Symbolism Of The Storm In Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

It can be inferred that the storm that follows Heathcliff’s exit is caused by his anger. Heathcliff, angry, hurt, and filled with emotion by Catherine’s comment makes his energy burn down the tree in Wuthering Heights. Just like his rough character, Heathcliff is correlated with this storm and bad weather because of his destructive characteristic; whilst foreshadowing his future nature that he later shows after he returns for revenge. The violent wind as well as the thunder, displays strength that Heathcliff possesses as he splits a tree and sends destruction: knocking down the chimney, soot into kitchen fire, and clatter of stones, into the home of Catherine Earnshaw. The elemental image of fire symbolises anger and frustration of Heathcliff;

For example, Bronte uses the element of fire can be portrayed in Chapter 7. The following “and putting my cakes in the oven, and making the house and cheerful with great fires, befitting Christmas eve, I prepared to sit down and…” suggests that the great fires bring warmth and light into the house. In this chapter, Nelly prepares the house welcoming for Christmas while placing Heathcliff next to the fire to make an effort to include him in the festivities. By strategically placing Heathcliff, one can conclude that Bronte was alluding that the fire has life; giving fire another meaning in the novel. It is as if Bronte was portraying that since the fire has life, Heathcliff’s placement next to it serves solely for the purpose of it rubbing off on him and giving him courage to get involved and not be so discouraged about his appearance; getting involved with the festivities of the

If it was cold or uncomfortable, surely the man would not have died so quietly. This way, in peace and quiet, the man slipped away into death soundly because the fire not only gave him warmth, and comfort but security.

Bronte uses the elemental image of water to symbolise many different things, propel the story, and shape the plot. In Wuthering Heights, water appears in many different forms such as rain in storms, streams, snow, and frost; “At Wuthering Heights it always sounded on quiet days following a great thaw or a season of steady rain.” One recurring presence of water, particularly rain, is present every time a death occurs or is near. For example,

“The following evening was very wet: indeed, it poured down till day-dawn; and, as I took my morning walk round the house, I observed the master 's window swinging open, and the rain driving straight in. He cannot be in bed, I thought: those showers would drench him through. He must either be up or out. But I’ll make no more ado, I’ll go boldly and