Review | Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

#QOTD – Do you re-read classics?

I normally don’t. I mean reading a classic for the first time itself is so much work. Going for it the second time, would just mean giving up on another classic from my TBR pile! But last month, I decided to pick up Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë again. Me and my high school friend chose to buddy read this one! We decided to revisit the same book together after twelve years, but this time as adults!

This is the story of Heathcliff’s destructive love and passion for Catherine Earnshaw. Heathcliff was adopted by Catherine’s father as a child, but upon Mr. Earnshaw’s death, he is bullied by Catherine’s brother. Social and class difference gets Catherine to marry the more wealthy and classy Edgar Linton over the raw and rugged Heathcliff. From here starts a tale of passion gone wrong and revenge ruining generations! We see how passion, bitterness and envy can drive a person to extreme behaviors.

It is impossible to wholeheartedly enjoy reading Wuthering Heights. The cruelty and lack of decorum displayed by many of the characters made the novel unlikable in retrospect, despite the characters’ allure as the story pans out. Yet, me and my friend both realized that Emily Brontë had good sense of humour, as even in the darkness of the moors she managed to spark a light note in some of the passages!

Finally, I think we appreciated re-reading this one! Rather I enjoyed it more than I did back when I was 18, because, today I realize that possessive love that is so often portrayed in classic literature is a lot more destructive than people like to think.