WUTHERING+HEIGHTS

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​On this page, you'll interact with your classmates about WUTHERING HEIGHTS. I've listed some key ideas and concepts for the novel; your assignment is to make at least one quality comment for each of the following categories. Your comment can be an original posting or a response to someone else's comments. Please put your first name at the end of each comment.


 * HERE ARE THE PROMPTS

Compare Catherine's love for Heathcliff with her love for Edgar: What are the defining characteristics of each relationship? Do you think Catherine regrets her choice of husband? || Catherine's love for Heathcliff was initially that of a playmate and brother. While feeling these emotions for Heathcliff, she wanted to tease Edgar and etc. However as Catherine aged, she found Edgar to be a more socially accepting suitor and began to find Heathcliff dirty and rugged, therefore choosing to marry the latter. But, she changes her mind once again, saying she loved Heathcliff but couldn't bring herself to divorce. In some ways I believe she regrets her choice of husband, because she couldn't be with who her own heart was most like. And she could enjoy her choice of marriage because it was what would be accepted in her lifestyle. Andrea White

I​ agree with Andrea. Catherine's marriage to Edgar was out of convenience not out of love, while she did love Heathcliff. Moriah​ ​

Catherine's love for both Heathcliff and Edgar represents two different extremes of emotion. Her love for Heathcliff represented the more animalistic side of emotion, while her love for Edgar was more a representation of sophistication. Isaiah

Dude, I couldn't agree more with what you're saying. If what you're saying was a couch. I would like, chill on it and watch tv. I honestly do agree with Isaiah, but I think it's redidiculously easy to tell that Catherine truly does love Heathcliff. She's just an idiot. I don't feel as if she has any true feelings for Edgar at all. Oh, and of course she regrets her choice of husband. I mean, her choice basically kills her. Heath

Dude, I hope there's like room for two on that couch because I also agree with Isaiah. I think it's somewhat obvious that she regrets who she married. I mean she loves Heathcliff, not Edgar in my opinion and I think it's pretty well stated above. -Mark

I agree with what Andrea and Isaiah have said. She really wants to be with Heathcliff but her obsessiveness of being accepted by her society makes her marry Edgar instead. Albert

​ I also think that early in the novel, her love for Heathcliff was brotherly but then blossomed into something more. I think that she honestly does, in many ways, love Edgar too but not like she does Heathcliff. Her marriage to Edgar was obviously much more socially acceptable. Yes, I think she definitely regrets her decision to marry Edgar because she loves Heathcliff much more. -Jordan

I agree with Jordan. At first she loved Heathcliff in a friendly way, but as they became closer, she realized it was a stronger love than that. Catherine married Edgar because she thought she loved him. He filled that empty space while Heathcliff is gone, but when Heathcliff returns, she regrets marrying Edgar. Halie


 * Her love for Heathcliff was more romantic, and crucial enough to build the story around, while Edgar was more of a means for Catherine to fulfill her social expectations. I'd like to describe Catherine/Heathcliff's relationship as an epic romance, but it wasn't, really. They both acted really carelessly throughout the book and while they said they were in love, neither acted on it at all. And still complained. Her relationship with Edgar was not a relationship, more of a convenience. Yes, she regrets her choice, naturally. Marriage shouldn't be a convenient pairing, but something done out of romance. Although I'm not sure she would have gotten that with Heathcliff, either. Chelsea**

**​** **I believe that Catherine did love Edgar, but to a point. At the time he was the only one there for her, however, when Heathcliff returned, I believe she realized that she loved both of them in different ways. She loved Heathcliff in a romantic "true love" type way, where as she loved Edgar in a "oh, you're taking care of me, i guess I love you, but I'm still kind of miserable" way. I agree with Chelsea, Edgar was more of a convenience than a love. Leigh**

