The New Social Order Against the Old
In the article “ The Reality of Fantasy: Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights” by Carole Gerster, the author counteracts the misjudged view that the novel is just a fantasy, and states that Emily Bronte creates a vision of a new social order through the novel.
Gerster expresses that the novel reveals “ about being a woman in a male- dominated society as it delineates her envision of new social structure based on relationships of equality” (Gerster). Furthermore, Gerster explains that Bronte uses Heathcliff and Catherine as an example to contradict the social norm and create a vision that goes beyond the regular social roles that control behavior of gender. Gerster also mentions that the second generation Hareton and Cathy support the idea that there is a possibility to uphold Bronte’s vision of a new social order. To explain further, Bronte’s new vision, Gerster adds that by using Lockwood as a narrator to juxtapose the society with Bronte’s new vision. In the article Gerster analyzes Lockwood’s role in the novel to emphasize the meaning of the new social vision. Lockwood is viewed as someone who has experience the normal societal norms, as he encounters the unusual social endeavors at Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights; his confusion is required to be solved by Nelly Dean telling the story of Catherine and Heathcliff and how they formed and equal relationship. After the story Lockwood experiences what an equal relationship is through the second generation, Cathy and Hareton.
Gerster’s point of view of the meaning of the novel is agreeable; Bronte portrays her vision of a new social order as she uses Lockwood’s view to juxtapose her views. Carole Gersters examples are very compelling to persuade the readers with this idea. Gester suggests that Lockwood “ has adopted a stereotypical male role” (Gerster), which is placed to contrast with Bronte’s idea of no particular role, but instead an equal relationship. The equal relationship Bronte tries to emphasize is seen when Catherine claims that she is Heathcliff and that they are the same. This indicates that despite the gender roles society inflicts on them Catherine and Heathcliff are seen as one; neither of the two take on a definite role in the relationship. However Bronte goes about to show the audience how societies view on gender roles can damage a relationship as Catherine is taught at the Linton’s household how to be a “proper lady”, this cause a rift in the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine. Bronte displays how society detriments a relationship between two human beings. With the second generation brought up, Bronte further demonstrates that although society interfered with Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship, they equal relationships will always form out of the ordinary, as seen through Cathy and Hareton, which leaves Lockwood in disbelief of what happened between the two.
With the article “The Reality of Fantasy: Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights” by Carole Gersters, Bronte’s new vision of social order is explained to contradict those critics who have misjudged the novel throughout the years. Gersters analyzes the novel and comes to an idea that Wuthering Heights is about rejecting society's gender role and foreseeing a new society where everyone is equal. The points and ideas Gerster suggest are agreeable greatly. Although Wuthering Heights is controversial, there are many views that contradict and proves the literary merit title it deserves.
With the article “The Reality of Fantasy: Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights” by Carole Gersters, Bronte’s new vision of social order is explained to contradict those critics who have misjudged the novel throughout the years. Gersters analyzes the novel and comes to an idea that Wuthering Heights is about rejecting society's gender role and foreseeing a new society where everyone is equal. The points and ideas Gerster suggest are agreeable greatly. Although Wuthering Heights is controversial, there are many views that contradict and proves the literary merit title it deserves.
Gerster, Carole. "The Reality of Fantasy: Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights". Nineteenth- Century Literature Criticism 35 (1992): 190- 194. 19th Century Literature Criticism Online.Web. 02 April 2017.
