After reading Wuthering Heights for the second time, I have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the story. I read it before in high school, but never really fully understood some of it. Reading it now, I have realized how much I had forgotten. For example, I had forgotten how rude the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights really were. They were a pretty odd family in just about every aspect at first. But once you get to know them, you realize that they are just different than most people and are misunderstood in a lot of instances. Having said that, I do not believe that I would have returned to Wuthering Heights after the first time there. And I certainly would have been wary of going back after what happened the second time. I mean, Lockwood is just trying to be a friendly neighbor and is ignored, mistreated, set upon by dogs for very little reason, and is even left to fend for himself in a blizzard. It is as if these people do not care if Lockwood dies or not. They finally decide to help him after they realize he could bleed to death from a nosebleed and let him spend the night. During the night, he is attacked by a ghost and it would appear that Heathcliff is crazy. What would cause someone to go back to a place like this? There is no way I could ever go back after an incident like that, but somehow Lockwood persists and in doing so, understands what is causing all the strife for this family.
How fortunate for you to already be familiar with the story! Right now, I am so confused by family trees and the timeline of the story, that I am failing to make such keen observations about the characters' behavior like you did.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you say you would "not have returned to Wuthering Heights" if you had been mistreated as Lockwood was, since you also implied that the novel was confusing to you the first time you read it, yet you have now "returned to Wuthering Heights" (the book) even after a less-than-stellar first experience. Perhaps Lockwood was hoping for a more enlightening experience on his second visit, just as you are gleaning more from the story during your second read.