**I Agree with Chelsea and Andrea, her relationships with Heathcliff was more like a playmate. It was more romantic than the relationship between her and Edgar. Her relationship with Edgar was what was socially expected of Catherine. In the end, I think Catherine did regret her marriage with Edgar. He wasn't the one who had her heart the most when he asked her hand in marriage, Heathcliff was. Shawn**

Catherine's love for Heathcliff actually has meaning; she even feels as though they're the same person. However, her love for Edgar is more superficial. She marries him for wealth and esteem, neither of which she believes would ever be attainable by marrying Heathcliff. In doing so, she discourages her own chance at happiness. So, yes, I believe she regrets having chosen to marry Edgar. Angel

 I agree with everyone else that Catherine only married Edgar for money and social status. Her love for Heathcliff is strong and unbearable at times, while her love for Edgar is is expected. -Kristie Taylor


 * Well, you guys, I think Catherine is a GOLD DIGGER!!! And Heathcliff got gyped. He was like, "I love you!! I will do anything for you to make you happy!" and Catherine was like, "Nope!!! I love you too, but you are not rich and I like MONEY!!!!" I think Catherine wants to be with Heathcliff but because of her society relying on social status and money, she picks Edgar over Heathcliff. --Tawnni **

Well, basically everyone answered it for me. She loves them both. She grew up with Heathcliff and was with him through everything, which caused them to form a bond that wouldn't be easily broken. I believe she wanted to be with heathcliff more but for social and financial reasons she absolutly wouldnt, which forced her into the hands of Edgar. We know this especially because of what she said to Nelly the night before Heathcliffs disappearance. Trisha =)

​I'm with Trish, everyone has answered it for me. She loved both Heathcliff and Edgar but the loved she shared for each was completely opposite. She grew up with Heathcliff and grew to love him as they grew up together but she loved Edgar out of the appreciation she had towards him. Her love for Edgar was never as true as her love for Heathcliff. Kelli

Catherine's love for Heathcliffe was mostly derived from her childhood experiences; both the familiarity and the freedom she felt with him were prevelant. Edgar, at the time she courted him, provided the promise of long-term financial and social security, as Heathcliffe wasn't wealthy at the time of his departure. I don't believe that she would have made her decision any differently, as she knew that her emotional attachment to Edgar wasn't as strong as her feelings for Heathcliffe and confided this in Nelly before she wed. She chose to go through with it knowing full well of the implications. - Trevor ||
 * One critic stated that //Wuthering// //Heights// is "truly a novel without a hero or heroine." What do you think of this statement? Is Heathcliff a hero or a villain? || I believe I would have to agree with that statement. After reading the novel, I found each character to poses flaws, and found each one to, in their own way, need saving. And that didn't happen. I don't think Heathcliff is a hero or a villain, I believe he's a misunderstood man who was robbed of his happiness. Andrea White

I would have to agree with the statement because cruelty and a lack of morals seems to me as just being apart of Heathcliff's personality and that being said, I can't bring myself to look at him, or anyone for that matter, as a villain. And on a further note, I really don't see any character as being a hero, I mean seriously, what did any of them do to save anyone? Heathcliff shares common ground with the rest of the characters when I say that he is neither a hero nor a villain. -Mark

**I Agree, this novel to me has no true hero of heroine in the story. And I agree with Leigh, a hero is someone who gains something and saves the day and Heathcliff really doesn't achieve either of those. I see Heathcliff as a villian. He seems to take after Hindley in a way as the novel progresses. At first we see Hindly as a bad guy and then once he's out of the picture, we see Heathcliff treat Hareton the way Hindley treated him**. **Shawn**

Through the bias of the narrator, Heathcliff was intended to be viewed as the antagonist of the story, but, as a character, he remained a sympathetic character in the eyes of the reader. Isaiah Heathcliff is of course, both. I agree most with Angel. We realize that Heathcliff is a cruel man and that as he ages he cares more and more about only himself, but we want him to exact his revenge. The reader wants closure. Most can probably relate to Heathcliff to some extent. Who hasn't had their heart broken at one point in their lives? Heath

