呼嘯山莊中希斯克利夫的形象分析

-13-ChapterFourReasonsfortheFormationofHeathcliff’sImageHeathcliff’savengerimagehasdeeplyimprintedinreaders’minds,andoneofthemostimportantreasonsforitsformationishislowsocialstatus.Asapoorchild,Heathcliffhasbeendiscriminatedandabusedbypeoplearoundhimsincechildhood,whichhasmadehimisolated,independent,andevensomewhatcold-blooded.AmoreprofoundreasonisCatherine’semotionalbetrayal.AftersheleftHeathcliff,hebecameextremelyangryandpainful,andbecamemoreindifferentandcruelesttoothers.ThesefactorsareintertwinedandultimatelycreateHeathcliff’smysteriousandcomplexcharacter,makinghimanindispensablepartofliteraryclassics.4.1LowSocialStatusInWutheringHeights,Heathcliff’ssocialstatusisverylow.Hewasanorphan,borninapoorpeasantfamily.Duetothelackofeducationandculturaledification,Heathcliffcouldhardlyobtainbetterlivingconditionsandhighersocialstatus.Inaddition,Heathcliffisalsodiscriminatedandrejectedbythepeoplearoundhiminthenovel.Hisskincolorandappearanceweredifferentfromthoseofthelocals,whichledtodiscriminationagainsthiminthelocalcommunity.AlthoughhewastheadoptedsonofawealthyEarnshawfamily,hestillcouldn’tescapethelimitationsofhisbirthandthesocialstatusthatcamewithit.ThedifferenceinsocialstatuscausedHeathcliffmuchsufferingandpain.Heisoftenbulliedandexcludedbyothers,unabletogetrecognitionandrespectfromothers.Thislefthimlonelyandangry,andfilledwithmistrustandhatredofthepeoplearoundhimandtheworld.Heathcliff’slowsocialstatusalsoreflectedtheclassdivisionandinjusticeintheBritishsocietyatthattime.Inthissociety,poverty,birthandracehaveallbecomeimportantfactorsforpeopletogainsocialstatusandpower,leavingsomepeopletrappedinthemarginsanddifficultiesofsociety.Thecultivationofcharactercannotbeseparatedfromtheedificationofthegrowingenvironment,especiallyforthestreetchildrenatthebottomofsociety,thetracesofacquirededucationonhisbodycanbealmostignored.Heathcliffwasactuallyamicrocosmoftheunderclassofanaristocratic,money-obsessedage.Especiallyforthestreetchildrensincechildhood,fromabiteoffood,apieceofcover,toacorneroftheshelterneedtofightfor,toprotecttheironlythingsisactuallydrivenbytheinstinctoftheircharacter.ThiskindofgrowthenvironmentinHeathcliff’simprintisdeepenough,evenafterbeingtakeninbytheoldfarmerandCatherineaccompaniedbyalittlerestraint,eventuallywillbewiththeoldfarmer’sdeathandCatherine’smarriagewithothersandbereawakened.EspeciallyinthecaseofCatherine’smarriage,thereisnotonlyloveandhateforher,butalsohatefortheirpoorandhumbleorigins.Thisisalsotheinnermotivationthatsupportsherhardworkafterleavingthemanorandfinallyreturninghomewithsuccessandtakingcrazyrevenge.Thelowsocialstatusnotonlycultivatesadeepsenseofinferiority,butalsomakeshimmoresensitivetobeingdeprivedofeverythingaroundhim.Therefore,Heathcliff’sfinaldemonizationiscloselyrelatedtohisownsocialstatus.4.2DiscriminationandAbusebyPeopleInWutheringHeights,HeathcliffisanorphanwhoisadoptedbythewealthyEarnshawfamilyandbroughttoliveontheirfarm.AlthoughEarnshaw’sdaughterCatherinewasveryfriendlytohim,hefaceddiscriminationandabusefromotherfamilymembers.First,Earnshaw’ssonHindleybulliedandabusedHeathcliff.HisdisdainforHeathcliff’sorigins,andhiscloserelationshipwithhisfather,madeHindleyresenthimevenmore.AfterEarnshaw’sdeath,Hindleybecamemasterofthemanor,turningHeathcliffintoaservantandinflictingcruelpunishmentsonhim.Inaddition,thepeoplearoundhimalsoshoweddiscriminationagainstHeathcliff.Theylookeddownuponhisoriginasasavageorphan.ThisattitudeleftHeathclifffeelingsociallyisolatedandexcluded,causinghimtobecomecoldandcrueltoothersaswell.TheseexperienceshardenedHeathcliffandhardenedhim.Hehaddoubtsabouthisownlifeandrelationships,andheturnedthatdoubtanddistrustintomaliceandrevengeagainstothers.HevowsrevengeforhisabuserandaccomplishesthisbyinflictingpainonCatherineandherfamily.ThediscriminationandabuseHeathcliffexperiencesmakehimoneofthenovel’smostcomplexandcontroversialcharacters.Althoughhisactionswereinexcusable,theyalsoshedlightonhisinnerpainandangerDiscriminationandabusewereneverfarfromHeathcliff’sside.Abandonedbytheirparentsatayoungage,theycouldonlystrayonthestreets.Thepeoplediscriminatedagainstandabusednotonlythepassers-byandshopownersaroundthem,butalsotheolderchildrenwhowerealsowanderingonthestreets.Itisnotunusualtohavetoenduretheglareoftheshopkeeperandthesnatchingoffellowshopkeeperstogetapieceofmoldybread.Afterbeingadoptedbytheoldfarmer,theoldfarmerisfondofhishardlife,Catherine’sbrotherHindleywillbreedjealousy.Evendirectlyaftertheoldfarmer’sdeathdirectlyreducedhimtoaservantratherthantheoldfarmer’sadoptedson,Catherine’splaymate.Eventhemanormaid,Nelly,oftenbulliedhim.Thecharacterthatgrowsupinthiscomplexenvironmentisdestinedtobeverydifferentfromthecharacterthatgrowsupinahealthyfamily.Nomatterhowrepressed,itwillexplodewhenthetimeisright.4.3BetrayedFeelingsInWutheringHeights,HeathcliffexperiencesCatherine’sbetrayal,whichhasadeepemotionalandpsychologicalimpactonhim.HeathcliffandCatherinegrewuptogether,andtheirfriendshipgraduallydevelopedintolove.However,CatherinebelievedthatherstatusandwealthweremoreimportantthanHeathcliff’s,soshefinallychosetomarryEdgarLinton.ThisdecisioncameasagreatshocktoHeathcliff,whofeltbetrayedandabandoned.Catherine’sbetrayalmadeHeathcliffmorelonelyandangrier.Hedoesnottrustanyoneandthinksallfeelingsarefalseanduntrustworthy.HeresentedCatherine’smarriage,believingthatshemarriedLintononlyforherownbenefit,notbecauseshelovedhim.However,bytheendofthenovel,thesoulsofHeathcliffandCatherinearefinallyabletobetogether,andtheirloveprovestobeeternal.Theendingconveysaninterestingmessagetothereaderthatevenwhenfeelingsarehitbybetrayalandpain,theycanstillexistandcanlastlongerthanone’slife.ThebetrayalandpainHeathcliffexperiencesadddepthandcomplexitytothenovel,leadingthereadertoadeeperunderstandingofthecharacter’sinnerworld.InOurInnerConflict,KarenHorneypointsoutthatawiderangeofadversefactorscanleadtoachild’ssenseofinsecurity(Horney1937).Besideswhatismentionedabove,likeoppression,debasedattitudes,indifference,lackofrealsupervision,andlackoftrustworthywarmth,sufferingfrombetrayalisalsoanimportantfactor.Inthisnovel,theestrangementandbetrayalofCatherineisundoubtedlyanessentialelementleadingtotheformationofHeathcliff’smorbidpersonality.Catherine’sattitudetowardHeathcliffisnotgoodatfirst.WhenshelearnsaboutthefactthatherfatherlosesherwhipwhilelookingafterHeathcliff,shegrinsandspitsatHeathcliff.Catherineisawaywardandill-temperedgirlwhoalsolackslovefromfamily.ForHeathcliff,Catherineissuchaperfectpartner.SheisamoresuitablepersontoalleviatehisdiscomfortthanMr.Earnshaw.HisrelationshipwithCatherineletshimfeellesshelplessandlessisolated.