I have just finished Wuthering Heights.

Significant events/ characters

Catherine Heathcliff – stands up to Heathcliff when he refuses to let her and Mrs Dean leave The Heights. “‘We will go!’ she repeated, exerting her utmost efforts to cause the iron muscles to relax; and finding that her nails made no impression, she applied her teeth pretty sharply” – this shows her determination despite the fact that Heathcliff is much bigger and stronger than she is.

Linton Heathclif – stereotypical gender role reversal – “‘Oh’ he sobbed, ‘I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine, I’m a traitor too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me and I shall be killed!” – the man is stereotypically the hero, saving the damsel in distress, whereas here Catherine Lintion is the one taking the role of hero and Linton is taking the role of damsel in distress.

Linton’s continuous manipulation of Catherine Linton is another another example of the stereotypical woman and man role being inverted. Linton constantly groaning and moaning and even “wail[s] aloud for very pity of himself”.

Isabella Linton is a somewhat minor character in regards to her appearences in the book, but she allows major plot progression. she raises Linton for much of his life singlehandedly, shows strength and intelligence in the length to which she is willing to go to escape Heathcliff. Isabella allows Brontë to challenge the thoughts of women by society, as a woman leaving er husband was something that was very frowned upon in the 1800s.

the stereotypical roles of the genders are challenged by Emily Brontë in Wuthering Heights; both Catherines are self-reliant, determined characters with strong personalities – a characteristic commonly associated with males, whereas characters such as Edgar Linton and Linton Heathcliff possess characteristics stereotypically associated with women.