I think that Heathcliff is a villain because he appears to have no moral values and the way he treats Hareton and Linton is cruel. In fact, he treats all the characters pretty badly except for Catherine. Jordan

I agree with Jordan, Healthcliff is the villian. He is rude and mean to everyone except Catherine only because he loves her. Everyone in this story is cruel to one another and there is really no hero. Halie

I think that the statement is true. All characters in the book are cruel to others or want to seek revenge on someone, some have qualities that heroes could have but I wouldn't consider any of them to be a hero. Albert

I am inclined to agree. As Andrea mentioned, each character needs saving, but no one can help. Just about everyone falls victim to Heathcliff's revenge, and so I identify Heathcliff to be a villain, but also the protagonist. Heathcliff is his own hero in the way that he rescues himself from the shame Hindley imposes upon him, a characteristic to admire most about Heathcliff. Because of this, the reader willingly sympathizes with his character, secretly cheering him on as he continues to make Hindley and Catherine turn in their graves. We realize that Heathcliff is cruel, but we feel as though justice must be served. Angel


 * If any character could be considered close to a hero, it would be Heathcliff. Not because he really did anything great, but because, like Angel said, readers can root for him while reading the book. Just because a person does bad things or has bad thoughts, such as Heathcliff's constant need to exact revenge, doesn't make him/her a villain. Chelsea**

I believe that the word "hero" is often defined as some one who gains something in the end and saves the day, and Heathcliff acheives neither really, but I don't want to be a terrible person and say "Oh yeah, he's the bad guy." However, I am, because, as Jordan mentioned, most of Heathcliff's existence in the last part of the novel was to "exact his revenge" as Chelsea said, on the other characters, even if they actually didn't DO anything to him themselves...if they were even just related to the person or persons that wronged him, he took it out on them. I can see how he would be angry though. Leigh


 * //I totally agree with Leigh that Heathcliff doesn't exactly fit the "Hero" definition. The only person Heathcliff saves in the novel is himself. However, I don't think Heathcliff is a villian either. He has fallen under the critizism of Hindley growing up and then under the curse of Catherines love, ehich remains with him til his death. So in away Heathcliff is a victim throughout the novel. --Kristie Taylor// **

I gree with Leigh and Kristie. Heathcliff is deffinately about himself towards the end, but the beginning made him that way. He was treated like poop by his foster brother, who degraded him, and made him "unworthy" of Catherine. --Tawnni

I agree with Jordan. I saw Heathcliff as a villian when I read the book. He is the definition of a villian; A wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately, the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction. Moriah

 I agree with Kristie, Tawnni and Leigh, Heathcliff wasn't a hero or a villan. He only cared for himself and part of that was because of his step brother and his love for Catherine.The combination would curse anyone and would make them only care for themselves. Kelli

I agree that Heathcliff does not fit the hero description. No character in this book fits it. Everyone has flaws that show throughout the book. Heathcliff is mostly a villian he didnt have to turn out the way he did, he just chose to be that way. --Trisha That is a great assessment for Wuthering Heights. Although Heathcliffe doesn't fit into traditional roles of hero and villain, Ms. Bronte does a wonderful job of creating a literary pillar that strikes me as being both progressive and ambiguous. -Trevor ||
 * The characters in the novel have a great capacity for violence and hatred, and revenge is one of Heathcliff's greatest motivations. Is Heathcliff justified in the revenge he takes on Hindley? Do you think Heathcliff's childhood experiences at //Wuthering Heights// contributed to his monstrous behavior as an adult? || I believe his actions are justified. Hindley took an un-natural dis-liking to Heathcliff since he arrived at their home, instead of learning to take to him as a brother as intended. While it's understandable Hindley could become jealous over his father's obvious affection for Heathcliff, his own favor being disregaurded for that of Heathcliff was brought on, to an extent at least, by himself. I believe Heathcliff's treatment, at least after the death of the father can be to blame for his barbaric actions as an adult. He was treated unfairly and unkindly for no reason and in turn grew up bitter and seeking revenge. Andrea White

