The Significance of Context
To understand how and why Emily Brontë incorporated narrative techniques in Wuthering Heights, one must have a thorough understanding of the rapidly changing times in which she lived.
Understanding Christianity in Victorian Times
Christianity has historically been a major player in the events, society and values of European culture, and in few places was it more prevalent than in Victorian England, a period a radical social and political reform for Britain. The biggest catalyst that shifted the customs and values of Christianity during this time was the Industrial Revolution, a period in England's history when during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the society shifted away from being agrarian to having to work in factories in cities.
- The balance of power at the upper levels hence shifted from the Church (who used to exert massive control on decision making) to the industrialists. Therefore, at least in principle, it had gone from an organisation for the public to a group inherently focussed on making money.
- This caused great exploitation of lower and middle classes, who were taken away from relatively peaceful lives on farms to polluted and congested cities, working in unsafe factories with terrible working conditions and wages.
- At the time, the Church's power was under attack both from the Darwinists, whose theory of evolution undermined their story, and the industrialists, who had taken advantage of the technological advancements., Hence, to a large extent, they ignored the social injustices caused by the Industrial Revolution to 'stick with the winners,' causing a contradiction with its supposed values. The exploitation of chimney sweepers demonstrates this.
- The clergy at this stage had still not shifted away from Puritan ideals, and so this caused a great number of hypocrisies as they would preach their pious beliefs, before turning their backs on exploited children.
All of these factors created a sense resentment towards the Church by those able to understand their dereliction of responsibility, including the Brontës.
The Brontës
Emily Brontë would have undoubtedly been affected greatly by her family influences. Her father, Patrick, was a well known and respected local vicar and an educated man. Although pious, he exhibited none of the hypocrisies prevalent in the clergy. Hence, much of Emily Brontë's positive outlook on Christianity, and understanding of what it truly was would have been affected by him.
As well as this, Brontë's siblings would have influenced her beliefs. Although Emily had great respect for Christian values such as forgiveness and appreciation for God's creation, she possessed a rebellious spirit that allowed her to overcome the contemporary attitudes towards women writing such shocking and provocative stories. This most likely would have come from her writing scandalous stories during her youth with her sisters, in small font to disguise them from her father.
Emily Brontë would have undoubtedly been affected greatly by her family influences. Her father, Patrick, was a well known and respected local vicar and an educated man. Although pious, he exhibited none of the hypocrisies prevalent in the clergy. Hence, much of Emily Brontë's positive outlook on Christianity, and understanding of what it truly was would have been affected by him.
As well as this, Brontë's siblings would have influenced her beliefs. Although Emily had great respect for Christian values such as forgiveness and appreciation for God's creation, she possessed a rebellious spirit that allowed her to overcome the contemporary attitudes towards women writing such shocking and provocative stories. This most likely would have come from her writing scandalous stories during her youth with her sisters, in small font to disguise them from her father.
Surroundings
Growing up in a time with such poor utilities for the lower and middle classes, Brontë was heavily exposed to death from a young age. A sewerage problem in her town of Haworth had over a number of years claimed the lives of 41% of the young population, and being a priest, her father had the task of conducting the funerals. Later on, other diseases claimed the lives of two of her siblings and her mother. Being unable to explain these freak deaths, Brontë and many others would have resorted to the only explanation they found: God, and punishment for sins.
Growing up in a time with such poor utilities for the lower and middle classes, Brontë was heavily exposed to death from a young age. A sewerage problem in her town of Haworth had over a number of years claimed the lives of 41% of the young population, and being a priest, her father had the task of conducting the funerals. Later on, other diseases claimed the lives of two of her siblings and her mother. Being unable to explain these freak deaths, Brontë and many others would have resorted to the only explanation they found: God, and punishment for sins.