Novel: Wuthering Heights ENG4U105/Joanna Lu

Double Entry Journals | Five Key Moments

Theories: Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic
Quotation & Context

Analysis Connection to either Marxism, Feminism, and/or Psychoanalytic

theory

It would degrade me to marry

The significance of this quote can be related to two theories:

Heathcliff now; so he shall never know

Marxism and the Jungian Theory.

how I love him; and that, not because

hes handsome, Nelly, but because
hes more myself than I am. Whatever
our souls are made of, his and mine
are the same and [Edgars] is as
different as a moonbeam from
lightning, or frost from fire.
[Chapter 9]
Context:
This quotation was Catherines speech
to Nelly about her acceptance of
Edgars proposal. After Heathcliff
hears Catherine say this, he leaves
Wuthering Heights. Edgar Linton is
very high up in terms of social class,

In relation to the Marxism Theory, it can be seen that Catherine is

torn between authenticity and social convention (Thampi 87)
based on an article regarding Marxism and the Literary Criticism.
This quotation explains the authenticity Catherine feels towards
Heathcliff, but her ultimately decision to accept Edgars proposal
shows that there is an underlying issue regarding who is a better fit
for her. Evidently there is a social class divide between the two
male, where status is valued similar to the gap between the
proletariats and bourgeoisie outlined in the Marxism theory. Edgar
evidently controls more of the means of production and thus
catches more of Catherines eyes. Catherine has very old social
ideologies where she believes that marriage should benefit more
than just individual feelings, but also social class. The marriage
between Catherine and Edgar would result for her to become the
greatest woman in the neighbourhood.

and by Catherine marrying him, she

In relation to the Jungian theory, this quotation speaks to the

would similarly obtain the status of

characters bonding on a psychological level where Catherine speaks

the greatest woman in the

to whatever our souls are made of. Souls can be related back to

Novel: Wuthering Heights ENG4U105/Joanna Lu

neighbourhood.
an individuals individuation the process of becoming an individual
(Nelly is the housekeeper and the

separated by other based on fully realized differences. Evidently,

narrator that shares her point of view

Catherine believes to have understood the individuation attributes

throughout the story.)

of herself, Heathcliff and Edgar. The soul can also speak to all
aspects of the psyche including the shadow which also affects who
we are in our souls.

Mr. Hindley came home to the

Similar to the first quotation, this can be analyzed through two

funeral; and a thing that amazed us,

lenses: The Feminism Theory and the Marxism Theory.

and set the neighbours gossiping right

and left he brought a wife with him.

As Wuthering Heights takes places in the 16th century, where society

What she was, and where she was

was dominated by social conventions regarding status, gender,

born, he never informed us: probably,

wealth and more, there were many limitations for the people at the

she had neither money nor name to

time especially women. In this quotation, it outlines the shock and

recommend her, or he would scarcely

disruption of social norms as Mr. Hindley brought a wife with him.

have kept the union from his father.

Mr. Hindley evidently has very high views of Frances and has won

[Chapter 6]

over his affections; however because of this almost equal viewing

and her joining of the Earnshaw clan she is only met with

Context:

disapproval. She is seen as the other in terms of feminism lens,

Frances joins the unwelcoming

where she is an outcaste based on her gender and economic

Earnshaw clan. Though unknown and

conditions.

without family or fortune (just like

Heathcliff), she has managed to win

In terms of the Marxism theory, Frances economic background is

Novel: Wuthering Heights ENG4U105/Joanna Lu

Hindley's affections. Curiously, this is
addressed with distain in this quotation. Social status is something
one of the only mentions of neighbors.

that is normally flaunted and shared in the introductory phases

She is greeted with no affections as

when meeting other individuals. Social status is associated with

the her past is muddy and her

class, and thus more respect is gained for the individual. However,

whereabouts in terms of family is

in this quotation, it outlines that there is an automatic degradation

unknown.

of Frances as she does not explain her economic situation

immediately. Her family did not control the means of production as
bourgeoisie, rather, they are proletariats; thus not matching the
theme of higher class individuals found in the rest of the Earnshaw
clan.

"Were I in your place, I would frame

Using Marxism lens, this quotation speaks to the value of class in a

high notions of my birth; and the

background within the society. As Heathcliff does not know where he

thoughts of what I was should give me

is from, Nellys advice is to imagine himself coming from a

courage and dignity to support the

bourgeoisie family rather than that of a proletariat that would not

oppressions of a little farmer!"

have to suffer the oppressions of a little farmer. Thampi speaks to

[Chapter 7]

Emily Brontes novels about the recurrent ideologically oriented

categorical structure of roles, values and relations which function as

Context:

the primary mediation between the novels and social reality. This

Nelly speaks in this quotation as she

secondary source speaks to the reflectionism involved in the novel

attempts to provide Heathcliff with

as the novel highlights the social reality of the constant belittlement

advice as he does not know where he

of the proletariats and the over-appraising of the bourgeoisie. It is

is from. As social class is such an

shown as the advice and speech all revolve around class, something

important factor, she advises him to

every individual in the novel yearns for.

dream of an noble and exotic

background for himself, rather than

Novel: Wuthering Heights ENG4U105/Joanna Lu

the oppressions of a little farmer.