Can Anyone Help me Understand the Context of Wuthering Heights?

I've recently started reading Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and I'm finding it hard to understand the context. Can anyone provide insights into the background of the story?

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Sure, I'd be happy to shed some light on the context and background of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. At its core, Wuthering Heights is a love story, but it's far from a traditional romantic narrative. The novel is set in the late 18th and early 19th century in the Yorkshire moors of England, a rugged and remote region. The isolated and atmospheric setting plays a significant role in the narrative, further intensifying the novel's themes of love, passion, revenge, and social class. The novel mainly centers around the relationship between Heathcliff, an orphan brought to Wuthering Heights, and Catherine Earnshaw, the daughter of the estate's owner. This intense and destructive love affair is the driving force of the story, set against a background of social norms and expectations that accelerate the tragedy of their relationship. Another important aspect to understand is the novel’s narrative structure. Emily Bronte employs a unique framing narrative technique, where the majority of the story is being recounted to a visitor, Mr. Lockwood, by the housekeeper, Nelly Dean. This method offers readers different perspectives and views on events and characters, adding depth and complexity to the storytelling. In terms of social context, the novel critically explores the rigid class structure of Victorian England. Heathcliff's social mobility – his rise from an orphan to a wealthy landowner, and his subsequent fall – greatly impacts the course of the story and displays the constraints and prejudices of the time. Lastly, elements of Gothicism are pervasive in Wuthering Heights, from the austere and eerie setting to the inclusion of supernatural occurrences and intense emotions. These elements underscore the dramatic and tumultuous events of the story. Remember, Wuthering Heights is a fundamentally complex and dense novel. It may take some time to fully grasp its myriad themes and the psychological intricacies of its characters. Happy reading!
Answered on September 7, 2023.
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