gratitude to my parents, sisters and friends who are always encouraging me during the process. 4 ABSTRACT Wuthering Heights is the only novel of Emily Bronte, published in 1847. The novel remarks one of the great contributions to the English literature from female author so it calls the public’s attention to various aspects from detail to general. With its popularity and values in terms of literature, the novel became a significance subject for researchers and scholars to study. The researcher took a decision to investigate “the effect of living circumstance on characters (Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine) in Wuthering Heights”. It is considered a new and practical thesis for study because its aim is to discover and analyze the contribution of living circumstance on characters. First, the background for the study will be provided with some terms related to living circumstance, novel as well as information of the author Emily Bronte and Wuthering Heights particularly. Secondly, the next part will be a development of the contribution of living circumstance on some protagonists of Wuthering Heights based on the terms mentioned before. Finally, the researcher will summarize the outcomes and give out some limitations of the study together with suggestions for further studies. The researcher hopes that the thesis will be meaningful for those who are interested in the book and that it will provide the foundation for future related studies. TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 6 PART 1: INTRODUCTION This first part of the study includes rationale of the study, the aims, objectives, significance, scope and methodology of the study. In addition, organization of the study will also be stated in order to help readers follow the thesis easier. 1. Rationale of the study “Wuthering Heights” is the only novel written by Emily Bronte in the late of Romanticism. It is considered to be one of the masterpieces after Emily’s death in 1848. According to Fred Langman, “Wuthering Heights is a novel of genius” (approaches to the novel, 1966). It reveals one aspect of Emily’s life. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar note in The Madwoman in the Attic, “a woman writer must examine, assimilate, and transcend the extreme images of “angle” and monster” which male authors have generated for her” (p. 596). Moreover, they believe that: ‘For all literary artists, of course, self-definition necessarily precedes self-assertion: the creative “I AM’ cannot be uttered if the “I” know not what it is. But for the female artist the essential process of self-definition is complicated by all those patriarchal definitions that intervene between herself and herself’ (p. 569). Therefore, up to now, there have been many discoveries from time to time. Although it was written in the Romantic style, it still reflected England’s society during Victoria era. All over the world, there are so many aspects of Wuthering Heights for investigation. According to Anne Williams in Natural Supernaturalism in Wuthering Heights, “Wuthering Heights – popular, powerful, but enigmatic- has always been controversial. Readers agree about its secure position as a “classic,” but not about its meaning, nor its merit. ” (1985, p.104) Besides analyzing characters, some writers also concentrate on other rare issues such as sexual problem, the incest theme or the repression and sublimation of nature, the framing or even psychological items, children abuse. There are some famous works studying Wuthering Heights including “The novel as Dramatic Poem” written by Klingopulos, “The incest theme in Wuthering 7 Heights” written by Solomon, “Wuthering Heights: the land East of Eden” written by Adams, Ruth. Klingopulos tries to demonstrate that Wuthering Heights is “the novel as dramatic poem.” He emphasizes that “it is important to remember that the novel is the first in English which invites the same kind of attention that we claim as poetry” (1947, p. 269). He supposes “the quality of achievement from chapter to chapter is so consistent that it established as much unity and interconnection as the common readers require” (ibid, p. 269). Moreover, “we are reminded repeatedly of that fine control of feeling which distinguishes Emily Bronte best known poem” (ibid, p.269). In another aspect, Fred Langman pays interest on “criticism of this novel”. According to him, “too much of the published criticism is badly written, critically evasive, and (sometimes) just inaccurate.” On the other hand, Thompson gives birth to the essay called “Infanticide and Sadism in Wuthering Heights” in 1963. He wants to analyze one problem which is mainly the abuse children in Wuthering Heights. On the contrary, Magaret Homans tries to take investigation into the repression and sublimation of nature in Wuthering Heights in 1978. He focuses on two protagonists in this novel. They