Compare And Contrast Wuthering Heights And Frankenstein
952 Words4 Pages
Heathcliff and the creature: two outcast of the same kind
Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein are two novels with more in common with each other than it can be seen at first glance. Written during the Victorian Era by female authors, they were rather scandalous for the time they were first published. Wuthering Heights’ passionate and egoistical characters shocked the society of the time: such abusive characters and improper female lead had never been seen before. Frankenstein’s dark themes and the probability, in that time, of something similar happening were unsettling for the Victorian Society. Both gothic novels were first published either anonymously or under a pseudonym, and harshly criticized when it was revealed the sex of the authors.…show more content… In society, appearance determines how people are treated and it is the base of prejudices and stereotypes. Lockwood’s first description of Heathcliff was: “He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman (…)” . It is important to stress that the word ‘gypsy’ has a negative connotation because it is linked with a stereotype. Gypsies were thought to be romantic characters, homeless that did not belong anywhere. People believed that they were uneducated, sinister, and had criminal tendencies. Characters judge Heathcliff on his dark skin, and attribute him negative aspects before Heathcliff can even show his true self. As a result, he grew up to be a hateful character, full of rage and sorrow. The creature is also rejected at first sight in a more violent way. “I entered, but I had hardly placed my foot within the door before the children shrieked, and one of the woman fainted. The whole village was roused: some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the country” . Due to his monster-like appearance, he is attacked and forced away. Villagers are afraid of him, think that he is a kind of evil beast, when in truth he is a gentle and sensitive soul who was led to become a killer. Heathcliff and the creature suffer from prejudices based on their physical appearance and their relationship with the rest of