Yes, I agree with Andrea that Heathcliff's actions are justified in the revenge he takes on Hindley. He has good reason to after the way Hindley has treated him growing up. However, I believe that Heathcliff's monstrous behavior was cause by Catherine and Catherine only. Heathcliff wasn't treated well growing up but he was happy as long as he was with Catherine, no matter how badly he was treated. However, when he learned that he would never be good enough to marry Catherine and learned that she intended to marry someone with a high social class, his heart was filled with hatred. Look at Hareton. He grew up under similar conditons, and although he has a few rough edges, he still remains a fairly decent man. He even finds happiness in the end. - Kristie Taylor

I agree with both Andrea and Kristie. Heathcliff has a good reason to seek revenge on Hindley, because he treated him badly when he was growing up. Catherine is the blame for Heathcliffs sudden change in behavior. He always loved her very much and to hear that she would never marry him was devastating. Heathcliff's behavior would have not been so bad if his childhood had not been so rough. Halie

Heathcliff's revenge is justified. Hindley was a fool and wronged Heathcliff every chance that he got. Naturally, if anyone went through the experiences that Heathcliff went through as a child, they would have some serious problems later in life. At best, he was treated as if he didn't exist at times. Hea t  h

Ok, I've had to type this twice now because somehow the first time I typed it it got deleted but anywho. I agree with Heath because what happens during the course of one's childhood can GREATLY influence who they are in the future. Heathcliff had a tough childhood and it translates into his later years when Hindley starts giving him trouble. So of course what Heathcliff did was justified, Hindley treated him, as Heath said, "like he didn't exist at times". -Mark

I think that Heathcliff obviously has reason to be angry and have feelings of hate towards many of the other characters but I don't feel that his actions are justified. Anytime someone has a rough childhood, it's going to affect them for the rest of their life. However, many of the people who suffer at the hands of his hatred are people that don't deserve it. -Jordan


 * No, he's not justified. I agree with Andrea that Heathcliff's FEELINGS are justified, but that's all. We all suffer some kind of hardship every now and then, but we don't all carry them forever and take them out on the people involved, much less the spouses, relatives or children of the peoples involved. He seems a little unbalanced. He takes things too seriously. Chelsea

I don't think his revenge is justified. He did go through hard times as a child, no one should have to go through anything like that but many people do. He had reason to be angry but should not want to seek revenge. His childhood trauma affected how he turned out to be an angry person as a grown man. Albert **

Even if Heathcliff taking revenge on Hindley was justified, to extend that revenge to Hindley's son was cruel. The child could not help being born to a father whose actions weren't exactly honorable, but Heathcliff still seemed to take a personal grudge against him.-Isaiah

I agree with my sister! Feelings were justified, but violence promotes violence as we all noticed. To take it out on the son was just barbaric. A person has control over their own actions, and I believe that there could have been a more civil way to deal with his anger and frustration than to perform the way that he did. Heathcliff is just a never-ending hole of aggression, anger, and sadness and needs (needed?) some serious help... Leigh. >.<

**His actions were definitely justified after the way Hindley treated Heathcliff. Like Isaiah said though, to extend the revenge on Hindley's son was cruel. Heathcliff grew up being hated by Hindley and i think that he wanted to, in a way, continue the abuse to Hindley through his son. This is the "monsterous" side of Heathcliff we see in the second half of the novel. Shawn

As badly as Hindley treats Heathcliff, I still don't think Heathcliff's revenge is justified. Getting even provides a very satisfying feeling, though. But, as cliche as it sounds, two wrongs do not make a right. To me, it seems that Heathcliff's success with the revenge he exacts upon Hindley only encourages him to do more harm. And, yes, I think the abuse Heathcliff suffers as a child has EVERYTHING to do with his vicious demeanor. Angel **