are Cathy and Heathcliff “whose relations to nature would seem to be the strongest and the most important to the novel”(1978, p. 9) Beside, Adam realizes that Wuthering Heights is much like the land east of Eden, nineteenth century fiction in 1958. Solomon concerns about the incest in Wuthering Heights (1959). Nevertheless, the researcher took a decision to investigate the effect of living circumstance on some protagonists in Wuthering Heights. She is going to carry out the analysis of aspects relating to circumstance including living condition, places to provide deeper insights into the interactive change between thinking and behaviors of characters. In terms of living circumstance, the research focuses on two core living conditions including the condition of being aristocracy and condition of being lower circumstance. Aristocracy belongs to the rich and powerful class. However, people who originate from lower circumstance seem to be poor and wild. Both living 8 conditions are very different from each other because they indicate two different types of class. One side is very rich but the other side is very poor. In this novel, Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine all belong to both living conditions. Their living circumstances are changing from time to time. As a result, their spirit, personalities and behaviors also change, which is to be analyzed to set up the helpful thesis. 2. Aims and objectives of the study Wuthering Heights written by Emily Bronte is one of the most well-known novels of the English literature in the eighteen century. Because of being a famous novel, there must be misunderstanding of Wuthering Heights. I take a decision to investigate on the contribution of living circumstance on characters to gain deep understanding of its characters. Moreover, the researcher conducts this research with the aim of developing understanding English literature in the eighteen century and fulfilling my passion of literature. 3. Background and significance of the study 3.1. Background of the study Wuthering Heights is a priceless masterpiece of English literature. This work is one of the most priceless masterpieces of English literature. There are so many works analyzing it. Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine are the strong characters to build up this novel. These characters are affected strongly by Romanticism and society. This study is analyzing the changing of three characters beside the effect of living circumstance on them. 3.2. Significance of the study The thesis is going to discover and analyze the contribution of living circumstance to some protagonists. It is going to unveil the reasons why the protagonists’ personalities change a lot from time to time and the difference between their behaviors and thoughts. For example, when living in the Wuthering Heights, Catherine seems to be a wild girl, whereas when she comes back from Thrushcross, “her manners much improved” (p. 44). In addition, “The mistress visited her often in the interval, and commenced her plan of reform by trying to raise her self- respect with fine clothes and flattery, which she took readily; so that, instead of a wild, hatless 9 little savage jumping into the house, and rushing to squeeze [them] all breathless, there ‘lighted from a handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringlets falling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth habit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands that she might sail in”(p. 44). Her behaviors change a lot because of her personality is affected by Thrushcross where people who she meets living are very gentle and behave aristocratically. The first time Catherine sets foot on the other land teaches her a lesson of passion of becoming aristocrat. Debra Goodle believes in “Love and Addiction in Wuthering Heights”, “lacking any inner Catherine attempts to capture Heathcliff’s psyche to fulfill the emptiness in her own soul” (p.316). Therefore, the research would be very helpful to provide readers with a quick apprehension of that psychological issue. Psychological issue is a difficult term that a lot of novels remain. It can explain why the characters behave extremely different from their thought. Living circumstance is one of the factors which make contribution to this difference a lot. In “Wuthering Heights”, there are three characters I focus on analyzing the effect of living circumstance on them including Heathcliff, Catherine Earnshaw, and young Catherine. My research is going to include investigating the denial in some characters especially denial in Catherine who is considered one of the strong affected characters in this novel. In her mind, she considers Heathcliff is her life. When living in Wuthering Height, she behaves as if she and Heathcliff are born for each other. She claims, “[her] love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath” (p. 91).Therefore, in her mind, Heathcliff is her life as well as her soul, she thinks “[she] [is] Heathcliff (p. 92)”. However, this “eternal rocks” can be destroyed by her behavior to Heathcliff from the time she lives in Thrucross as well as meet Edgar. The thesis also investigates the denial in this character deeply in order to unveil the effects of living circumstance on personalities as well as behaviors. 