Social Conflicts in Wuthering Heights
-What are Social Conflicts?-
Social Conflicts are present between distinct groups of ideas and concepts rather than individuals. These are played out by their corresponding members. The primary social conflict within the text is between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, acting as metonyms for nature and society respectively.
Portrayal of The Heights
Growing Up and Identity
Catherine’s identity is heavily linked to her settings, and the conflict between them. Returning from her initial five week stay at the Grange she appears more civilized and mature. This characterization links the Heights to childhood, and the Grange to maturity and adult life. While an adult, Catherine longs for the Heights just as an aged person longs for youth. The opposition between the settings highlights the importance of childhood, and access to youthful pleasure in adulthood. This criticism is particularly effective for period readers due to the Romantic Movement present during this time. |
ConflictThis conflict is implicitly present in the opening chapters, where the tension between Lockwood of the Grange and the occupants of the Heights is palpable.
In the main narrative, the opposition arises when Heathcliff and Catherine stumble upon the Linton's residence – and here the latter begins her transformation into adulthood, their conflict acting as an allegory for this. The contrast between Catherine and Edgar’s life at the Grange and Hindley and Heathcliff at the Heights builds this conflict. This is continued in the next generation, when Cathy meets Linton and Hareton. When Cathy and Hareton (of The Grange and Heights respectively) marry at the conclusion of the text, this resolves this conflict by uniting both of the settings. This presents some hope for the future, that they have changed and successfully resolved their conflict. |
Portrayal of The Grange
Portrayal of Class
The Grange is a place of wealth and luxury while the Heights is duller and more utilitarian. When Catherine marries Edgar over Heathecliff it is for the persuit of the prestige offered by The Grange. Readers are confronted over how wealth affects one’s own love. |
-Key Quotes-
The Heights
The Grange
Conflict between The Heights and The Grange
- Depicted as; "the great room with its smooth, uncarpeted floor"
- Lack of prestege; "it would degrade her to marry [Heathcliff]."
The Grange
- Depicted as; "A splendid place carpeted with crimson, and crimson-covered chairs and tables, and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold, a shower of glass-drops hanging in silver chains from the centre, and shimmering with little soft tapers"
- Catherine's Transformation; "instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house… [she returned] a very dignified person, with brown ringlets falling from the cover of a feathered beaver"
Conflict between The Heights and The Grange
- Catherine seeking the Heights; "'I thought I was lying in my chamber at Wuthering Heights…. Oh, I'm burning! I wish I were out of doors - I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free… and laughing at injuries, not maddening under them!'"
- Narrative perspective in conflict; Hareton "looked down on [Lockwood]… as if there were some mortal feud unavenged between us"