I think it is a person's own opinion on whether or not he is justified. Some may say he was because he had a horrible experience. Others, however, would say that his actions were too extreme and immature, and that he was not justified in his actions. I do believe his childhood at Wuthering Heights contributed to his behavior. I think his experience there left him bitter and hateful. Moriah

I agree with Moriah, it's just a persons opinion. I understand why Heathcliff was bitter and sought revenge but there was no excuse for taking such revenge on Hindley's son, its not his faught his father had the capability to be such a jerk to anyone and everyone he came in contact with. Kelli

I know if i was treated as badly by Hindly as Heathcilff was, i would wanna make in as unpleasant for him as he made it for me. It wasn't Heathcliffs fault that Hindlys father brought him home and treated him the way he did, so he had no right to treat him that way. Yes i believe that his childhood and the way he was treated contributed directly to the way he acts as he grows up.--Trisha

Heathcliffe could certainly argue a case as to why life for Hindley should be miserable, largely because of his own adolescent experiences under Hindley when he was much younger. The denial of romance was likely Heathcliffe's greatest motivation for ruthless behavior later in life. -Trevor

​ I agree with Trisha's answer, because I don't like when people treat me badly and it was going on my whole childhood, I would definately want he/she to see how badly they treated me and I would treat them the same way. Heathcliff was treated badly by Hindley and Hindley should see how it feels. Halie ||
 * When Heathcliff visits Catherine for the last time before she dies, she says to him, "You have killed me--and thriven on it, I think." Nearly twenty years later, when Heathcliff is approaching death, he says, "I have to remind myself to breathe--almost to remind my heart to beat!" Did Heathcliff and Catherine believe the only way they could be together was in death? Did they, somehow, will themselves to die? ​ || From the beginning, one can notice that Heathcliff will never measure up to the social class of Catherine. After all he is found abandon. As the book progresses, it is obvious Heathcliff will not gain any asset of the family because of Hindley's hatred toward him. Heathcliff, therefore, has no way to build on a social class in order to suit Catherine. Catherine's pursuit to marry someone of high social standards then turns her to love Edgar, not for happiness but for money. Heathcliff and Catherine are destroyed by this decision, in my opinion. They both dwell on the fact that they should have been together, which in turn drives them to their death bed. In the novel Catherine says that Heathcliff "is her" and she "is Heathcliff," and without one another they are nothing. So yes, I think they willed themselves to die through the obsession of their unhappiness. --Kristie Taylor

I suppose they probably did only see themselves together in death. They were so simple minded about the issue that it would have been easy, if not exciting, for the two to believe so. I also agree with Kristie, even though she stole my orange text. Yes, they will themselves to die. Catherine's foolish thoughts about social class and Heathcliff's vengeful nature keep them from being happy together. They suffer because of their own doing. Heath

Yes, the only way they could be together was in death. In the beginning it would have been socially impossible for them to be together. Later on in the story, it became even more impossible because of the outright hatred present by many of the characters toward Heathcliff. Violence would have definitely broke out if they stayed around home. Yes, they willed themselves to die I think or at least, lost the will to live because of their inability to be together. -Jordan

Amen, dog. True story right there, man. I can see where you're coming from because it's the same direction as me. :) Heathcliff's status as viewed by others completely destroyed any chance that the two had together and it was depressing to them. Of course they willed themselves to die. If they couldn't be together in life, why not death? -Mark


 * In a way, yes. Catherine chooses a life for herself with the fulfillment of social and monetary desires rather than love, and naturally she regrets it. It's romantic to say that they willed themselves to die, but people on their deathbeds are probably more likely to be unrealistically romantic. While their love might have once been true and alive, both were willingly married to other people and didn't do anything to remedy the situation. Death wasn't the only way they could have been together. If they loved each other as much as they say they did, they would have found a way. Chelsea

