WH is my favourite novel of all time, and I am in awe of Emily's command and use of the English language (it is the most beautiful that I have ever come across). Her flawless word choices, the perfect construction of each sentence, her capacity to create and describe a world so real that I forget that I am reading a novel and instead believe it to be a faithful recounting of ACTUAL events! As for the story itself, where do you start? The remarkable Catherine. The brooding melancholy atmosphere, with it's palpable sense of yearning and loss. The tragic degradation. The looming shadow throughout of the moors as a very real presence? Supernatural events? Never to be answered questions! All wrapped up in the hauntingly poetic language of a genius. As for the extremely polarizing responses that it creates, I believe that it is primarily due to a couple of reasons. Many new readers have a mistaken belief about it being a conventional romantic love story (they are in for a bit of a shock!). Emily also deals with the darker side of human nature in a very uncompromising fashion, and doesn't make definitive moral statements about the principal character (which results in a feeling of ambiguity and discomfort for many readers).
@@justjuanreader No problem at all. By the way I really like how you touched on the subject of empathy in your review - which is often overlooked - and the question of nature vrs nurture in the novel. Though Wuthering Heights is frequently perceived to be an unrelentingly negative story - which only focuses on the worst aspects of human behaviour - none of those characters actually live in a vacuum. There IS a reason for their outlook on life which often explains their actions towards others. Most have been deeply affected by some form of mistreatment or abuse. Add to this the tragic early losses of parents, spouses and/or friends, undesired separation from home, and even estrangement from family. On top of this is the power/control dynamic in the families ( especially in relation to authority, property rights and male female relationships) which leads to further forms of dominance, and sometimes outright imprisonment. Heavy burdens like these undoubtedly shape a persons ability to interact with others in a healthy way, and to TRULY love. So in W.H. it is clear that we are dealing with a number of broken individuals who ATTEMPT to cope and survive in their own circumstances, and to ultimately find true happiness and/or simply escape from what holds them captive. What really differentiates the outcome is the APPROACH they take, and HOW they got there in the first place. Some have adopted the fruitful course of faith hope and perseverance. A willingness to forgive and move on, allied with a desire for a better future. Others give in to despair, bitterness, and even self destruction. In the case of Mr Heathcliff, he succumbs to an outright coldness of heart and hatred, which results in a long lived desire for vengeance. The consequences of these choices are very striking in Wuthering Heights as characters condemn themselves to awful ends through their own free will, or knowingly place others there. Hells are both created and destroyed. Sometimes there is no way back. And crucially, we see that cycles of abuse can be continued indefinitely UNLESS they are broken. But they can be broken. I also totally disagree with the conventional idea that W.H. is an amoral story with no ultimate caution for the reader. It is obvious that Emily had a deep understanding of psychology and human nature, and one of the biggest lessons of Wuthering Heights is that the consequences of our actions and experience at EVERY stage - and role - of life matter, and can have multi-generational effects. From early childhood right through adolescence, until we finally reach our more mature adulthood, all of those powerful influences can either lead to growth, happiness and peace, or a tormented, empty existence without love, joy or hope. Apologies for the long winded response, but the multitude of themes and idea's which Wuthering Heights raise are utterly fascinating.
After reading Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I as a reader, was left wondering what were the family dynamics within that parsonage in Yorkshire that resulted in so much astounding literature. If you haven’t already read The Tenant..., I recommend it. In this novel by Anne Bronte there’s plenty of family dysfunction and misbehavior as well. It is a much more vividly told story than her earlier novel, Agnes Grey.
I really liked the way you explained why many people don't understand the idea of the novel and hate the characters. I just love Wuthering Heights because of the writing style and because of the characters and all the drama. It's my favorite novel.
I first came across your channel with your review on The secret history and still you can capture me with the your thoughts and reviews to read books that I'm thinking of reading:))
Hi! Great analysis! I must be one of those very rare readers who neither loved it nor hated it. While it's true that I despised most of the characters in this novel, I found the story interesting and captivating. I just didn't fall in love with it, though. (Your exploration of the book was very interesting as well, nice video!)
Thank you so much for this, I enjoyed very much your enthusiasm! Nature or nurture theme was there throughout the story and I couldn’t hate any of the characters. The scene where Hareton and Cathy reads books together brought me tears after all those abuse and sufferings. Hareton somehow persevered. So did nature persevere? Or Heathcliff wasn’t harsh enough? I don’t think this is a conventional love story at all either, but I felt love in the story, both passionate and quiet.
How does that generational cycle of emotional deficit stop? If it doesn't stop then we are doomed to get more deficient. There must be some break here somewhere. Love this thought provoking review.
When Earnshaw brings a seven-year-old boy into his household, he passes him off as a homeless, gypsy child. But Mrs. Earnshaw knows better. The boy, Heathcliff, is Earnshaw's son. Earnshaw even brags to Mrs. Earnshaw about his dalliances in Liverpool. Earnshaw is not bringing Heathcliff into his home because he feels sorry for him. This man does not do anything out of the goodness of his heart. If we accept that Heathcliff is Earnshaw's son, we must also accept that Catherine is his half-sister. There have been debates in literature circles about whether we have a bit of incest here. I wonder what the author intended.
i read somewhere on quora: that their interpretation on Catherine and Heathcliff is sexless (because even though the book described that there were multiple times Catherine kissed Heathcliff, it never once mentioned that the kiss was on the lips); and that she might love and obsess with him as a friend or brother (because she claimed that, their relationship would never change, even after she married Edgar). So does that count as incest too?
