Wuthering Heights

My aim this year has been to read more, among other things. There's something gloriously delicious about curling up with a fat book and turning the pages as one's eyes devour the words that form lively pictures in one's head!

My favourite author, besides God of course - the original and best author of everything! - is Jane Austen. I've read all her novels many times, so it was time to branch out a bit and grow my brain a little further.

I'm starting with the Bronte sisters - Emily first. Her only novel is Wuthering Heights. I've only read about one-third of the novel and I have a list of words that were completely foreign to me. Laconic, for example. Penetralium. Lachrymose. Evincing. Physiognomy.

It was amazing to have to research prose!

Sadly, I've found it hard to get through the novel, so I turned to a TV series. I do this occasionally to help me understand the plot better. That in turn makes the novel easier to read. Previously, I've watched Jane Austen's Emma and Pride and Prejudice before reading the novels.

Tonight, I watched a 2009 production of Wuthering Heights, so I thought I'd offer my opinion on it.

I knew that the characters were deep and brooding, but I wasn't aware that Wuthering Heights is an outright tragedy - much like Shakespeare's star cross'd lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Relating to the spirited Catherine was easy - she is wild, free, fun and likeable. My opinion on Heathcliff, however, was more complicated - initially, I was dreadfully sorry for him. But to see him wreak havoc on the lives of people who are wholly innocent of any wrong doing towards him made me dislike him intensely. Knowing full well that those who are mucked up as children can go on to be very twisted adults (I'm one of them), I came to an understanding of Heathcliff, even though I didn't really like him in the end.

The movie is filmed in a brilliant location that matches Emily Bronte's precise description in the novel. Wuthering Heights reflects the darkness and broodiness that is so prevalent in the narrative. Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley are excellent as the passionate and desperate Heathcliff and Catherine. The supporting cast is also of the same calibre, so I found myself forgetting about the acting and being quite easily absorbed into the saga of two ill-fated families.

If you enjoy romance and drama, then I'd happily recommend Wuthering Heights. However, if you're a bit more like me - a Jane Austen fan who prefers happy endings with maybe only a touch of tragedy - you'll find Wuthering Heights a little heavy.

If you'd like to watch it, try clicking here. Then comment below to tell me what you thought of it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Conventional vs Natural

I've had to come face to face with some hard facts lately. I've known since I was about 18 that I'm sensitive to gluten and dairy products. But it wasn't life threatening, so I've just bodged along, sometimes going hard core and not eating any gluten or dairy and other times eating whatever I wanted until I got sick and had to slow down a bit. Mostly I've maintained a bit of a middle road, prefering to eat gluten or dairy free, but eating other stuff if I felt I could tolerate it. Not any more. I"ve had some worrying trends with my health lately and so the gluten-and-dairy-free diet has begun. I'm tired just thinking about having to think and cook gluten-free and dairy-free meals! But I just wanted to share how the solution to my health concerns came about. I've been to my GP and had some tests done which all, worryingly, came back negative (apart from a sinus infection). NOT ONCE did she mention that my condition may have something to do with...
Read more

A Dessert Too Good To Be True!

I looooove desserts (who doesn't?), but with my dietary requirements it can be hard to find a dessert that I have no reaction to. Recently, I remembered a great rice dessert my mum used to cook, so I made up my own version of it! I thought I'd share it with you because a) it's cheap, b) it's yummy, c) it's easy-peasy to make and d) it's filling for hungry children! This is it: Cook rice in a rice cooker (it's stickier and more 'pudding-y'), while still hot add 2-3 tbsp of brown sugar depending on the quantity of rice and some chopped up fruit (we've tried pineapple, pear and apple so far). Serve. Other versions: To the recipe above, with pineapple and brown sugar, add marshmallows for an extra treat! Cook rice, add some condensed milk - not so healthy, but a great emergency dessert! Cook rice, add maple syrup and fruit. Cook rice, add sugar and fruit. Cook rice, add golden syrup or honey and fruit. It's probably not everyone...
Read more

Attack

I didn't know all that much about spiritual warfare eight weeks ago. Now I know more. On October 14th, my seven-year-old son was baptised. It was higher than any other 'mountain top' experience I have ever had. Ever. Better than getting married, better than going to church camp. Better than the day he was born. I'd had baptism for him on my heart for about six months prior. I continually had that feather-brush thing going on in the back of my mind about having him baptised and becoming a christian. It felt weird. I didn't know how to approach talking to my own child about Jesus and I felt like a bit of a spiritual gumby. That's a terrible phrase, but it's how I felt. Like I was moving through wet cement to reach him. I prayed about it lots whenever it felt heavy on my heart and prayed for God's protection over him while I looked for any small opportunity to start 'the' conversation that is the single most important conversation one can ...
Read more