Wuthering Heights

I read Wuthering Heights over Summer, and I loved it. The Gothic, for me, is particularly enthralling, because it questions so much of what we know about human nature. I loved how Heathcliff could be called a "monster" but was so hurt when he thought that Cathy didn't love him, and I wondered whether being human was simply the ability to love, and nothing else. Heathcliff has a terrible temper, which dehumanises him to a degree (consider how he treats Isabella Linton) yet has such a passionate love for Cathy that surely he cannot possibly be considered a monster? Cathy is also a fascinating character- she is a lady only for show, and has a fiery temper to rival Heathcliff, something inappropriate for a well-bred Victorian female. The love displayed between Cathy and Heathcliff is quite unique, and Emily Bronte displays their love wonderfully to the reader, showing them to be one person, rather than two very similar individuals, which is the usual presentation of love (though, of course, Cathy and Heathcliff are very alike): "I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being." I think this is a truly beautiful way of describing love- Cathy and Heathcliff are one, and their erratic emotions and fiery tempers are provoked often by their love of each other. They are generally angry at the same time, adding to the idea that they are one being, they feel the same emotions and behave in the same manner, and are so in love that their being apart causes their already wild tempers to become uncontrollable, giving a new dimension to the idea of love- it is not a delicate thing, but a violent and destructive emotion (a common theme of the Gothic is destructive love, and it is indeed the case that love destroys in Wuthering Heights- Cathy dies, and Heathcliff becomes insane, or so it might be argued, and dies shortly after- both characters love each other intensely, and both die as a result of this love being restricted, a romantic yet gothic concept).  Wuthering Heights, I feel, is highly intelligent, gives a deep insight into humanity, and is a fantastic read simply because it is so passionate and emotional.