Heathcliff is a rough and violent character that grew up in a tough childhood. most of the characters looked down on him and mistreated him, basically everyone but Catherine. She loved him more than anything and they were very alike. But her need for the social acceptance of her husband she thought she couldn't marry Heathcliff. So I believe they thought the only way they could be together was after death. After Catherine died Heathcliff was very upset and probably wanted to die right there and be with her but he lived long after she died. Albert **

I believe that with Catherine's obsession, if I can call it that, with money and social status, and Heathcliff's not really having either, that death is truly the only place where they could be together, and so I believe that that is what they believed. In death, money and status would not matter, and so they could live in happiness only there. They obviously had feelings for eachother and wanted to be together, so it is possible that they DID will themselves to die. I can see where there could have been other ways, but I personally think that Catherine is to greedy of a person to have even tried. Leigh


 * Yes, I do believe that they thought that they could only be together when they were both dead. I agree with Chelsea, Catherine chooses a lifestyle that would fulfill her social and monetary desires. And she regrets choosing that lifestyle in the end. Her choice of marrying Edgar makes both Her and Heathcliff miserable for the rest of their lives. They wanted to die so they could be together and be happy for once. Shawn **

I agree with Heath wholeheartedly. Catherine only cares to improve her social standing while Heathcliff is obssessed with his revenge. Though they long to be together, they kept themselves apart in this way. Catherine and Heathcliff can only be reunited in death, after all their trivial earthly ambitions have been fulfilled. I think that, out of the pair, Heathcliff was the only one who willed himself to die. He thrives on his revenge, and when it ends, he dies with it. Angel

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 * I think that they are stubborn, selfish, narrowminded children at heart and that they made themselves die because they because they were meant to be together but made it so complicated that the idea of getting married to each other was unfathomable. Also, they were both too obsessed with something else (Heathcliff's revenge, Catherine's social standing) that they missed the fact that they were in love.**

I think they knew they could only be together in death. By the time both expressed their love for each other it was too late and they could not be together. I think Catherine willed herself to death, but I think Heathcliff, in a way, wanted to punish himself by being haunted by Catherine's soul so he lived as long as he could. Moriah

I think they did will thierselves to die but i dont think that the only way they could be together was by death. Heathcliff knew that Catherine loved him long before she ever married Edgar and instead of trying to talk to her about it he just disappeared. Even thought Catherine was after the social class and the money, personally I think Heathcliff could of won her over if he would of only told her how he truely felt. Kelli

<span style="color: #972197; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">I believe they did both will themselves to die. Although they could have chosen to be together, Catherine was to stubborn and afraid of what people would say. But after Heathcliff returned, she realized that she did regret the decision she made because she truly loved him. After he came back, her husband basically forbid the presence of Heathcliff which Catherine couldn't take. In Heathcliffs eyes, after Catherine was gone, there wasn't much to live for. --Trisha

I very much agree with Kristie's response. She brings up good, key points that make the story what it is. It's made obvious that they couldn't be together because of their contrasting social classes, and so it makes sense to believe in being together in death. Infact, Heathcliff obviously thought of the notion because he states that when he dies, half his coffin will be attached to Catherine's, and they will be, from that moment on, buried together. Andrea White

Catherine stated from the very beginnings of her relationship with Edgar that she would have chosen Heathcliffe if not for the desire to maintain respectable social standings. Knowing of Heathcliffe's reaction, and feeling no small amount of guilt on her own part, may have led Catherine to relinquish the will to live. Heathcliffe, on the other hands, held a very obvious element of bitterness that Catherine didn't share with him. In my opinion, Catherine was able to die without pointing at an enemy. Heathcliffe made several foes through the course of this novel and, although he suffered through heartache, his malice acted as a sustaining agent that required constant enabling. -Trevor