When I first read Wuthering Heights, i had to refer to other reading materials to understand and appreciate it. I simply love Emily Bronte. Her work (including her poetry) is intense and evoke all sorts of feeling. Wuthering Heights on my reread list this Victober. Hope you are joining in as well :)
A very interesting and motivating presentation and discussion of this novel. I am reading the novel at present, and can certainly attest that it is complex and psychologically deep. It is also intellectually satisfying.
Absolutely brilliant video. This is one of, if not the best books I've ever read. The psychology of why someone is who they are and why they do certain things is always what I like to think about when reading. I think one of the skills of a brilliant writer is making the reader feel sorry for such despicable charecters and I certainly did feel sorry in parts for Heathcliff. He had no chance really of being happy. I have read it 3 or 4 times I think and now I've watched your video I may just have to read it again. BTW the psychoanalysis part was not boring but very interesting.
Heathcliff was beaten like an animal. Degraded always. Women had to try to marry for money in that era. They married cousins as that was who was around. We have options in the USA. Heathcliff loved her. But he wanted revenge. She loved him but couldn't stay in poverty. Starvation with him. That's what I got from it. The gothic came from Ireland area centuries back. But I'm American. I can't give you the history of the whole background of them. It would take research of the area. But it was tragic love. That's all I know. There was love in there somewhere between them. And we certainly have tragic love in this country in modern day!!
I'm new to this channel, and gosh wish I had discovered it earlier! Thank you Juan for your amazing book reviews ❤ Ps. I love how passionately you talk about books, it just makes me wanna read all the novels you reviewed. Keep it up
I appreciate your psychological analysis which is resonant with mine. the tragedy created by Heathcliff, Earnshaw, and Catherine is that they are all psychologically damaged in the period of their upbringing when they don't get nurturing and proper education. Thank you!
I have been on a bit of a Bronte binge lately and I was dying to discuss this book with someone. I was thrilled to find your video. It was just what I needed.
I'm currently reading Les Hauts de Hurle-Vent. I really enjoyed it despite the despair atmosphere. Your video opens new perspectives. I was thinking that nearly all the characters were mentally ill. Now with your explanation it's much clearer. Thank you.
I'm starting this book right now because of how you spoke of it in your video on the 4th of September. You gave me the push I needed. It's been on my shelf for much of my life and ugh, I've been put off of it due to reviews. I even have the same edition as you do. I wonder if I should wait and watch this after I read it, but how can I not watch 40 minutes of you?
nikki venable Your words are very kind and very appreciated 😊 Let me know what you make of this book, I think it’s fascinating to see all the different points of view.
Loved this video. Could it be said that Brions theory takes Banduras social learning and expands the theory to include mind/body experience by emotion before cognition is present. I've always loved wuthering heights.
Compré este libro hace años pero tengo un miedo terrible de no entenderlo, he aprendido inglés por mi misma y no se si voy a entender la historia, te voy a hacer caso y me voy a tirar de cabeza, deséame suerte 🤣
Я пишу этот комментарий на русском языке, потому что я уважаю вас и не вставляю свой комментарий в переводчик, а пользуюсь своим родным инструментом. Спасибо Вам. Приятно слышать свои идеи от носителя другой культуры, тем более, от носителя языка, на котором написан оригинал.
Juan, I really enjoyed this video! Its officially one of my favorite videos you’ve done so far! Now I beg you to please dissect every book you read with a lesson please!! Y también te quiero pedir si puedes hacer algunos videos en español por favor!!! Love your channel! Take care 😘
![First 3 Hours Of Writing A Story (Starting From Nothing) - Jeff Kitchen [FULL INTERVIEW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/b2RlPZmz9nc/mqdefault.jpg)
WH is my favourite novel of all time, and I am in awe of Emily's command and use of the English language (it is the most beautiful that I have ever come across). Her flawless word choices, the perfect construction of each sentence, her capacity to create and describe a world so real that I forget that I am reading a novel and instead believe it to be a faithful recounting of ACTUAL events! As for the story itself, where do you start? The remarkable Catherine. The brooding melancholy atmosphere, with it's palpable sense of yearning and loss. The tragic degradation. The looming shadow throughout of the moors as a very real presence? Supernatural events? Never to be answered questions! All wrapped up in the hauntingly poetic language of a genius. As for the extremely polarizing responses that it creates, I believe that it is primarily due to a couple of reasons. Many new readers have a mistaken belief about it being a conventional romantic love story (they are in for a bit of a shock!). Emily also deals with the darker side of human nature in a very uncompromising fashion, and doesn't make definitive moral statements about the principal character (which results in a feeling of ambiguity and discomfort for many readers).
