Essay On Heathcliff As A Hero In Wuthering Heights

The Gothic novel, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë can be depicted as a novel that lacks a hero. Heathcliff, the protagonist of the novel, lacks many characteristics of a traditional hero; therefore, causes him to reflect the definition of a villain in a work of literature. Wuthering Heights illustrates that a predictable hero is not presented and that Heathcliff is the antithesis of a hero in the novel. Heathcliff is characterized as a vengeful character, who becomes destroyed and corrupted due to his rejection from Catherine, his overwhelming jealousy, and his mistreatment as a child by Hindley. He is a cynical character and due to his cruel and wicked attitude that grows throughout the novel, he grows to be a villain.

Wuthering Heights lacks what a reader might assume to be an established hero. The novel lacks a hero due to the protagonists' personality, actions, and use of his qualities towards specific characters. Heathcliff, who develops into a wicked character from a young age, lacks heroic attributions because he shifts roles from a young age. Heathcliff develops into a misanthrope and a "...man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself." as described by Lockwood (4). Heathcliff grows up to become isolated from the rest of the world, having obtained Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange after his true loves', Catherine's, death. Although Heathcliff portrays hero related characteristics, he does not utilize his traits in appropriate situations or in acceptable ways, which causes the story to lack a hero figure. Heathcliff does not use his traits to present the archetypal hero in the work of literature. He has been treated harshly as a child himself; however, he uses his past to fulfill his future. Heathclif...

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..., the protagonist of the novel, lacks many characteristics of a traditional hero; therefore, causes him to reflect the definition of a villain. Due to his wicked and vengeful attitude that grows throughout the novel, Heathcliff grows to be a villain. Although he was mistreated as a child, he utilizes and carries out his past to continue his future, which still caused him pain and suffering in the end. Heathcliff took advantage and sought revenge over the ones who mistreated him, which is why he can be characterized as a major villain and why the novel Wuthering Heights lacks a hero. Although Heathcliff and Catherine illustrate an endless love, the two characters take advantage of each other and cause harm to one another in numerous ways. They do not feel sympathetic towards each other because they both state how they have killed each other emotionally and mentally.