VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION
GRADUATION PAPER
THE EFFECT OF LIVING CIRCUMSTANCE ON
CHARACTERS (HEATHCLIFF, CATHERINE AND
YOUNG CATHERINE) IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS
BY EMILY BRONTE
Supervisor: Nguyễn Thị Thơm Thơm
Student: Phạm Thị Lụa
Course: QH2010.F1.E13
HÀ NỘI – 2014
ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI
TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ
KHOA SƯ PHẠM TIẾNG ANH
KHÓA LUẬN TỐT NGHIỆP
SỰ ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA MÔI TRƯỜNG SỐNG TỚI
NHÂN VẬT (HEATHCLIFF, CATHERINE VÀ YOUNG
CATHERINE) TRONG TÁC PHẨM WUTHERING
HEIGHTS CỦA EMILY BRONTE
Giáo viên hướng dẫn: Nguyễn Thị Thơm Thơm
Sinh viên: Phạm Thị Lụa
Khóa: QH2010.F1.E13
HÀ NỘI – 2014
ACCEPTANCE
I hereby state that I: Pham Thi Lua, QH2010.F1.E13, being a candidate for the degree of
Bachelor of Arts (TEFL) accept the requirements of the College relating to the retention and use
of Bachelor’s Graduation Paper deposited in the library.
In terms of these conditions, I agree that the origin of my paper deposited in the library
should be accessible for the purposes of study and research, in accordance with the normal
conditions established by the librarian for the care, loan or reproduction of the paper.

The researcher hopes that the thesis will be meaningful for those who are interested in the
book and that it will provide the foundation for future related studies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART 1: INTRODUCTION
This first part of the study includes rationale of the study, the aims, objectives, significance,
scope and methodology of the study. In addition, organization of the study will also be stated in
order to help readers follow the thesis easier.
1. Rationale of the study
“Wuthering Heights” is the only novel written by Emily Bronte in the late of Romanticism.
It is considered to be one of the masterpieces after Emily’s death in 1848. According to Fred
Langman, “Wuthering Heights is a novel of genius” (approaches to the novel, 1966). It reveals
one aspect of Emily’s life. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar note in The Madwoman in the Attic,
“a woman writer must examine, assimilate, and transcend the extreme images of “angle” and
monster” which male authors have generated for her” (p. 596). Moreover, they believe that:
‘For all literary artists, of course, self-definition necessarily precedes self-assertion: the creative
“I AM’ cannot be uttered if the “I” know not what it is. But for the female artist the essential
process of self-definition is complicated by all those patriarchal definitions that intervene
between herself and herself’ (p. 569).
Therefore, up to now, there have been many discoveries from time to time. Although it
was written in the Romantic style, it still reflected England’s society during Victoria era.
All over the world, there are so many aspects of Wuthering Heights for investigation. According
to Anne Williams in Natural Supernaturalism in Wuthering Heights, “Wuthering Heights –
popular, powerful, but enigmatic- has always been controversial. Readers agree about its secure
position as a “classic,” but not about its meaning, nor its merit. ” (1985, p.104) Besides
analyzing characters, some writers also concentrate on other rare issues such as sexual problem,
the incest theme or the repression and sublimation of nature, the framing or even psychological
items, children abuse. There are some famous works studying Wuthering Heights including
“The novel as Dramatic Poem” written by Klingopulos, “The incest theme in Wuthering

analyzed to set up the helpful thesis.
2. Aims and objectives of the study
Wuthering Heights written by Emily Bronte is one of the most well-known novels of the
English literature in the eighteen century. Because of being a famous novel, there must be
misunderstanding of Wuthering Heights. I take a decision to investigate on the contribution of
living circumstance on characters to gain deep understanding of its characters.
Moreover, the researcher conducts this research with the aim of developing understanding
English literature in the eighteen century and fulfilling my passion of literature.
3. Background and significance of the study
3.1. Background of the study
Wuthering Heights is a priceless masterpiece of English literature. This work is one of the
most priceless masterpieces of English literature. There are so many works analyzing it.
Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine are the strong characters to build up this novel. These
characters are affected strongly by Romanticism and society. This study is analyzing the
changing of three characters beside the effect of living circumstance on them.
3.2. Significance of the study
The thesis is going to discover and analyze the contribution of living circumstance to
some protagonists. It is going to unveil the reasons why the protagonists’ personalities change a
lot from time to time and the difference between their behaviors and thoughts. For example,
when living in the Wuthering Heights, Catherine seems to be a wild girl, whereas when she
comes back from Thrushcross, “her manners much improved” (p. 44). In addition, “The mistress
visited her often in the interval, and commenced her plan of reform by trying to raise her self-
respect with fine clothes and flattery, which she took readily; so that, instead of a wild, hatless
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little savage jumping into the house, and rushing to squeeze [them] all breathless, there ‘lighted
from a handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringlets falling from the cover
of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth habit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands
that she might sail in”(p. 44). Her behaviors change a lot because of her personality is affected by
Thrushcross where people who she meets living are very gentle and behave aristocratically. The
first time Catherine sets foot on the other land teaches her a lesson of passion of becoming

