3/5
Despite rating it 3 stars, I really did enjoy this gothic novel. It took me about a week to finish, and I found it to be quite an intriguing read. I was not glued to the book (partly due to the old-English which I need to brush up on) but I also did not dread picking it up every day.
Known for being ahead of its time, Wuthering Heights is brutally honest in its depiction of the ugly side of humanity. Emily Bronte’s depictions of mental illness, social class, and domestic abuse were engaging and well-written. It evokes many mixed emotions in its reader. Similar to Lolita, I found myself sympathizing with one of the “villains” of the novel - Heathcliff - which confused me greatly as the author spends a good portion of the novel pitting the reader against him. He is not created to be likable or deserving of pity. Yet, his tragic upbringing and obsession with Catherine makes his actions seem almost oddly understandable. He has few redeemable qualities and is never made out to be a hero. In some ways, this honesty makes Bronte’s imperfect characters somewhat likable.
Overall, this is a very dark read with complex characters. I really enjoyed the shift in viewpoint between the frame narrator, Lockwood, and the recorder of the main narrative, Nelly. I would highly suggest it to anyone interested in classic literature or difficult themes!
