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"Wuthering Heights" is a novel full of passionate extremes - Leaving Cert English - Question A(i) - 2005
Question A(i)
"Wuthering Heights" is a novel full of passionate extremes. Write a response to the above statement supporting your views by reference to the text.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:"Wuthering Heights" is a novel full of passionate extremes - Leaving Cert English - Question A(i) - 2005
Step 1
Introduction to the Passionate Extremes
Answer
In Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," the theme of passionate extremes is prevalent throughout the narrative. The novel encapsulates intense emotions, contrasting personalities, and extreme settings that profoundly impact the characters' lives. This extreme duality can be observed in love versus hatred, and wild passion versus cold indifference, which are paramount to understanding the depth of the novel.
Step 2
Exploration of Emotions
Answer
The characters of Heathcliff and Catherine epitomize the passionate extremes present in the novel. Their love transcends societal norms, becoming an all-consuming force. Heathcliff's unyielding love for Catherine leads to deep-seated hatred for those who wrong him, illustrating the extreme highs and lows of his emotional state. This passionate love-turned-hatred showcases the destructive capacity of intense emotion.
Step 3
Contrast in Characters and Settings
Answer
The contrasting settings of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange serve to underline the extremes within the novel. Wuthering Heights is characterized by its ruggedness and wildness, reflecting the tumultuous love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine. In stark contrast, Thrushcross Grange symbolizes gentility and societal order, often marked by characters that embody tranquility and moderation. This juxtaposition emphasizes how the passionate extremes of the main characters disrupt the calm of their surroundings.
Step 4
Conclusion on the Theme
Answer
In conclusion, "Wuthering Heights" is undoubtedly a novel steeped in passionate extremes. From the fervent love between Heathcliff and Catherine to the chaos following their tumultuous relationship, Brontë crafts a narrative where emotions reign supreme. The novel encourages readers to reflect on the consequences of such passion, dictating the destinies of its characters. Thus, one cannot disregard the assertion that the novel is a rich tapestry woven with extreme feelings and the resultant chaos.