Heathcliff as a Byronic Hero
A Byronic hero is defined by Thomas B. Macaulay according to The Oxford Companion to English Literature (Oxford University Press, New York, 1985) as "proud, moody, cynical, with defiance on his brow, and misery in his heart ... implacable in revenge, yet capable of deep and strong affection." This definition fits the main character Heathcliff in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights". Heathcliff is also a man who has sinned in his life, a man who lives to find revenge, and, yet, a man who the reader is (at times) capable of feeling sorry for. For these reasons, Heathcliff is a perfect example of a Byronic hero. One finds themselves feeling sorry for Heathcliff from the beginning of the book. Heathcliff arrives at Wuthering Heights as a boy after having been orphaned. Immediately the young gypsy finds himself being picked on by Hindley, who feels like he is competing with Heathcliff for his father's attention. From the very beginning, how
Therefore, it can be concluded that Heathcliff is a Byronic hero since he fits the major criteria. ever, Heathcliff is described with such words as "dark" and a "fiend". Second, Heathcliff seeks revenge on the pain he has experienced in his life. Likewise, many people have experienced heartbreaking losses, as Heathcliff has, and can empathize with the pain he feels. He wants to find revenge in two ways. His misery and cruelty spreads to everybody within his reach. This pain stems from a difficult childhood and the loss of his one true love to another man, and to death. As he advances in age, the young man falls madly in love with Catherine, his stepsister. In fact, Heathcliff even regrets having saved Hareton after he was tossed off a balcony by his father, who was drunk. Heathcliff spends much of his time considering different ways he can get revenge on those who have hurt him. This means that he has a goal of seizing both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, lands owned by Hindley Earnshaw and Edgar Linton, respectively. The first way is by hurting the children of those who hurt him. Despite his many glaring faults, the reader is somehow able to sympathize with Heathcliff. Nonetheless, the boy was picked on badly by his stepbrother throughout his early years at Wuthering Heights. The second method that Heathcliff uses is to take control of the land and possessions of those who had harmed him.
Common topics in this essay:
Edgar Linton,
Heathcliff Byronic,
Wuthering Heights,
Heights Heathcliff,
Press York,
Hindley Heathcliff,
Thrushcross Grange,
,
wuthering heights,
byronic hero,
Thomas Macaulay,
Hareton Earnshaw,
reasons heathcliff,
able sympathize,
edgar linton,
feeling sorry,
love catherine,
book heathcliff,
|
Acceptance Essays