10 [...]... will 19 focus on background and information about the author Emily Bronte and the novel Wuthering Heights CHAPTER 2: AN OVERVIEW OF THE AUTHOR EMILY BRONTE AND THE NOVEL WUTHERING HEIGHTS In this chapter, the researcher is going to introduce the general information on the novel Wuthering Heights and its author, Emily Bronte Regarding Wuthering Heights, I would like to summary the content, the circumstance... CHARACTERS (HEATHCLIFF, CATHERINE AND YOUNG CATHERINE) 3.1 Discussion on the effect of living circumstance on the character Heathcliff when living in Wuthering Heights 3.1.1 Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights under Mr Earnshaw’s patronage Heathcliff is built as “the name of a son who died in childhood and it has served him ever since, both Christian and surname” (p.32) He spends his childhood in Wuthering Heights. .. Linton is very sick Young Catherine, who is taught by her father, Edgar Earnshaw, grows up She is forbidden from going out Thrushcross because Edgar wants her to keep away from Wuthering Heights However, one time, young Catherine dares to go out She discovers Wuthering Heights and meets Heathcliff as well as Linton From that time, she always goes out and visits Linton in Wuthering Heights Heathcliff... literature Wuthering Heights is the only novel of Emily Bronte Fred Langman claimed, Wuthering Heights is a novel of genius” (1966, p.39) The work plays an important role in English literature Wuthering Heights was cited as “a classic of English literature” (classic poetry 26 series, p 2) It reflects the society at the end of Romanticism and in the early of Victorian Age In addition, Wuthering Heights. .. then it belongs to Edgar Catherine makes a decision to marry Edgar to become one member of Thrushcross Thrushcross is very different from Wuthering Heights It is not wild like Wuthering Heights It is more gentle and luxurious than Wuthering Heights Young Catherine was born in Thrushcross and she spends her childhood in there so her personalities are not similar to her mother, Catherine She is more gentle... neighborhood of vice” 2.1.2 Emily Bronte works Bomarito Jessica (2006) discovered that the author of Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte, left a lot of works to the English literature including: - Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell in 1864 - Wuthering Heights in 1847 - Life and works of the sisters Bronte with Charlotte and Anne from 1899 to 1903 - The Shakespeare Head Bronte between 1931 and 1938... summit of Haworth Hill, beyond the street, stands a grey stone house” is “the original of” Wuthering Heights (1883, p 74) Wuthering Heights is a wild moorland in which the Earnshaw family live Catherine, Heathcliff and Hindley spend their childhood in this moorland Young Catherine intends to settle down in Wuthering Heights It is higher than the others like Thrush Cross so that life here seems to be different... poverty that Emily built in Wuthering Heights Finally, Wuthering Heights is the novel not only revealing changes of this period of time in English literature but also describing a lot about the author’s belief as well as her life Wuthering Heights is cited as “one of the greatest romantic novels of English literature” (Parminder Kaur, 2013) Moreover, Parminder Kaur thinks that Wuthering Heights is “the... Hindley to owe Wuthering Heights and marries to Isabella Owing Thrushcross and Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff becomes richer and richer Catherine dies after giving a birth to a daughter called young Catherine Isabella also gives a birth to Linton Heathcliff Because of being badly treated by Heathcliff, Isabella runs away Heathcliff takes revenge on Hareton, Hindley’s son, and Linton in Wuthering Heights Linton... when fleeing away Wuthering Heights Heathcliff decides to flee away Wuthering Heights Nobody knows where he has gone and what he has done to become a rich person when he comes back Tamura assumes that Wuthering Heights as “a story of passion, desire and suffering” (p.41) In my viewpoint, it is time when Heathcliff has to suffer from the denying of Catherine He flees from Wuthering Heights in the storm . Phạm Thị Lụa Course: QH2010.F1.E13 HÀ NỘI – 2014 ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH KHÓA LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP SỰ ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA MÔI TRƯỜNG SỐNG TỚI NHÂN VẬT (HEATHCLIFF,