A Clash between Nature and Culture Melissa Bradley

Wuthering Heights is essentially a romantic novel in which the author, Emily Bronte, brings two groups of people with different backgrounds into contact with each other. Close analysis of the novel reveals a key theme. When the reader examines the backgrounds and characteristics of the people in the two families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, it is obvious that the two separate houses represent opposing worlds and values. The Earnshaws are wild, volatile, and strong while the Lintons are genteel, calm and delicate. It is clear that Bronte is playing nature against culture in this story, and this battle ends up being the driving force of the novel.

Although many of the differences between the families lie in the characteristics of the characters, it is important also to examine the places in which they live. The Earnshaws are from Wuthering Heights, a place isolated on the barren moors. Bronte describes the harsh weather and goes on to say that the house was built strong to withstand it. "Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong; the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones."(Bronte 4). The inside of the house is described as nothing more than dismal...