Galloway 1

Kayla Galloway

Mr. Rodbro

Honors English p.4

16 December 2009

“Wuthering Heights: Class Judgments”

In the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, she strongly critiques society’s

view on social classes. Society morally judges people based on their social ranking and

the way they follow the acceptable social behavior. Bronte critiques his system of

making moral judgments by comparing character traits that exist in the upper and lower

classes. This shows that social class does not determine moral superiority, character

does.

Isabella and Heathcliff are two very different characters socially, but they share

similar moral views. Isabella is from Thrushcross Grange and is of high class and social

standing. Heathcliff is from Wuthering Heights and has been forced to be a servant for

most of his life. Society at this time would say that Isabella is morally superior to

Heathcliff because of her high status and propriety. Bronte critiques this judgment by

showing a strong similarity between Heathcliff and Isabella’s moral views on the issue of

revenge. When Heathcliff was young, Hindley treated him very badly, which caused

Heathcliff’s intense desire for revenge on him. One day he told Nelly, “I don’t care how

long I wait, if I can only do it at last… No, God will not have the satisfaction that I shall”

(56). This demonstrates his immoral ideas and uncivilized plans of revenge. Similarly,
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Isabella demonstrates these same traits when talking to Nelly about getting revenge on

Heathcliff. She says, “…but what misery laid on Heathcliff could content me, unless I

have a hand in it? I’d rather he suffered less, if I might cause his sufferings and he might

know that I was the cause” (170). Isabella’s uncivilized goal of causing suffering to

Heathcliff is the same as his goal of causing pain to Hindley. Bronte uses this

comparison to show that even though one may be in the upper class, they don’t

necessarily have the propriety that is expected. The similarity between Isabella and

Heathcliff critiques the idea of a difference in character between the classes and shows

that social standing does not affect morality.

Bronte also critiques the idea of upper class superiority by showing the

differences between the upper and lower classes. Bronte develops the idea of moral

and intellectual superiority of the lower class, which strongly contrasts the accepted idea

of the upper class being superior. Bronte creates this contrast between the characters

Linton and Hareton. Linton is a member of the upper class, living on Thrushcross

Grange with Isabella and Heathcliff. His mother was born of high class, and his father

has worked his way into money and property ownership. Hareton, on the other hand,

has grown up on Wuthering Heights, coming from less money than Isabella. Since

Heathcliff has been in possession of Wuthering Heights, he has oppressed Hareton and

forced him to be a servant. This demonstrates the oppression of the lower class by the

upper class. Even though Hareton is socially inferior to Linton, Bronte creates the idea

that Hareton is morally and intellectually superior to Linton. This idea is shown when

Heathcliff describes the difference between Hareton and Linton to Nelly. He says, “…

one is gold put to the use of paving-stones, and the other is tin polished to ape a service
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of silver. Mine has nothing valuable about it; yet I shall have the merit of making it go as

far as such poor stuff can go. His has first-rate qualities, and they are lost…” (206).

Heathcliff uses this metaphor to describe the effects of lower class oppression and

show the superiority of Hareton. By saying that Hareton is gold put to the use of paving

stones, he explains that Hareton has natural intellect and potential, but it is oppressed

by the upper class. By saying that Linton is tin polished to ape a service of silver, he

explains that Linton is naturally inferior to Hareton, but he can be successful in life

because of his social status. This displays the norm of society at the time. Despite the

skills and potential of an individual, social class was the determining factor in success

and happiness. By using this metaphor, Bronte shows the unfairness of the judgments

of society. Hareton and Linton help to develop the idea that social class has nothing to

do with moral and intellectual superiority, and that often times the skills of the lower

class are oppressed solely because of their social standing.

Emily Bronte strongly criticizes the common way of making judgments based on

social status. She does this by comparing the upper and lower class characters and

showing that the lower class is very commonly equal or superior to the upper class.

Throughout Wuthering Heights, she challenges the accepted perception of the upper

class and creates contrasts to the accepted beliefs. Bronte’s critique of the upper class

is necessary to the plot and character development throughout the novel because it

adds a lot more depth behind the story line. Wuthering Heights serves as a strong

critique to the way society views the upper and lower classes.