Victimization in Wuthering Heights

In the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë there are multitudes of examples of victimization, inflicted on every character by every character. There are even less literal instances of victimization in Wuthering Heights. For example, the symbolism we read in the book about the moors, and the wild, expansive, rough and infertile land in which this story takes place. All these aspects of the setting mirror perfectly the relationships between the characters and the victimization they inflict on each other, such as the victimization of the rough winds and weather that is the cause infertility on the land of Wuthering Heights. Although all the characters victimize each other in some way big or small, it is known that the biggest and most enthusiastic perpetrator is Heathcliff, who had also been a victimized. Even before Heathcliff arrives at Wuthering Heights by way of Mr. Earnshaw he is a victim. He was an abandoned “dirty, ragged, black-haired child.” Heathcliff had experienced racism because of his dark skin and hair color, and he knew hardship and accepted his sufferings without complaint.

When Heathcliff arrived at Wuthering Heights, although the rest of the family was fairly sceptical of his presence Mr. Earnshaw loved and adored him, even more than his own son Hindley, and prior to Mr. Earnshaws’ death, Heathcliff was considered a part of the family and Mr. Earnshaw loved and adored Heathcliff until his death. Following the death of Mr. Earnshaw Hindley begins to victimize Heathcliff- beating Heathcliff and then physically separating him from the family, turning Heathcliff into a stable boy/servant. Hindley’s victimization of Heathcliff later becomes ironic when Heathcliff victimizes his former perpetrator. Heathclif...

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... setting and the rough, dark characters. More literally how the characters have to battle against the weather and the setting for their own survival, mentioned by Brontë several times in the novel is the fact that people could drown out in the moors. Also the setting seems generalized, meaning everything looks very similar to everything else and one could easily get lost if they did not know the way and were unescorted, exemplified by Lockwood when he is trapped at Wuthering Heights during a blizzard and asks for a guide, which is then refused by Heathcliff. Brontë is that being a victim is classless; it affects everyone and can happen to anyone and Wuthering Heights is the perfect example of victimization, whether it’s through fate, circumstance, real or supernatural.

Works Cited

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. United States: Scholastic Classics, 2001. Print.