Which of the themes is central to Wuthering Heights?

Revenge may be regarded as a central theme of Wuthering Heights. All events of the novel are the result of the characters’ desire to revenge. It goes in repeated circles and reveals people’s conflicts and emotions. Revenge also forces them to take irrational actions.

Detailed answer:

Written by Emily Brontë and published in 1847. Wuthering Heights is regarded as one of the most famous novels of the 19th century.

Its features are unusual structure, dramatic narration, and the absence of authorial intrusion. In general, the concept of love and its nature play a highly essential role in the novel. The bond between Catherine and Heathcliff implies spiritual feelings. These emotions are born from childhood that they had spent together. They could not understand their love’s nature and betrayed each other by marriage with other people. At the same time, the decision of Catherine to marry Edgar Linton reveals another theme of the novel. This issue may be defined as central – revenge.

Heathcliff’s ability to hate and his desire for revenge define the plot. This man was focused on hate throughout his life. Heathcliff hated Hindley, Edgar, and, to some extent, Catherine, when he realized that she would not stay with him. His injured pride led to violence against his wife, Isabella. Heathcliff’s plans of revenge affected both families’ second generation as well. His egoism and hate revealed the emotions that forced him to act in an irrational way. At the same time, there is one more reason to think that revenge is the novel’s central theme. All events are the result of the characters’ desire to revenge. For instance, Hindley left Heathcliff without education for his relationship with Catherine. Heathcliff denied education to Hindley’s son, Hareton, as well.