Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

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The storyline of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights displays and supports the significance of conflict in the world. Based on the characters’ actions and their aftermaths, the reader can interpret the inevitability of conflict caused by human nature and selfishness.

Clearly, one of the central conflicts involves Heathcliff’s struggle against society. Due to Hindley’s torment and despicable treatment of Heathcliff and his strained relationship with Catherine, he develops a vengeful attitude starting from childhood. His childhood hatred has significance because children are considered innocent, but even then, Heathcliff faces troubles against society, as seen with the applesauce incident against Linton. After throwing a small fit against Linton from what he saw as scorn over his unusual tidiness, Heathcliff is harshly punished by Hindley for his misbehavior. One of key quotes that exemplifies the vengeance Heathcliff feels is: “The indignant actions against Heathcliff do not stop there – because of Edgar’s higher status, Catherine, the love-of-Heathcliff’s-life, decides to marry him rather than ruin her position through Heathcliff. This treatment highlights wealth, which, in turn, is the basis of Heathcliff’s goal in taking over the entire Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange for the sake of proving his higher social status over those people that have previously treated him as useless and trash. In his partake of this goal, Heathcliff shifts from a high-spirited boy to an avaricious and cruel man.

Although much of the conflict is emotional and internal, there is little doubt about how crucial the conflict between Heathcliff and Edgar is. Even the actions of Edgar, presumably the most considerate and refined character suggest ...

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...ed and Edgar and Isabella being more submissive, especially Edgar even at his death-bed.

Using the different types of conflict present in the novel, the reader can interpret the statement “conflict is inevitable” through the deeper representations of these three kinds of conflict present. The issue between Heathcliff and society represents how materialistic and shallow society can be, judging by possessions rather than character. The issue between Heathcliff and Edgar represents jealously and character flaws in every person, making there no such “perfect person”, which is quite true in general. Finally, the issue between Catherine and Heathcliff represents the limits of emotions in the face of social peace. Together, given any situation, there will probably be some clash, whether minor or major, and the world probably will not be at perfect peace in its entirety.

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