Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is structured in a way that the central theme is the theme of misunderstanding due to lack of communication. Communication is vital to building healthy relationships; it is because of communication that people from different ethnicities can understand each other. In Wuthering Heights, the reader is introduced to characters who do not entirely understand each other. This lack of understanding is because of their ignorance, differing social backgrounds, and lack of interest. Failing to communicate their feelings about their differences also contributes to these misunderstandings. Heathcliff and Christine’s relationship in the novel can be described as nothing shy of tragic; the two are smitten with each other at their youth stage, but as the story progresses, it creeps with jealousy and miscommunication. As a result, their relationship ends tragically. This essay will examine events of lack of communication between Catherine and Heathcliff and how this leads to misunderstandings throughout the novel.
Undoubtedly, there is only a relationship if there is communication. To build a healthy relationship, one has to communicate how they feel about the other person. Without communication, one can easily get displeased with the significant other, similar to what happens in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is unwilling to talk to Catherine, which makes Catherine displeased by him. Rather than solving the issue with Catherine, Heathcliff blames Catherine for spending too much time with Linton. Heathcliff and Catherine cannot hold an effective conversation with each other in an affectionate way. When Heathcliff confronts Catherine, she does not hesitate to reply to him. Catherine rudely says, “And should I always be sitting with you?” (Bronte 61) Catherine says that she gets nothing from Heathcliff because he has no company at all since he says nothing. Consequently, the two characters misunderstand each other; their relationship ends tragically.
Events turn bitter when Heathcliff overhears a conversation between Catherine and Nelly Dean. Catherine and Heathcliff are not open enough to discuss issues that can affect their relationship. Although Catherine loves Heathcliff, Catherine cannot openly admit to Heathcliff because of the poor rapport between them. Catherine is talking to Nelly about Edgar’s proposal and giving reasons for accepting the proposal. Although Nelly is an unwilling audience, Catherine talks to him about why she wants to get married off to Edgar. Catherine needs to know that Heathcliff is listening in a dark corner. Catherine says it would be disgraceful to marry Heathcliff, and Heathcliff immediately leaves without hearing the rest of the conversation. Then, Catherine says that she loves Heathcliff in a way that he can never love Edgar. Catherine then asserts that with Heathcliff, she is “more myself than I am” (Bronte 71). Despite saying that she loves Heathcliff more than Edgar, the relationship between the two is in shambles because they fail to communicate their affection for each other openly.
Communicating on a fundamental level for lovers leads to misunderstandings, as seen in Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Heathcliff’s communication is on a natural level in many ways. Heathcliff’s uncommunicative mood leads to Edgar’s proposal to marry Catherine. Edgar is easy, civilized, and has a polite speech, which is the opposite of Heathcliff. Catherine realizes that there is a better way for men to show their love through genuine conversation; thus, Edgar outdoes Heathcliff. Heathcliff realization of Edgar and Catherine’s proposal takes an extreme thought of vengeance. When Heathcliff returns to Wuthering Heights, his vengeance seems to know no bounds. Because of the lack of communication between Catherine and Heathcliff, tragic consequences will face the entire Earnshaw and Linton families (Bronte 134). Because of the lack of communication between the two main characters, Catherine and Heathcliff, the novel’s theme of misunderstanding is revealed.
To sum up, to have a healthy relationship. There is a need to communicate effectively. Relationships and friendships fail due to lack of communication. Therefore, every party has to communicate with the other party. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte focuses on misunderstandings between the characters. Catherine and Heathcliff need help understanding each other to communicate effectively. The story has a tragic end whose root cause is poor communication.
Work Cited
Brontë, Emily. Wuthering heights. Ignatius Press, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2023, from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nLQsDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=wuthering+heights+by+emily+bronte&ots=PEdw6zvjWo&sig=hQSy_CFRaZYO8BNTNmmlW1fzIG8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wuthering%20heights%20by%20emily%20bronte&f=false
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