This study will concentrate on the changing of living circumstance on them to discover the
reasons of changing in thought and behaviors.
5. Research methodology
To conduct the survey, the researcher must read various works not only related to
“Wuthering Heights” but also works related to other issues including classes in England during
that period of time. Besides that, her thesis includes some issues mentioning psychology,
behavior and living circumstances. Therefore, she must read some researches about these items
to make comprehension of them. Having adequate knowledge and information helps her to carry
out this research more easily.
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In order to achieve the aim, the sources used must be reliable and informative. The
researcher must refer to documents in the University library and also Internet sources as well as
the documents provided by supervisor.
6. Organization of the paper
The thesis paper consists of three parts:
Part 1: Introduction. This provides an overview of the thesis including the rationale, aims,
significance, scope, methodology and organization of the paper.
Part 2: Development. It consists of three chapters:
Chapter 1: Literature review. This chapter provides all substantive findings as well as theoretical
and methodological contributions to the thesis.
Chapter 2: An Overview of the author and the novel. Brief introduction of the author and the
novel are included in this chapter.
Chapter 3: Discussion on living circumstance in Wuthering Heights and its effect on characters.
This is the main focus of the thesis. This chapter is designed to investigate the changes of living
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circumstances which belong to Heathcliff, Catherine and young Catherine. Some further ideas
and explorations are going to be found in this chapter
Part 3: Conclusion. This briefly summarizes main points of the thesis and indicates the
limitations as well as suggestions for further studies.
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT

created as well as used by people to distinguish between the rich and the poor. In Wuthering
Heights, “class” is taken advantage of to classify the differences between characters by Emily
Bronte.
1.2.1. Living as aristocracy class in eighteen and nineteenth century society
Aristocracy class is considered to be the highest social class in the society. People in
aristocracy class usually possess hereditary titles. They have much power. Moreover, they have a
lot of land as well as waiters and money. Their life is like a dream which seems to be very easy.
Edgar family is one sample of aristocracy class. As Penelope J. Corfield mentioned in Class in
eighteen-century Britain (1970, p.103), “a well- ordered sequence of ranks and degrees in human
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society [is] deemed part of a divinely ordained hierarchy that embraced the whole of creation.”
As a result, their behaviors are very different from Catherine and particularly from Heathcliff.
1.2.2. Living as middle and working classes in the eighteenth and nineteenth century society
In this part, the middle class and the working class are going to be analyzed. The middle
class including people who have a few land, waiters and power as well. They have an easy life
but not better than aristocracy class. They have power. The Earnshaw is one sample of middle
class. They owe Wuthering Heights. They have enough money to make ends meet in their life.
Catherine and Hindley are children originated from middle class. They are a little wild and a
little naughty.
In terms of working classes, it is considered to be “a descriptive term” (Thompson, 1963,
p.9). Thompson also assumes that, “there were tailors here and weavers there, and together they
make up the working classes” (p.8). The working class belongs to people who work for the
middle class and also aristocracy class. They owe nothing. Most of them are waiters likes Dean
in Earnshaw family. Some of them are wandering in the street and have no place to go like
Heathcliff. They may become beggars if they are not lucky like Heathcliff who is brought up by
Mr Earnshaw.
Margaret M.Watts (2013,p.2) comments, “despite the availability of greater supplies of
food, additional housing, and more generous welfare, poverty was more prevalent than ever
before- especially in the cities”. Moreover, this century is the century of a lot of tragedies. In
addition, “The eighteen century saw continuous and accelerating population growth. Women

stereotypes” (2010, p.54). Nevertheless, “round characters have multiple personality traits and
therefore resemble real people (ibid).” In addition, “[round characters] are much harder to
understand and describe than flat characters (ibid).”
Like flat and round characters, static and dynamic characters are very different. Static
characters “remain the same thought (ibid)” while dynamic characters change their thought. It
can be seen that flat characters are usually static characters and round characters tend to be
dynamic characters.
In Wuthering Heights, Dean, Edgar, Isabella, Hindley are flat characters whereas
Catherine, Heathcliff and young Catherine are round characters.
1.3.2. Reaction toward the living circumstances (the effect of living circumstance on people)
Facing different living circumstances, people are likely to handle them in dissimilar
ways. Based on this theory, various authors try to create characters with a lot of personalities and
behaviors. There are a lot of factors affecting characteristics and reactions. One of the core
factors is living circumstance. Living circumstances can change characters from thinking to
behaviors. For example, Heathcliff, one of the protagonists in the novel, he is initially a poor
little boy with no family. Then, he becomes one member in the Earnshaw family. He thinks he
belongs to middle class like Mr Earnshaw. As a consequence, his behaviors are extremely
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different from before. He turns into arrogant person. Everything changes again after the death of
Mr Earnshaw, Heathcliff comes back to working class and gets treated as a servant. His thought
and behaviors change again.
1.3.3. Belief of the characters through novel
Jonathan Culler states, “Literary works encourage identification with characters by
showing things from their point of view” (1997, p.112). The belief readers put on characters may
not be shown up by the author. In order to do that, the author must be one of the readers with
such a feeling that the work is the real life. In this case, Wuthering Heights was written in a long
time ago but it still reflects one of us which makes it become successful. The belief of characters
is similar to the belief of readers. As Culler considers, “poems and novels address us in ways that
demand in identification, and identification works to create identity: we become who we are by
identifying with figures we read about” (1997, p.113).

