Feminism

Background

No women could vote until 1918
There were no important female political figures apart from the Queen
Middle class women usually did not work, their role was to supervise household and support husbands
Husband and wife were considered one person by law. The husband was the public face of the couple and was the one to excercise the couple's rights
The only accepted reason for getting divorced was adultery, and this was only valid for the husband
Wuthering Heights holds women at a lower status than men

Catherine: A model of Victorian Femininity?

Catherine Earnshaw as a child is wild and unpredictable, and did not care about others or how her actions affected other people. Heathcliff when they were younger would bring out the worst of her in the eyes of Victorian society because she would be even crazier when she was with him. Nelly describes this relationship the children had when she states, “They both promised to grow up as rude savages,” (Bronte, 39). However, Catherine does become refined. She spends time at Thrushcross Grange where she develops manners and how to be a proper lady in Victorian Society. Catherine starts caring about social status and marrying into a good family. Ultimately, Heathcliff is the deciding factor when declaring Catherine a model of Victorian Femininity. When Catherine is not around Heathcliff then she is dignified and polite, but when she is with him she turns wild.

Heathcliff: Misogynist Character

Heathcliff is a misogynist because he abuses, tricks, and controls the women in this novel. He has absolutely no respect for women. He keeps Nelly and Cathy hostage and refuses to let them go. Heathcliff won’t even let Cathy go to see Edgar when he is on his deathbed. Heathcliff also scorns Cathy when he thought no one was watching due to the letters she sent Linton. The worst thing that Heathcliff does to a woman in Wuthering Heights is that he convinces Isabella that he loves her and gets her to marry him, but it turns out that he does not love her and he is using her to get his revenge on Edgar.

Observations

Isabella is model of Victorian Femininity
he females have no power over men, they must abide by the rules of the men in their lives because they are the “masters” of the household.
Most of the female characters such as Nelly and Isabella, besides Cathy and Catherine, are portrayed as weak because the never stick up to the male figures they disagree with
Hareton is a misogynist character
The motivations of the misogynist characters are their desire for power. They mistreat the women because they believe that they are superior.

Feminism

Background

No women could vote until 1918

There were no important female political figures apart from the Queen

Middle class women usually did not work, their role was to supervise household and support husbands

Husband and wife were considered one person by law. The husband was the public face of the couple and was the one to excercise the couple's rights

The only accepted reason for getting divorced was adultery, and this was only valid for the husband

Wuthering Heights holds women at a lower status than men

Catherine: A model of Victorian Femininity?

Heathcliff: Misogynist Character

Observations

Isabella is model of Victorian Femininity

he females have no power over men, they must abide by the rules of the men in their lives because they are the “masters” of the household.

Most of the female characters such as Nelly and Isabella, besides Cathy and Catherine, are portrayed as weak because the never stick up to the male figures they disagree with

Hareton is a misogynist character

The motivations of the misogynist characters are their desire for power. They mistreat the women because they believe that they are superior.