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Personally, I like symbolism. I think that it's a great way to effectively communicate a theme, and to have that theme be remembered for a long time. We remember symbols because the mind associates unique pictures with their respective meanings. For example, the men's bathroom and the women's bathroom have symbols on them that we immediately differentiate with. We know that a green light means 'go', a red light means 'stop'. Wedding rings symbolize marriage, the bond between two people in love. Symbols in text are not quite as obvious, but they still imprint a lasting memory of a theme in our minds. Many show up in Wuthering Heights.
Wuthering Heights itself is a huge symbol. Its gradual decay symbolizes the degradation of the household within under Heathcliff's power. As Lockwood describes it, "...the grass grows up between the flags, and cattle are the only hedge-cutters" (Bronte 10). As well, however, the house itself is built strong and will not fall, just like the household within as well. He adds, "Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed; one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong; the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones" (Bronte 10). The wind symbolizes the great turmoil that Wuthering Heights' inhabitants suffer, and the strength of the house symbolizes the household's ability to stay strong, despite its strong degradation. Eventually, upon Heathcliff's death, the house is restored to a better state and given more upkeep, as Hareton and Cathy restore the household within to peace.
Thrushcross Grange, on the other hand, symbolizes the Lintons' grandiose lifestyle. It is grand, beautiful, and rich. As Heathcliff describes it, "...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" (Bronte 51). They live a lavished, spoilt life, and much like the house, they are pleasing to behold. Thrushcross Grange is the opposite of Wuthering Heights, much like Edgar Linton is the opposite of Heathcliff.
Perhaps the most memorable example of symbolism for me, however, is the scene where Nelly twines a lock of Edgar's and a lock of Heathcliff's hair together and clasps them in Catherine's locket. She recalls, "...I shouldn't have discovered that [Heathcliff] had been there, except for the disarrangement of the drapery about [Catherine's] face, and for observing on the floor a curl of light hair, fastened with a silver thread, which, on examination, I ascertained to have been taken from a locket hung round Catherine's neck. Heathcliff had opened the trinket and cast out its contents, replacing them by a black lock of his own. I twisted the two, and enclosed them together" (Bronte 164). This represents the reluctant bond between Edgar and Heathcliff over Catherine, their shared residence in her heart, and their contradiction of one another, with Heathcliff's black hair and Edgar's blonde hair. The black hair represents supposed 'bad', while the blonde hair represents supposed 'good', and the locket represents Catherine's heart, the yin and yang.
Do you believe that symbolism is effective, or just over-analysis? What are some examples of symbolism in other stories, and why are they so memorable to you?
Wuthering Heights itself is a huge symbol. Its gradual decay symbolizes the degradation of the household within under Heathcliff's power. As Lockwood describes it, "...the grass grows up between the flags, and cattle are the only hedge-cutters" (Bronte 10). As well, however, the house itself is built strong and will not fall, just like the household within as well. He adds, "Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed; one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong; the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones" (Bronte 10). The wind symbolizes the great turmoil that Wuthering Heights' inhabitants suffer, and the strength of the house symbolizes the household's ability to stay strong, despite its strong degradation. Eventually, upon Heathcliff's death, the house is restored to a better state and given more upkeep, as Hareton and Cathy restore the household within to peace.
Thrushcross Grange, on the other hand, symbolizes the Lintons' grandiose lifestyle. It is grand, beautiful, and rich. As Heathcliff describes it, "...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" (Bronte 51). They live a lavished, spoilt life, and much like the house, they are pleasing to behold. Thrushcross Grange is the opposite of Wuthering Heights, much like Edgar Linton is the opposite of Heathcliff.
Perhaps the most memorable example of symbolism for me, however, is the scene where Nelly twines a lock of Edgar's and a lock of Heathcliff's hair together and clasps them in Catherine's locket. She recalls, "...I shouldn't have discovered that [Heathcliff] had been there, except for the disarrangement of the drapery about [Catherine's] face, and for observing on the floor a curl of light hair, fastened with a silver thread, which, on examination, I ascertained to have been taken from a locket hung round Catherine's neck. Heathcliff had opened the trinket and cast out its contents, replacing them by a black lock of his own. I twisted the two, and enclosed them together" (Bronte 164). This represents the reluctant bond between Edgar and Heathcliff over Catherine, their shared residence in her heart, and their contradiction of one another, with Heathcliff's black hair and Edgar's blonde hair. The black hair represents supposed 'bad', while the blonde hair represents supposed 'good', and the locket represents Catherine's heart, the yin and yang.
Do you believe that symbolism is effective, or just over-analysis? What are some examples of symbolism in other stories, and why are they so memorable to you?