Charlotte and Branwell, the Bronte children created imaginative stories, poems, plays, and games
about a magical world they created for “The Twelves,” as they called the soldiers”(p. 2)” It is
also stated in English literature textbook by ULIS, she “was the most reserved and least social of
the Bronte children”. Furthermore, “Emily never tired of creating stories about the land of
Gondal and its inhabitants.” Emily “preferred to be at home, and she helped around the house,
caring for father, and doing the finances and housework.” In many works, she had no interest on
studying at school. In other word, she preferred study at home.
“Emily became a teacher at Law Hill School in Halifax beginning in September 1838, when she
was twenty (Classic poetry series p.3).” Nevertheless, “her health broke under the stress of the
17-hour work day and she returned home in April 1839 (p.3)”
As mentioned in poetry classic, “she became sick during her brother’s funeral in
September 1848. Though her condition worsened steadily, she rejected medical help and all
proffered remedies, saying that she would have “no poisoning doctor” near her. She eventually
died of tuberculosis, on 19 December 1848 at about two in the afternoon (p. 3).”
In conclusion, there are various events both happening and affecting Emily Bronte, a
famous female author’s life. Bomarito Jessica (2006, p.1) iterates, “Although Bronte’s life [is]
outwardly uneventful; the unusual circumstances of her upbringing have prompted considerable
scrutiny”. Specifically, “although she led a brief and circumscribed life, spent in relative
isolation in a parsonage on the Yorkshire moors, she left behind a literary legacy that includes
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some of the most passionate and inspired writing in Victorian literature (2006, p.1)”. Agnes
Robinson (1883, p.69) concludes in “Emily Bronte” that “an old, blind, disillusioned father, once
prone to an extraordinary violence of temper, but now grown quiet with age, showing his
disappointment with life by a melancholy cynicism that was quite sincere; two sisters, both
beloved, one, fired with genius and quick to sentiment, hiding her enthusiasm under the cold
demeanor of the ex- governess, unsuccessful, and unrecognized; the other gentler, dearer, fairer,
slowly dying, inch by inch, of the blighting neighborhood of vice”.
2.1.2. Emily Bronte’ works
Bomarito Jessica (2006) discovered that the author of Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte,
left a lot of works to the English literature including:

back to his lower status. Catherine and Heathcliff fall in love each other. One time, they go to
Thrushcross to play, Catherine is hurt by the dog and cured by Edgar’s family who belong to
upper class. However, to become a noble lady, Catherine decides to marry to Edgar Linton who
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is of noble birth. Heathcliff runs away in the midnight. Time flees away; Catherine marries to
Edgar and has a happy family with his sister, Isabella. Heathcliff comes back with richness and
success. To take revenge on Hindley and Edgar, he betrays Hindley to owe Wuthering Heights
and marries to Isabella. Owing Thrushcross and Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff becomes richer
and richer. Catherine dies after giving a birth to a daughter called young Catherine. Isabella also
gives a birth to Linton Heathcliff. Because of being badly treated by Heathcliff, Isabella runs
away. Heathcliff takes revenge on Hareton, Hindley’s son, and Linton in Wuthering Heights.
Linton is very sick. Young Catherine, who is taught by her father, Edgar Earnshaw, grows up.
She is forbidden from going out Thrushcross because Edgar wants her to keep away from
Wuthering Heights. However, one time, young Catherine dares to go out. She discovers
Wuthering Heights and meets Heathcliff as well as Linton. From that time, she always goes out
and visits Linton in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff forces her to marry to Linton. Edgar dies;
Catherine has to marry to Linton. Then, Linton dies of sickness. Catherine and Hareton live in
Thrushcross to witness the revenge of Heathcliff. Finally, Heathcliff dies because of the ghost of
Catherine. Catherine and Hareton fall in love with each other. Young Catherine marries Hareton
and they intend to come back to Wuthering Heights to settle down. The story is narrated by
Dean, the house keeper of the Earnshaw family and listened by Mr. Loockwood, who is so
stressed by his current life and chooses Wuthering Heights to take a rest. However, when he
hears about Wuthering Heights’s story, he decides to leave.
Wuthering Heights was written from 1845 to 1846 when English literature was moving
from Romanticism to Victorian Age. Although Wuthering Heights was born Victorian Age, it still
affected deeply by Romanticism belief because it was written by the author living in this English
literature stage. From M.A.R Habib’s viewpoint, “in England, the ground for Romanticism was
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prepared in the latter half of the eighteen century through economic, political, and cultural
transformations (2008, p.428)”. Moreover, in this period of time, “the system of absolute