Although I do have a variety of favourite Literary characters, I only wanted to choose one for this particular post as it would most likely go on for too long.
This character is the embodiment of the Byronic hero; A variation on the classic romantic hero, who exhibits an array of dark and sinister traits.
I find it fascinating how the reader experiences juxtaposing feelings of repulsion and desire; Feeling utterly disgusted and frightened at the characters sinister actions whilst at the same time being able to empathise with them to some extent.
For me, the Byronic Hero underpins the 'rebel' within society, who appears to have the 'manners of a gentlemen' but in fact has a sinister vein of darkness running through their being which is scratching the surface, waiting to be unleashed.
Heathcliff.
"In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day—I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!"
Overview:
Heathcliff, the orphan Gypsy who was taken in by Mr Earnshaw, stole my heart from the moment I began to read'Wuthering Heights', by Emily Brontë. The literary masterpiece was one of the novels included in my A level English Literature syllabus and it began my love for the Gothic Genre.
The character of Heathcliff goes beyond your average Gothic Villain, with his thirst for revenge becoming wickedly sinister, almost soulless.
He is introduced to us as an outsider, a 'gypsy', from Liverpool who is deprived of an education and abused by Hindley; We immediately sympathise with him, although his dark character still lurks beneath the surface.
Heathcliff is frequently described using the negative lexis of religion and is continuously referred to as a 'gypsy brat',who is 'wicked' and an 'imp of Satan', this Satanic imagery reiterates not only Heathcliff's rejection of social norms and moral Christian faith, but also emphasizes his oppression by the rigid class system.
He is 'the son of a fortune-teller', this not only portrays his lack of identity and highlights his alienation but also conveys a sense of the supernatural, which is something rejected by those in the Christian faith. He has 'thick brows' and his eyes are described as 'black fiends'; Eyes have been interpreted to symbolize your soul and Heathcliff's are 'black', suggesting that he either has no soul or that he is tarnished with evil.
Brontë continuously shocks the reader through Heathcliff's sadistic, violent and vengeful actions throughout the book, whilst simultaneously manipulating us to feel empathy towards him.
The character of Heathcliff goes beyond your average Gothic Villain, with his thirst for revenge becoming wickedly sinister, almost soulless.
He is introduced to us as an outsider, a 'gypsy', from Liverpool who is deprived of an education and abused by Hindley; We immediately sympathise with him, although his dark character still lurks beneath the surface.
Heathcliff is frequently described using the negative lexis of religion and is continuously referred to as a 'gypsy brat',who is 'wicked' and an 'imp of Satan', this Satanic imagery reiterates not only Heathcliff's rejection of social norms and moral Christian faith, but also emphasizes his oppression by the rigid class system.
He is 'the son of a fortune-teller', this not only portrays his lack of identity and highlights his alienation but also conveys a sense of the supernatural, which is something rejected by those in the Christian faith. He has 'thick brows' and his eyes are described as 'black fiends'; Eyes have been interpreted to symbolize your soul and Heathcliff's are 'black', suggesting that he either has no soul or that he is tarnished with evil.
Brontë continuously shocks the reader through Heathcliff's sadistic, violent and vengeful actions throughout the book, whilst simultaneously manipulating us to feel empathy towards him.
A few characteristics of the Byronic Hero:
A few of my favourite 'Heathcliff' quotes:
The supernatural/reverence:
'Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest, as long as i am living! You said I killed you- haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe- I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always - take any form- drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!' -Heathcliff.
Transformation:
'He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman.' -Lockwood.
Revenge:
'We'll see if one tree won't grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it!' -Heathcliff.
A sense of misery and dread:
'I felt that God had forsaken the stray sheep there to it's own wicked wanderings, and an evil beast prowled between it and the fold, waiting his time to spring and destroy.' -Ellen 'Nelly' Dean.
Women as victims:
'I do hate him- I am wretched- I have been a fool!' -Isabella Linton.
No comments:
Post a Comment