“Itpromisestosatisfyhisneedtobelikedaswellastodominate(throughlove),theneedtotakesecondplaceaswellastoexcel(throughthepartner’sundividedregard)”(Horney1999:29).HeathclifftriestomeetallofCatherine’sexpectations.Heattributeshiscompliancetohisownunselfishdevotiontoher.Atthesametime,hetakeshisneedsforloveandprotectionfromCatherineasgranted.FromCatherine,Heathcliffgetsasenseofpride,lettinghimselffeelthathecan“annihilateanyfiendinChristendom”(Emily2016:48)inthefightinginThrushcrossGrangeforher.HeregardsthelovebetweenCatherineandhimselfasacure,moreexactly,asakindofgrantedreturnafterhisgiving.Theyoftenkeepawayfromotherpeopleandruntothemoorswheretheywouldstayfrommorningtonight,running,playing,andcomfortingeachother.ItisthishappinessthatmakesHeathcliffendureallhostilitiesaroundhim.ChapterFiveSocialEnlightenmentofHeathcliff’sImageHeathcliffinWutheringHeightsisacharacterofgreatcomplexityanddepth,andhisportrayaloffersprofoundinsightsintosocialissuesthatweneedtoconsiderandunderstand.Heathcliff’sdisadvantagedsocialstatusandexperiencesofdiscriminationandabuseillustratethecrucialimpactthataperson’supbringingcanhaveontheirfuturebehavior.Therefore,itisessentialtocreateapositiveenvironmentforgrowthandincreaseourconcernformarginalizedgroups.5.1CreatingaBenignGrowthEnvironmentHerearemanyinspirationsinWutheringHeightsthatcanenlightenustopayattentiontothebenignenvironment.Oneofthemostimportantinsightsisthattheinfluenceoftheenvironmentonpeopleisenormous,andweneedtofocusonshapingapositiveandbenignenvironmentforthegrowthanddevelopmentofpeople.Heathcliffgrewupinaveryhostileenvironment.Hisfatherwasanalcoholicandviolentman,andhissiblingshadnoloveorcare.ThisenvironmentmadeHeathcliffangry,lonelyanddistrustfulofanyone.Catherine,ontheotherhand,grewupinaverywarmandlovingenvironment.Herparentsloveandrespecther,whichmakesheralovingandcompassionateperson.Theenvironmentonegrowsupinissoimportantthatitcanhaveaprofoundeffectonone’scharacter,valuesandinterpersonalrelationships.Weshouldfocusonshapingapositiveandbenignenvironmenttohelppeoplerealizetheirfullpotentialandrealizetheiridealsandgoals.Inaddition,itremindsusthattheenvironmentincludesnotonlyfamily,schoolandsociety,butalsooursenseofselfandinnerworld.Weneedtofocusoncultivatingourinnerandspiritualaspectsinordertocreateapositiveandhealthyinnerenvironmentforself-growthanddevelopment.EmilyBrontewasbornintoaparson’sfamily.Fromchildhoodon,shestudiedwithherfatherandsistersandreceivedagoodeducation.Butwiththedeathoftheirmother,thethreesistershadtotakeupthemaintenanceworkearly.Frombeingatutortocreatingliteraryworks,allshowthethreesistersnotuncommontalent.However,EmilyBronte’sreticentcharactermadeherpaymoreattentiontotheshapingofherinnerworld,andfinallyshowedherdissatisfactionandresistancetotherealworldwiththehelpoftheimageofHeathcliff.Thepersonwhoiscrazyatheartisthepersonwhoiscrazyatheart.Inthenovel,Heathcliff’spoorexperiencesincechildhood,shorthappytime,betrayalbyhisbeloved,andcrazyrevengeplanafterreturninghomehaveallenrichedthecharacterimageofHeathcliff.Butlove,orhate,isactuallyarebellionagainstthereallifeandthepursuitofbeautifulthings.Butsuchistheenvironment,andHeathcliffismoreextremeintheprocessofexpressinghislove.Therefore,theshapingoftheenvironmentisparticularlyimportantfortheformationofgoodcharacter.5.2ImprovingCareforVulnerableGroupsTherearemanyinspirationsinWutheringHeightsthatcanenlightenustoimproveourcaringforthevulnerablegroups.Oneofthemostimportantinsightsistorespectthehumanityanddignityofeveryhumanbeing,regardlessoftheirsocialstatus,wealthororigin.Heathcliffwasdiscriminatedagainstandoppressedbecausehewasbornpoor.Itmadehimfeellonelyandangry,buthestillmaintainedhisdignityandstrongfaith.WeshouldlearnfromHeathcliff’stenacityandcouragetospeakupforthevulnerableandsafeguardtheirrightsandinterests.Inaddition,Catherinegaveuphertruelovebecauseofhersocialstatus,andthefinaloutcomeprovedthatherchoicewaswrong.Thistellsusthatweshouldnotletsocialstatus,wealthorotherfactorsinterferewithourjudgmentandchoices,butshouldrespectourownheartsandfeelingsandthoseofothers.Animportantinsightinthenovelistopayattentiontothementalhealthandwelfareofvulnerablegroups.Heathcliffinthenovelexperiencedgreatpsychologicalpainandstruggle,hisheartwashurt.Weshouldpayattentiontothementalhealthofvulnerablepeopleandprovidethemwithsupportandassistancetohelpthemgetoutoftheirdifficultiesandrebuildtheirlivesandconfidence.IfHeathcliffwasaweakman,itwashardtoexplainhowhehadstruggledonthestreetsandenduredthemanors’bullyingsincechildhood.IfHeathcliffisastrongman,itisequallyunexplainedthathereturnshomeintriumphwithhisrevengeonHindleyandEdgarLinton,andevenhisresentmenttowardshisbelovedCatherine.Butinfact,beingatthebottomofsociety,whatlittletheyhaveistheopposite.EspeciallyinthesocialstratificationofthebackgroundoftheerabutwithhissincerefeelingstohaveCatherine’slove,thisideaitselfisabitwhimsical.Fortherelativelydisadvantagedsocialclass,oncetheylosewhattheyhaveonlyandcherishverymuch,theywilltakemoredrasticandexaggeratedactionsofresistanceorevenrevenge.Therefore,itisimportanttoimprovetheconcernforthevulnerablegroupsintheexistingsocietytobuildastablesocialenvironment.ChapterSixConclusionEmilyBronte’sgrowthexperienceandpersonalitycharacteristicshaveaprofoundinfluenceonthecharactersinhercreation.HeathcliffinherworkWutheringHeightsisacomplexcharacterwithbothgoodandbadqualities,whichisrelatedtoBronte’sownexperienceandpersonalitycharacteristics.Firstofall,Bronte’sfamilylifehasanimportantinfluenceonhercreation.Hermotherandsisterdied,leavingherwithhersistersCharlotteBronteandAnneBronte.ThisfamilyenvironmentmakesBronte’sworksfullofelementsoflonelinessandsadness,andalsogivesheradeepunderstandingofthecomplexityandcontradictionofhumannature.TheseexperiencesenableBrontetoexpressHeathcliff’sinnerworldandcomplexemotionsdeeplyanddelicatelywhenportrayinghisrole.Secondly,Bronte’scharacteralsohasaninfluenceonhercreation.Bronteisataciturn,introvertedandsensitivepersonwhotendstoexpressherthoughtsandemotionsthroughwriting.Thiskindofcharacterenableshertodeeplyexploretheinnerworldofthecharactersinhercreationandexpressthemvividlyanddelicately.Heathcliff’scharacteralsoshowsthisdeepinnerworldandrichemotion,whichmakeshimacomplexfigure.Finally,Heathcliff’scomplicatedcharacterisalsorelatedtoBronte’sattitudetowardslife.Bronteisastaunchfeministwhoopposessocialrestrictionsandoppressiononwomen.ThisattitudeisalsoreflectedinHeathcliff’sroleasadefiantandrebelliousfigurewhorefusestoconformtothenormsandmoralcodesofsociety.Atthesametime,heisagrittyfigure,withastrongsenseofindependenceandself.Heathcliffisacharacterfullofrebellionandresistance.Hisdissatisfactionandinabilitytoaccepttherealworldmadehimlonelyandmiserable.Atthesametime,hisdesireforfreedomandtrueemotionalsofilledhisheartwithsimpleandbeautifulfeelings.TheunderstandingofdeathisalsoanimportantthemeinHeathcliff’srole.Hisheartisfulloflongingandlongingfordeath,butalsofearthatdeathwillseparatehimfromthoseheloves.Thisambivalencemakeshischaractermorerealandintriguing.InportrayingacharacterasconflictedandemotionallycomplexasHeathcliff,EmilyBrontemanagestoexplorethedepthandcomplexityofhumannature.Sheprojectsherinnerworldandemotionsintotherole,makingHeathcliffavitalandappealingcharacter.Therefore,wecansaythatEmilyBronte’screationisnotonlythenarrationofastory,butalsotheprojectionandexpressionofherowninnerworld.ByportrayingHeathcliffasacomplexcharacter,sheshowsreadersherthinkingandunderstandingoflife,loveanddeath,andalsoprovidesuswithaprofoundthinkingandrevelation.JustlikeEmilyBronte’sinnerworld,Heathcliffisfullofdissatisfactionandrebellionagainsttherealworld,andevenplaceshopean