The paper would study one of these puzzles—Catherine’s dual character。 Catherine is the heroine of the novel, whose character is complicated。 She is not only the key of the whole novel, but also always linked with Heathcliff, the soul of revenge。 Furthermore, she is even more noticeable than Heathcliff(Chen 101)。 The novel also aroused the feminism, as Li Jianping said, ‘Description of Characters in Wuthering Heights—From the Perspective of Feminism’, in which she indicated that ‘the author is eager to get freedom and equality with men, so that women can be liberated’(Li 107)。 At the beginning, Catherine was so innocent that she enjoyed herself, especially after Heathcliff was adopted into Wuthering Heights。 However, something was changing after Catherine came into Thrushcross Grange。 It can be said that the plot is a turning point of the novel, which is also the beginning of Catherine and Heathcliff’s tragedy。 From that time, the dual character of Catherine emerged。 After she got married with Linton, she became madder and more frenzied。 In the end, she was dead with much sorrow。 There were many reasons for her dual character, which were the family background, the social environment, people surrounding by, etc。 In brief, the discussion on Catherine’s dual character would be quite significant in the study of Wuthering Heights。
2 Literature Review
On the topic of Wuthering Heights, there have been many scholars or experts studying。
M Homans had research of that, “Although most of Wuthering Heights takes place indoors, readers sense that nature is a major element in the novel。 Nature is present in figurative language, which accounts for the impression of realism。 The figurative uses of nature form a highly abstract symbolic system, distinct from "real" nature, while ‘real’ nature is unrepresentative。 Psychoanalytic theory may account for this discrepancy, if the text is treated as if it were a psyche。 Nature, or the destructive reality it represents, is so threatening that it must be repressed, while the figurative use of nature is a sublimation, redirecting the dangerous force into a safe and constructive channel。 Analysis of the heroine, Catherine, helps to confirm this reading。 Similar forces are at work in her psyche, but unlike the author she cannot sublimate and succumbs to nature's power。” M Homans, “Repression and Sublimation in Wuthering Heights。” Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 1978, 93(1):9-19
Garofalo said about that, “In Heathcliff’s form of love energizes a culture of both production and consumption。 The story of Heathcliff’s life provides an exciting and mysterious narrative of the origins of capitalist desire。 He represents the fantasy that some erotically compelling power underlies this economy。 It is, instead, Catherine’s love that functions in opposition to the culture of capitalist accumulation。 Catherine stands for a kind of love that undermines the desire necessary for capitalism to function smoothly。 She offers an alternative to an economy of unsatisfied desire, threatening to undermine both a capitalist and patriarchal logic。” D Garofalo, “Impossible Love and Commodity Culture in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights。” Elh English Literary History, 2008, 75(4):819-840 文献综述
Tytler called Wuthering Heights as an unusual among masterpieces of fiction for its elaborate treatment of the relationship between masters and servants。 She said, “Such relationship plays a significant part both in developing the plot and in revealing character。 Although masters (and mistresses) ultimately have the upper hand of their servants, it is noteworthy how much power servants exercise within the sphere of domination to which they are subject。 The tendency of servants to be insubordinate for one reason or another highlights the problem of a hierarchical society while raising certain questions of peculiar moral interest。 That the author herself seems to call the system of masters and servants in doubt is hinted at throughout the narrative, and more especially through her presentation of Hareton and the younger Catherine。 Emily's ingenious handling of this theme helps us to recognize that her novel is concerned not merely with a singular love relationship but with human relationships in general。” G Tytler, “Masters and Servants in Wuthering Heights。” Bronte Studies, 2008, 33(1):44-53 凯瑟琳恩肖的双重性格分析(2):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_93149.html