Many plays and novels use contrasting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. Choose a novel or play that contrasts two such places. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the meaning of the work.
Light versus dark; warmth versus cold; good versus evil; love versus neglect. In Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, every element is made in doubles to contrast. What represents these elements for its differences the most is the setting. The two households in this novel, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, represent every other element and, therefore, are the greatest opposing elements in Wuthering Heights.
Both houses are isolated from the rest of the town and from each other. The atmosphere creates a sense of isolation that allows the characteristics of the opposing houses to be seen clearly.
The residents of Wuthering Heights are working class, whereas those of Thrushcross Grange were higher up on the social ladder, like the wealthy. However, the Earnshaws – the family who lived at Wuthering Heights – aspired to have the same social standing as the Lintons – the family who lived at Thrushcross Grange. This is evident when Catherine and Heathcliff spy on the Lintons through their window and when Catherine stays at the Grange for months recovering from a fever. When she returns as a lady, it portrays how the Earnshaws are so ready to change their appearance to fit in with a higher social class.
The setting of the houses correlates with the inner workings of the houses as well. For example, Wuthering Heights is always in a state of storminess. It is surrounded by the cold, dark and evil. What goes on in the house between the siblings – Hindley, Catherine, and the adopted Heathcliff – is blackmail and deception. Heathcliff blackmails Hindley in order to get the best if he does not have it for himself already. However, the Grange always seems calm. The family spends time together and the two children – Edgar and Isabella – are best of friends. Wuthering Heights is dark – it is hidden away, windows are deeply set in the wall, and there are many corners. It always had something going on, to the point of it being chaotic. The light surrounding it contrasts Thrushcross Grange – no features of this house are grim like that of the Heights. The Grange is filled with light and warmth, even in the cold night. It is appropriate as a home for calm children.
The point of these two contrasting places portray that as time goes on, the line between opposing elements becomes thinner and thinner. When these polar opposites clash, their characteristics become blended and end up influencing each other. For example, Heathcliff was truly evil as he sought revenge upon those of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, but seeing Catherine laying in her grave put thin
gs in perspective for him. Although she grew up at the Heights, she is characterized by the Grange because of her personality – it is naturally caring and loving, opposite of Heathcliff. Her influence on him even after she died changed him. And when she was living, he changed her too.
In the ending, the two families are so intermarried and both properties fall under one owner so that the line between opposing characteristics are almost indistinguishable. Bronte successfully portrayed that the clashing of contrasting places lead to intertwining characteristics that causes the line between them to go astray.
