Symbolism and Imagery Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights vs. Thrushcross Grange The Heights represents a “storm,” whereas the Grange stands for “calm.” The Grange has beautiful parks and gardens, whereas the Heights have depleted moors and farmland.

Wuthering Heights Lockwood explains the meaning of “wuthering” as “descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather.” It is an appropriate house for the Earnshaw family because they consist of fiery and untamed children (especially Heathcliff).

Thrushcross Grange Set in a civilized valley and stands in a sheltered park. Not effected by harsh weather. The Grange is a house of soft, clinging luxury, and its inhabitants are guarded by servants and bulldogs. It is a “splendid place,” rich, carpeted and cushioned with crimson. It belongs to civilization, which values comfort more than life itself. The natural home for the children of the calm: the gentle, passive and timid Lintons.

Animal Imagery Animal imagery is used by Emily Bronte to project her insights into human character. Catherine describes Heathcliff as a “wolfish man.” Isabella Linton, after she becomes Heathcliff’s wife, compares him to “a tiger or a venomous serpent.” Nelly Dean sees Heathcliff’s despair after Catherine’s death as “not like that of a man, but of a savage beast.”

Animal Imagery Unlike the vicious animals Heathcliff is described as, the Linton family is looked upon much more favorably. Edgar Linton is “a lamb that threatens like a bull.” Linton, Heathcliff’s son, is a “puling chicken.”

Symbolism On the fateful night of Heathcliff’s departure from the Heights, the storm comes “rattling over the Heights in full fury.” This symbolizes the storm that eventually destroys the lives of Catherine and Heathcliff. Then again, after three years, on Heathcliff’s return, he and Catherine meet by candlelight, symbolizing the warmth of their affection for one another.

Symbolism Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange not only serve as imagery, but as symbols as well. The Heights symbolizes the type of people that inhabit it: untamed, wild, and in utter disregard to civilization. The Grange symbolizes the civilized nature of its inhabitants, as well as their intellect and luxurious lifestyle.

Ghosts In many ways the ghosts in Wuthering Heights symbolize a lack of closure for the lovers. Heathcliff wants to believe in ghosts and the afterlife because that means Catherine will still be around. When Catherine dies, he begs to be haunted: "I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad!" Brontë's ghosts are not your average Gothic novel device, as they seem to have much more to do with romance than evil. The superstitious Joseph may be the only one to see the ghosts as sinister.

Ghosts At the end of the novel, Nelly Dean tells Lockwood that the "country folks would swear on their Bible [the ghost of Heathcliff] walks," and they report having seen him "near the church, and on the moor, and even within this house" (34.99). These reports could go either way. That the villagers see the ghosts too could mean that they are not just figments of Lockwood's imagination. On the other hand, the villagers may just be demonstrating the same kind of superstitious fear as Joseph. Even drama-loving Nelly is skeptical about the existence of ghosts. When a neighborhood boy reports "They's Heathcliff and a woman, yonder, under t' Nab [...] un' Aw darnut pass'em" (34.101), Nelly tells Lockwood that she did not see the ghosts herself and that "He probably raised the phantoms from thinking, as he traversed the moors alone, on the nonsense he had heard his parents and companions repeat.”

Dogs There are dogs all over this novel, and they actually play a pretty big role in propelling the plot. Like the Lintons and Earnshaws, the dogs are all related. Dogs figure in several major scenes and tend to be symbolically linked to Heathcliff. For example, when Lockwood tries to enter Wuthering Heights at the beginning of the novel, he finds not only several locked gates but also a pack of dogs preventing entry. "[T]wo hairy monsters" (3.101) with the names Gnasher and Wolf attack Lockwood, their lack of hospitality seeming to reflect that of their master. But Lockwood doesn't get the hint.

Dogs When Catherine and Heathcliff take their pivotal journey down to Thrushcross Grange, they share a glimpse of the sniveling Linton children fighting over a dog (6.37). When Catherine is bit by Skulker, one of the Lintons' dogs, she is compelled to stay at the Grange to recuperate, which changes her relationship to Heathcliff forever. Finally, let's not forget Heathcliff's treatment of Isabella's springer, Fanny. As they elope from Thrushcross Grange, Heathcliff uses a handkerchief to hang the dog by his neck on a bridle hook – definitely some foreshadowing of the treatment his new bride will receive