Discussion Points by Steph 1 "Why is Edward right about ...

**lisa**

Steph asks:

"Why is Edward right about Wuthering Heights sucking?"

**Clara** · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:21 am Post subject:

I read Wuthering Heights - solely becuase it was mentioned in Eclipse. I hated it. I agree with Edward and SM that it is a "hate story" not a love story. I didn't even know it was supposed to be a love story until I read some literary notes after I finished it in an attempt to understand what I had just read. I was shocked to see it was supposed to be a love story. The characters are terrible, malicious, and abusive. Heathcliff is awful.

I'm sure this is a superficial analysis of the book, and I've only read it once. Perhaps it has some great literary merit that I have not learned to appreciate yet, but as "love story" is doesn't cut it.

Bronte must have had a really rotten life to have all that inside her.

As a book it does not uplift your life. It doesn't inspire you to do better and be better. Since Edward and all the other Cullens' are perpetually trying to do better and be better this book would definately "suck" to Edward. When life is already hard enough and has so many problems that you never bargained for why spend your time reading about other people whose lives were terrible and who chose not to rise above that?

In his opinion of WH I'd have to agree that this is a time when Edward is "always right."
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**~kirsten~** · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:01 am Post subject:

Well, I don't actually think it sucks but I'll try to answer the question. WH is a very dark love story. It shows what can happen if love and kindness are withheld or unrequited. I've often wondered what Heathcliff would have been like if Mr. Earnshaw had not died. Would he have grown up to be such a hateful, cruel person? I don't think so. He wasn't cruel as a child. I think his dark heart grew from Hindley's treatment of him over the years. And what if he hadn't left before hearing Catherine's declaration of love for him to Nelly? Would her love have been enough to save him? I believe so. I think it was Heathcliff's feeling of rejection and his utter pain born from that rejection that turned his heart cold and black. And what about Cathy? Would she have married Edgar if Heathcliff hadn't left? I don't believe she would have. I think she realized that Heathcliff meant more to her than all the social standing and money in the world but when he left, she had no other choice but to marry Edgar.. I think the story shows how love (or the lack of it, perceived or otherwise)) can change people to the very core. Cathy and Heathcliff loved each immensely but their own stupidity and insecurities got in the way of their love. Jealousy and pain tainted it and turned into something ugly. In the end, however, the love survived, despite them both and all that they did to destroy it. That is the power of love.

I didn't really answer the question, did I? It sucked because they could have been happy together and they weren't. *nods*
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amontilado · Newborn Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Australia

I am inclined to agree with Edward that the story largely sucks. There are a few kind decent characters in the book, but they serve to throw the awful majority into even starker relief.
The "Love" in this book is grasping, selfish and self-destructive~clearly this isn't a book to be read to feel all soppy and romantic. However, it is a remarkable book for a reclusive Victorian era spinster to have written. The vivid [if unpleasant] characters are so powerful and memorable, her language passionate, as is the story.

azure3210 · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject: Edward's right... it sucked

Being a classic doesn't mean it was a good story. It's a horrific example of the human spirit... the worst in humans is shown...hate, hatefulness, revenge, hate, greed, spite and uhm, more hate.

It's not a love story between the Cathy and Heathcliff. Cathy is just a carefree teen girl in love with the feelings of living and loving, not with Heathcliff. She may have enjoyed Heathcliff and had affection for him but she did not understand what he wanted from her and he had no idea what she really wanted either.

The only love story in it is very bittersweet at the end, when Heathcliff's sick obsession (not love) completely destroys everyone around him except Hareton and Cathy the 2nd survive and show a glimmer of hope in that dark story.

I don't get Bellas's remark about the inevitability of them getting together... unless she meant the "spirit of what Heathcliff and Cathy could have been"... if he hadn't turned in to a viper and Cathy a pansy.

With all this said... I think Wuthering Heights is a book everyone must read. Any book that can draw such strong reactions from characters on paper (as did Bella and Edward) should be respected and read.

But I hate to compare Bella and Edward to Cathy and Heathcliff .... It would just be wrong. --- Tracie

**Utterly Ridiculous**

**cometomama** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:18 am Post subject:

kirsten -
I don't know that Heathcliff would have been totally different with Mr. Earnshaw alive. You could already tell that he wasn't exactly a good kid and he was already using manipulative tactics against Hindley. Granted, Hindley's treatment of him definitely made things 100x worse. SO I think that he may have still turned out a miserable human, but not quite so, I don't know . . . vicious?
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**cometomama** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:20 am Post subject:

And I am on Edward's side. This book does suck - but I love to hate it.
All the characters are horrible (not even just C&H). I can't see their love (Cathy/Heathcliff) as being something to envy, either. I'm not even sure I would call it LOVE.
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**CaliCat** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

Edward is right about Wuthering Heights sucking because you can't understand a darn word in the book!! Mad

"T' maister nobbut just buried, and Sabbath nut oe'red, und t' sahnd uh't gospel still i' yer lugs, and yah darr be laiking! shame on ye! sit ye dahn, ill childer! they's good books eneugh if ye'll read'em; sit ye dahn, and think uh yer sowls!"

Shocked

What the hay is that supposed to mean?! I'm really putting an effort into sticking this book out, but I'm just not sure I'll ever like it...Maybe I should look for the movie, instead. Sad

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"Here’s the thing… I’ve already gone crazy once. I know what my limits are.” -Bella Swan

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**~kirsten~** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

**Shimmerskin** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject:

**Shimmerskin** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject:

**Utterly Ridiculous** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject:

**DarlaG** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject:

**Shimmerskin** · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject: