《呼啸山庄》中凯瑟琳人物性格分析---毕业论文.doc

【标题】呼啸山庄中凯瑟琳人物性格分析Analysis of Catherines Character in Wuthering Heights 【作者】赵 俞 【关键词】凯瑟琳；性格；矛盾 【指导老师】李 雷 【专业】英语 【正文】I. Introduction A. Introduction to the Author Emily Bront? is a literature genius both as an individual and as one of the Bront? sisters. She is regarded as Absolute Individual, Free Spirit Communing with Nature, the Romantic Rebel, as well as Solitary Genius. She lived in a churchmans house in Haworth with the bleak moors of Yorkshire. In truth, her life and home were isolated and often unhappy. Her father was a withdrawn man who died alone in his own room. When Emily was three years old, her mother died of cancer, and her Aunt Branwell, who raised them after the early death of their mother, also died alone in her room. The two oldest sisters died as children. She is lonely all the time. For three years, Emily can speak only to family servants. When Emily was 6 years old, she went to a boarding school run by charity, the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge, where her older sisters Maria, Elizabeth, and Charlotte were already enrolled. The school was not better than her home environment and they are treated badly: it was run with the intention of punishing the pupils bodies so that their souls might be saved. The students were kept hungry, cold, tired, and often ill: Maria in particular, who at her young age did her best to take care her sisters, was treated extremely harshly. In 1825, Maria and Elizabeth both died of tuberculosis, the disease that was later to claim Emilys own life. However, in their isolation, Bront? sisters, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne created their famous books.B. Introduction to the Novel Wuthering Heights displays an innocent love between Heathcliff and Catherine. For the story, there are two major figures in the four parts: First, the childhood of Heathcliff and Catherine, a poor boy, and a young girl, both of whom have some special emotion in the process of resisting Hindley. Second, Catherine becomes the host of Thrushcross Grange by marrying Linton, and she refuses Heathcliff because of her ignorance and vanity. The third part is the most important one including Heathcliffs revenge, his action, and his success. Last is the death of Heathcliff. In addition, there is a hope for us to see the return of humanity. Wuthering Heights is a gothic novel, and is the only novel by Emily Bront?. It was first published in 1847. As for Brontes Wuthering Heights, many readers will think of her gothic writing skills. Brontes favorite writing skill is gothic. The term“Gothic” describes, according to the dictionary,“a style of literature popular in 18th and 19th century, which describes romantic adventure in mysterious and frightening setting.”4“Gothic” has come to mean a particular style of art, be in the form of novels, painting, or architecture. It could mean“medieval” and it could even refer to a certain type of music and its fans. In this novel, many sections are described using the“Gothic” skill. It can present a powerful strength and mysteries.Except for the special“gothic” skills, the name of the novel had the special meaning. According to some research materials, the name of the novel came from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centers(as an adjective; wuthering is a Yorkshire word referring to bad weather). However, When Emily Bronte was creating this famous work, the condition of her society was very complicated. Frankly speaking, the great writer was deeply influenced by the resisting spirit of her time, also her purpose in this book. It was reasonable that human should fight for their happiness and freedom, but they always failed to do so because of the element of the society. At first, the publication of Wuthering Heights could not be accepted by readers and those analysts, because this work was so uncommon and the writer was considered as sickened. Her work had been controversial since it was published, Douglas Jerrolds review in the weekly Newspaper January 1848, for instance, refered to Wuthering Heights as a strange sort of book, baffling all regular criticism“brutal cruelty, and savage love.”1 Errold stated that there was a“great power in this book but a purpose less power.”2 and speakers of readers were shocked, disgusted, almost hated the abnormal power of love. Sydney Dobell, however, one of few critics at that time took sides with Emily Bronte, translated the book, and proved to the readers that innocent love was not only generally existed in the human mind but also gave rise to metal struggles in human life. Today, Wuthering Heights has proved to be a classic in the eyes of critics. It has also given rise to many adaptations and inspired works, including films, radio, television, musicals and songs.II. Catherines characters In the novel, Catherine is described as saucy, poiled, free-spirited and often arrogant. She is motivated by impulses that prompt her to violate social conventions to love Heathcliff, but her actions are driven in part by her social ambitions, so her selfishness and vanity make her betray her true love, and lead to her tragedy. In general, Catherines short life can be expressed three kinds of character. A. Catherines ContradictionThe daugher of Mr. Earnshaw and his wife, Catherine falls powerfully in love with Heathcliff, the orphan Mr. Earnshaw brings home from Liverpool. Catherine loves Heathcliff deeply and they have common interest. She describes he is more herself as she is, and no matter what their souls are made of, his and hers are the same. Her biggest pain is Heathcliffs pain, and the biggest goal she is living is him. Even if all withered away, mainly he remains down, she can continue to live in this world, but if he dies, the whole world is the most strange place for her, and she is not in it anymore. We can see her contradiction by reading Catherines words:“But-but I can not marry Heathcliff now, he is nothing but a farm boy. oh, Ellen, I would be so ashamed.”3 I think If Heathcliff and she marries, they would be terribly poor, and they would be so unhappy. So, her desire for social advancement motivates her to marry Edgar Linton instead. But in the end, she is torn between her wild passion for Heathcliff and her social ambition.Three years later, Heathcliff comes back with a lot of money to revenge. When Catherine first sees him, she is breathless and wild, too excited to show her gladness. At that time, she has been Eagars wife, but her mind still loves Heathcliff. Actually, She brings misery to both of the men who love her. Catherines feeling to Edgar Linton is to satisfy her vanity. Edgar Linton is handsome, young, and cheerful. The most important is that he will be very rich, and she shall be pride of having such a husband. It could satisfy her vanity to be a respectable lady with high social position. The importance she thinks is that she can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of her brothers power. She attempts to cover her selfishness and vanity in the way. When Catherine marries Edgar Linton, she has been happy at the beginning of the marriage, she thinks having parties all the time is going to be fun. Yet, after a while, she becomes bored. She also realizes that she loves Heathcliff more than Edgar and would always love Heathcliff. This enlightenment creates separation between Edgar and Catherine during the final hours of Cathys life. An unhappy marriage is doomed between Catherine and Linton. Because this is a forced marriage, Cathy has not yet learned all she could about Linton. Because she does not know until after the marriage. When she finds that Linton is selfish and inconsiderate, she becomes distressed and grows isolated in the house. Untill she dies, Catherine still never make a choice between Edgar and Heathcliff. After Catherine dies, the location of Catherines coffin symbolizes the conflict that tears apart her short life. She is not buried in the chapel with the Lintons, nor is placed among the tombs of the Earnshaw. Instead, she is buried with Edgar on one side and Heathcliff on the other, suggesting her conflicted loyalties. Her actions are driven in part by her social ambitions, which initially are awakened during her first stay at the Lintons, and which eventually compels her to marry Edgar. However, she is also motivated by impulses that prompt her to violate social conventions to love Heathcliff. So, it is so complicated to evaluate Catherine. Emily Bronte shows her sympathy and her anger on Catherine. B. Catherines Innocence towards LoveCatherine is constantly in pursuit for freedom and independence. For Catherine, pursuiting for innocenct love can be expressed out in three sections. First, Catherine and Heathcliff, when they are children, help each other, and gradually love each other. When she is only a little girl, she is not a quiet girl no matter when she is healthy and sick. Family members do not like her, only Heachcliff would like to make friends with her. And Heathcliff, after Mr. Earnshaw dies, is treated badly as a servant by Hindley. In the whole family, only Catherine treats him as a good friend. This is the basic of their solitary love. Second, Catherine marries to Edgar Linton who does not know well. Because of her ignorance, in her opinion, maybe, the sense of marriage, refers to the relationship between the poor and the rich, the importance of education and religion and so on. We can see that by reading Catherines words:“oh, Heathcliff can never know how much I love him, Ellen Heathcliff is more than myself-We love the same thing, and feel about things the same as way.”5 So, Catherine can decide to marry Edgar, because she believes no matter how they hurt each other, they can be sure of never losing their shared passion. She believes this action will have no effect on her and Heathcliffs inner feeling for another. The last are her evaluation on Linton and Heathcliff. In this words: My biggest pain is Heathcliffs pain. I am living the biggest goal is him, even if all withered away, mainly he remains down, I can continue to live in this world, but if he dies, that the whole world is the most strange place for me and I am not in it anymore. I am a leaf for Linton if he is a tree, when winter is coming, it will influence me just on the tree. I am a rock for my love to Heathcliff, which will be permanent and he forever exists in my heart. If heathcliff and I were married, we would be terrible poor, and so unhappy, But if I marry to Edgar Linton, I can help Heathcliff, and take him away from here, so that Hindley will not be able to hurt him any more.6From these words, we can see that Heathcliff is a so important man in Catherines mind. We can understand her miserable mood when she faces Heathcliff and Edgar Linton. We can see that Catherine marries Edgar is not only for her social position, for herself, but also for a protection for Heathcliff. What she does shows her innocenct love to Heathcliff. C. Catherines SelfishnessThree years later, Heathcliff comes back with a lot of money to revenge. When Catherine first sees him, she is breathless and wild, too excited to show her gladness without noticing her husbands unhappiness. And she almost forgets she has betrayed and hurt Heathcliff three years ago. If we say Catherine betrays Heathcliff three years ago, now when Heathcliff comes back we can say Catherine also betrays her husband, Eagar Linton. She permits Heathcliff to visit her frequently no matter when her husband is in or out. When her husband could not bear it, and wants to teach him a lesson, she says to her husband:If you have not the courage to attack him, make an apology, or allow youself to be beated. It will correct you of feigning more valor than you possess. I am delightfully rewarded for my kindness to each! After constant indulgence of ones weak nature, and the others bad one, I learn for thanks two samples of blind ingratitude, stupid to absurdity! Edgar, I was defending you and yours; and I wish Heathcliff may flog you sick, for daring to think an evil thought of me!7From the above description, we can see a selfish Catherine, who never considerate about her husbands feeling. We all know that Edgar is so kind to her. But what she says to her husband is to torment Edgar.Catherine does not know herself completely until she is dying. She claims that Edgar and Heathcliff break her heart, and they kill her. She even wants Heathcliff to suffer more after her death. She says bitterly:I wish I could hold you, till we are both dead! I should not care what you suffered, I care nothing for your sufferings. Why should not suffer? I do! Will you forget me? Will you be happy when I am in the earth? Will you say twenty years hence,Thats the grave of Catherine Earnshaw. I loved her long ago, and was wretched to lose her, but it is past. I have loved many other since: my children are dearer to me than she was; and at death, I shall not rejoice that I am going to her; I shall be sorry that I must leave them! Will you say, Heathcliff? 8 She knows Heathcliff loves her and only loves her deeply, and he looks her as his own life, and he could not lose her any more, but she says so cruelly. Her selfishness makes Heathcliff under in the torments of hell. Heathcliffs words are also the strongest evidence of her selfishness:Are you possess with a devil to talk in that manner to me when you are dying? Do you reflect that all those words will be branded on my memory, and eating deeply eternally after you have left me? You know you lie to say I have kill you: Catherine, you know that I could as soon forget you as you as my existence! Is it not sufficient for your infernal selfishness, that while you are at peace I shall writhe in the torment of the hell?9After Catherines death, her soul often goes back to Wuthering Heights and makes Heathcliff suffer more. Though Heathcliff has revenged on everyone concerned with the Earnshaws and the Lintons, he could not get pleasure from it; on the contrary, he is lost in deep sorrow, because of Catherines soul. This is the utterly selfish Catherine, who even uses her soul to torment Heathcliff, until he is dead. We all know, Heathcliff loves her and only loves her deeply, and he looks her as his own life, and he could not lose her any more. But she treats Heathcliff so cruelly.III. The Reasons of Catherines Character A. The Internal FactorWhen she is only a little girl, she is not a quiet girl no matter when she is healthy and sick. And she is so naughty, we can see her inherent character from Nellys description: She had ways with her such as I never saw a child take up before; and she put all of us past our patience fifty times and oftener in a day: from the hour she came downstairs till the hour she went to bed, we had not a minutes security that she wouldnt be in mischief. Her spirits were always at high-water mark, her tongue always going-singing, laughing, and plaguing everybody who would not do the same. Her father, an old gentleman said,why cannot you always be a good lass, Candy? And she turned her face up to his, and laughed, and answered,Why can not you always be a good man, father? In play, she liked exceedingly to act the little mistress; using her hands freely, and commanding her companions: she did so to me, but I would not bear shopping and ordering; and so I let her know.10 From these descriptions above, we can see Catherine is a selfish, naughty, wild and clever girl. This character is from her inherent factor. Because, first, she is born in Wuthering Heights, and is a rich lady. But she never have interest to learn the social ceremony like other young ladies. She says what she likes, and she does what she would like. So, Catherine is described as a rebel of that society. She has a good opportunity to receive good education, but she chooses to be a wild girl. She would like to play with Heathcliff and resist her brother, Hindley. We can see Catherine never mind the social status in her childhood. In anther words, she never have a conception about rich and poor in her childhood. From this section, we can see Catherines innocence, wildness and cuteness. This character is not from what she learns, but from the god! We can get the conclusion that Catherines such character is not related with the family environment, but related to her inherent factor.Second, Catherine has a good father, Mr. Earnshaw, who is a gentleman. Ms. Earnshaw is strict to her, and tries to let her become obedient. However, whatever he says to her, she never have interest to hear it. For example, when she is naughty, her father tells her to be a good lass, but she asks her father to be a good father. Sometimes, she makes her father angry, which makes her cry. But with 2 minutes, she utterly forgets the lesson her father teaches her. She never inherit from her fathers gentle character and she never be influenced by her father. We can say she is totally different from her father. Her naughty, selfishness is not be corrected even in her family, So, the only reason of her character is from her own inherent factor.B. The External Factor From the analysis of the influence of family and surroundings and the stimulating factors of tragedy, the reason why Emily could write the masterpiece Wuthering Heights is gotten. Catherine is Mr. Earnshaws only daughter. Her father is so kind and spoils her. Her family members spoil her, which attributes to her arrogance and selfishness. In Wuthering Heights, she is the beautiful princess. She can do anything if she wants. Of course, laughing at Heathcliff is one of her interests. If Catherine is not the Mr. Earnshaws daughter, but is a servant, she will love Heathcliff and choose to be his wife. Her true love and her status are doomed to separate. So, her family, her status, her true love are doomed to be contradictory.When Bronte composed her book, in the 1840s, the English economy was severely depressed, and the condition of the factory workers in industrial areas like Liverpool were so bad. Thus, many of the more rich members of society beheld these workers with a mixture of sympathy. Heathcliff is just a poor homeless orphan in Liverpool. Catherine is kind of naughty and arrogant, but she is not mean to harm. She takes sympathy to Heathcliff even when she knows Heathcliff is merely a poor servant in the Wuthering Heights. She is much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatest punishment for her is to keep her separate from Heathcliff. She tries her best to protect him when Hindly abuses him. And she is motivated by impulses that prompt her violate social conventions to love Heathcliff. From this section, we can see that Catherine is in pursuits of innocent love.And with the fast development of English economy, people are deeply influence by that society, especially the capitalism. Everybody regards money, status as over importance. This is the main trend in that society. Catherine is one of the representatives at hat time. Although she takes sympathy to Heathcliff and loves him deeply, she looks down upon his social status. This is the reason that she would like to laugh at him. Her vanity for social advancement motivates her to marry Edgar Linton instead. This part is the reason of Catherines selfishness and contradiction.IV. The Significance of Catherines Character in the novelWuthering Heights is well known by the passion of Heathcliff and Catherine. This novel is a successful work not merely of English literature but of European literature as well. Nevertheless, the Significance of building Catherines Character in the novel is one of the factors promoting the success of Wuthering Heights. First, because Catherine is