I believe that they did will themselves to die. From the day they met, they became closer and closer and everntually began to love each other. Heathcliff believed that they were going to be married, but Catherine knew they could not be together because of their sociall classes. If they cannot be together, then they would much rather die. Halie ||
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">// Wuthering //// Heights // is considered by many to be one of the greatest romances in literature. Do you agree with this? What is your definition of a romantic novel? Must a great romance have a happy ending? || **First of all, let me start off with this. Who the heck considers this to be one of the greatest romances in literature (sorry if I offend anyone, you know I didn't mean to if I did :)). My definition of a romantic novel involves you know, a boy and a girl. I guess you MIGHT be able to argue the fact that __Wurthering Heights__ has a boy and a girl...and another boy. But honestly, there is too much that goes on in this novel that breaks away from the love aspect to be considered romantic in my completely true and right and amazing and awesome and fantastic opinion. And to answer the question about a romance needing a happy ending, well I think it definitely helps, is it a NECESSITY? No, probably not, but a good romance can be killed by a sad ending. For example, "50 First Dates" featuring Adam Sandler ALMOST killed the whole movie with the ending. I mean if you turned that movie off with five minutes to go you would leave that theater crying. I suppose that they did save it after killing it after saving it again with the whole video tape in the morning when she wakes up thing, but you know. Wow, I just realized that I went off in a completely random tangent that really doesn't show that much relavance to my point. Oh well, maybe I'll get extra credit for typing so much? :) I sure hope so...please? -Mark**

In my opinion I have to say that I do not agree. A little too Soap Opera-ish for me. But, I do agree that a romantic novel should have at least one tragedy. My definiton of a romantic novel would be a novel that has plenty of romance but a tragedy after the climax. And no, a novel doesn't necessarily have to have a happy ending. (Romeo and Juliet) Heath

Yes, I really liked this book, but honestly I haven't read that many romance novels. My definition is any story where the main plot of the story is based around the love of two people and the hard times that their love must go through. I think that a romance novel can have a happy ending, but it doesn't have to. -Jordan

I have to say, that out of all the books I've been required to read for English classes, this is actually at the bottom of the list of ones I've enjoyed. I didn't think this novel was a positive love story, but rather a tragic love story. If looked at from that point of view I suppose it could be said it's a good love story, but I can honestly say there's quite a few others I would say to be better. This points out that I don't believe a romance has to have a happy ending. Andrea White


 * Not even close. I found the whole book to be unnecessarily confusing, with all the H names and figuring out who was related to whom and how. It was also really dull, honestly. Even with Heathcliff's craziness, it was hard to pay attention. Any novel centered around love, relationships, and the people and problems involved is a romantic novel. And no, a happy ending isn't required. Most great love stories actually don't - like Heath said, Romeo and Juliet. Chelsea

<span style="color: #5400ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I don't think so. Like Chelsea said it was confusing and hard to pay attention. I think any novel that revolves around any aspect of relationships, love, or what people go through to be with another person is a romantic novel. Love stories don't have to have a happy ending like Chelsea said most of them don't. Albert **

I have not read enough romance to be able to make a broad assessment. I liked the book well enough, and, in a way, I almost thought that the complexity added to value of the novel (although two Catherines was a little much). A happy ending is not necessary to have a romance novel.- Isaiah

I agree with Chelsea. There was too much confusion to actually pay attention to the romance. I think it was more of a REVENGE type thing than a romance. There were small sections that were sort of romantic, but the overall novel not so much. And no, not all romances have to have happy endings, that's pretty much only in Disney movies. I haven't read many romance novels either...none really come to mind other than Twilight (please don't type-yell at me). I don't know, i just really can't consider this a romance...I was too busy trying to figure out which Catherine they were referring to and what kid belonged to who...the tree didn't help much.... Leigh


 * I disagree, I did not like this novel very much. The story itself was pretty good but the novel seemed to bore me because of the way it was told if that all makes sense.There would be one romance, then they would die, then there would be two more romances and one would die and then the other would die....and then there was ANOTHER romance...That's how it seemed to me. I found it quite confusing, especially in the beginning. I don't believe a happy ending is really necessary in all romances. Shawn**

