Context Flashcards
Who is the author of the novel?
Emily Bronte
What era was the novel written in?
Victorian era
When did this era begin & how old was Bronte at this time?
- 1837
- 15 years old
What are the key characteristics of this time period which may have influenced the novel?
- strong sense of social responsibility (especially towards lower classes)
- strong morals / morality
- strict social codes
What figure had emerged during this period and what did they teach?
Freud - revolutionised beliefs about the individual
How were women expected to behave during this time?
- obedient
- respectable
What happened to women who did not conform to societal norms?
criticised and ostracised by society
How were women treated?
as property - they are owned (as well as everything they have) by their father and then their husband
What was the class divide like during this period?
- social tensions were high
- servants still in use
- superiority complex
How were servants treated/ viewed?
as underlings who are not to speak unless spoken to
What key historical event was actively happening at this time?
industrial revolution
How did the industrial revolution impact social class?
- the working class was introduced
- the middle class expanded
What was the marriage system like?
- only marrying those in the same ranks to ensure ‘purity’ of class
- marrying up or down the social ladder = exile/ scandals
- generational wealth was the main type
How were gypsies viewed?
- inferior
- perceived through the typical Romanticised notions
Why were gypsies often considered abnormal or inferior?
they lived their lives outside of the social construct and societal norms
Who were referred to as gypsies?
anyone who was not British
Which character was described as a gypsy in the novel?
Heathcliff
What is consumption?
tuberculosis
What did consumption affect?
life expectancy
How many people were dying from consumption in the 1800s?
1 in 5
What worsens the effects of consumption?
pregnancy
What were women expected to do even if they had consumption?
- produce heirs
- maintain domestic lifestyle
How is consumption possibly hinted at in the novel?
Cathy - appearance was worsening as soon as she got pregnant
What type of literature is the novel often referred to as?
gothic literature
What are some notions about the characters in gothic literature?
- monstrous
- transgression of social norms and boundaries
What is Romanticism?
emphasis on the power of imagination and emotion rather than the rational and scientific
How is realism presented in the novel?
the strictures of class and society
Who are the two main literary critics of note for the novel?
Gilbert and Gubar
What type of critic are they?
feminist and gender
What is an example of one of their views on femininity?
Heathcliff being a feminine character - dispossessed of social power - no title (always Heathcliff & never Mr Heathcliff)
What is the madwoman paradigm?
that men view women in two ways: monster or angel
What is the angel paradigm?
the traditional woman who conforms and fits the social expectations of a woman
What is the monster paradigm?
an un-traditional woman who does not conform and challenges the social construct
What was Bronte’s family like?
- 2 sisters (both writers)
- mother died when Bronte was young
- practically raised by her father
Who is Ellis Bell?
Emily Bronte’s male pseudonym - as women could not publish their literary works without prejudice
What was the initial reaction to wuthering heights?
it was perceived as immoral and heavily criticised