It is one of the greatest in the way that it inspects elements of a thwarted romance and also teaches a lesson all of us can apply in life: don't let the things you want get in the way of the things you need. Anyway, I think romances typically involve requited love, lust, sunsets, white horses, and/or other pretty things. A great romance can end happily or in tragedy; its "greatness" does not entirely depend on that. Angel

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Well, I think that this novel was one of the first soap operas ever. It is filled with drama to the extreme!!!!!! I also think that this novel can very much be a good romance for those who enjoy such a topic, but it's definately not for me. Not all romances have a happy ending; it's sorta part of it being a romance. --Tawnni**

Seriously? The greatest romances in literature? I think not!!! I would say what Tawnni said. It was one of the greatest soap operas ever! I think a good romance needs a happy ending. I also think a novel needs more love and a lot less hate and sadness. Moriah

<span style="color: #e16666; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 98%;">//<span style="color: #bc1a1a; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Of course, one of the reasons why //<span style="color: #bc1a1a; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Wuthering Heights //is considered to be one the classic romances is the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine, a relationship that transcends time and place. I like the scene that Trisha mentioned earlier, when Catherine explains to Nelly why she's marrying Edgar. She sees her marriage as the only way to save Heathcliff from Hindley; she doesn't see her marriage as a betrayal of either Heathcliff or Edgar (whom she loves in a different sort of way). She tells Nelly, "My greatest thought in living is Heathcliff. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be ... Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure .. but as my own being." In other words, Catherine and Heathcliff are the same person; she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness (and possibly that of Edgar) to make sure that Heathcliff is safe. Another interesting twist is the second generation of relationships; the second generation learns to temper their passions and to love without destruction. pbowling//

I dont think that it was a very good romance. I understand where Trish was coming from but it needed alot more romance and alot less drama as Tawnni and Moriah said. Not all romances have to have a happy ending but it makes the story better when it does. :) Kelli

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">I definetly don't think it's even close to a great love story. Sure there was love everywhere in the book. But if you love someone you will find a way to be with that person, because you know that is what will make you truly happy you wont care about material things or what people think as long as you have that person. This was not the case. Most everyone married for either social status or because they were forced. The characters in this story didn't know the meaning of true love, if they had then yes it would have been a great love story. And i agree that great love storys do not have to have a happy lovey ending. --Trisha

This book doesn't fit the "romantic love story" in my opinion. When you think of romantic novels, you think of a plot that creates a problem situation for two lovers and then allows them to find someway to be rejoined anyway. In Wuthering Heights, the two are left to die unhappily apart. I enjoyed the novel, but didn't find it in anyway romantic. --Kristie Taylor

Wuthering Heights speaks to me as a tragedy of a macabre sort. The book is riddled with dark tones and textures that seem to tap the full potential of shadowy, Victorian creepiness. My definition of a great romance is something much less realistic, in which two characters fall for each other in a world that already seems braced for their eventual union while overcoming relevant obstacles that mostly avoid complexity. Nobody in Wuthering Heights was naive enough to pursue a love in which joyful admiration and respect played a key role because they'd all been crapped on their entire lives, and, as a result, never looked for opportunities to let everyone down softly. In my opinion, because the novel is so eloquenty captures how grimey life and people can be, it's killed as a romantic tragedy. Even //Romeo and Juliet// had enough sanitary proto-characters in it to make the story work, but Heathcliffe, Catherine, Hindley, and Edgar are all such well-crafted "blank"-holes that the simple, easy solutions to dramatic situations (ala any modern soap opera) couldn't happen due to the refreshing depth and unapologetic viciousness of the heavy players. -Trevor

​ I think that Wuthering Heights does not fall under the romance catagory. When I think of a romance novel,I think of two individuals that are in love with each other, get married or something and live happily. This is not at all how Wuthering Heights ended. I liked the book alot, I did not think it was a romance novel. Halie ||