Lovely to read this comment! Thank you!
@@justjuanreader No problem at all. By the way I really like how you touched on the subject of empathy in your review - which is often overlooked - and the question of nature vrs nurture in the novel. Though Wuthering Heights is frequently perceived to be an unrelentingly negative story - which only focuses on the worst aspects of human behaviour - none of those characters actually live in a vacuum. There IS a reason for their outlook on life which often explains their actions towards others. Most have been deeply affected by some form of mistreatment or abuse. Add to this the tragic early losses of parents, spouses and/or friends, undesired separation from home, and even estrangement from family. On top of this is the power/control dynamic in the families ( especially in relation to authority, property rights and male female relationships) which leads to further forms of dominance, and sometimes outright imprisonment. Heavy burdens like these undoubtedly shape a persons ability to interact with others in a healthy way, and to TRULY love.
So in W.H. it is clear that we are dealing with a number of broken individuals who ATTEMPT to cope and survive in their own circumstances, and to ultimately find true happiness and/or simply escape from what holds them captive. What really differentiates the outcome is the APPROACH they take, and HOW they got there in the first place. Some have adopted the fruitful course of faith hope and perseverance. A willingness to forgive and move on, allied with a desire for a better future. Others give in to despair, bitterness, and even self destruction. In the case of Mr Heathcliff, he succumbs to an outright coldness of heart and hatred, which results in a long lived desire for vengeance. The consequences of these choices are very striking in Wuthering Heights as characters condemn themselves to awful ends through their own free will, or knowingly place others there. Hells are both created and destroyed. Sometimes there is no way back. And crucially, we see that cycles of abuse can be continued indefinitely UNLESS they are broken. But they can be broken.
I also totally disagree with the conventional idea that W.H. is an amoral story with no ultimate caution for the reader. It is obvious that Emily had a deep understanding of psychology and human nature, and one of the biggest lessons of Wuthering Heights is that the consequences of our actions and experience at EVERY stage - and role - of life matter, and can have multi-generational effects. From early childhood right through adolescence, until we finally reach our more mature adulthood, all of those powerful influences can either lead to growth, happiness and peace, or a tormented, empty existence without love, joy or hope. Apologies for the long winded response, but the multitude of themes and idea's which Wuthering Heights raise are utterly fascinating.
After reading Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I as a reader, was left wondering what were the family dynamics within that parsonage in Yorkshire that resulted in so much astounding literature. If you haven’t already read The Tenant..., I recommend it. In this novel by Anne Bronte there’s plenty of family dysfunction and misbehavior as well. It is a much more vividly told story than her earlier novel, Agnes Grey.
Great analysis! Horrible people? Yes. Shallow book? Not even remotely!
Your psychoanalytical insights on books are very much appreciated! Please keep them coming!
Wonderful review! I must say, I was quite afraid of going into this book because of all the hearsay, but you completely sold me!
I LOVE WUTHERING HEIGHTS!!! :DDD I'm one of those people who just can't understand and accept people's hate of this book hahaha XD
🤣 I can relate!
I really liked the way you explained why many people don't understand the idea of the novel and hate the characters. I just love Wuthering Heights because of the writing style and because of the characters and all the drama. It's my favorite novel.
Hi Juan! Your passionate review made want to reread "Wuthering Heights" at once. Emily Brontë's poems are just as great as her novel.
I first came across your channel with your review on The secret history and still you can capture me with the your thoughts and reviews to read books that I'm thinking of reading:))
Hi! Great analysis! I must be one of those very rare readers who neither loved it nor hated it. While it's true that I despised most of the characters in this novel, I found the story interesting and captivating. I just didn't fall in love with it, though. (Your exploration of the book was very interesting as well, nice video!)
Thank you so much for this, I enjoyed very much your enthusiasm!
Nature or nurture theme was there throughout the story and I couldn’t hate any of the characters. The scene where Hareton and Cathy reads books together brought me tears after all those abuse and sufferings. Hareton somehow persevered. So did nature persevere? Or Heathcliff wasn’t harsh enough?
I don’t think this is a conventional love story at all either, but I felt love in the story, both passionate and quiet.
How does that generational cycle of emotional deficit stop? If it doesn't stop then we are doomed to get more deficient. There must be some break here somewhere. Love this thought provoking review.
When Earnshaw brings a seven-year-old boy into his household, he passes him off as a homeless, gypsy child. But Mrs. Earnshaw knows better. The boy, Heathcliff, is Earnshaw's son. Earnshaw even brags to Mrs. Earnshaw about his dalliances in Liverpool. Earnshaw is not bringing Heathcliff into his home because he feels sorry for him. This man does not do anything out of the goodness of his heart. If we accept that Heathcliff is Earnshaw's son, we must also accept that Catherine is his half-sister. There have been debates in literature circles about whether we have a bit of incest here. I wonder what the author intended.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing that!
Margorie Reynolds, I agree that Heathcliff is most likely an illegitimate son.
i read somewhere on quora: that their interpretation on Catherine and Heathcliff is sexless (because even though the book described that there were multiple times Catherine kissed Heathcliff, it never once mentioned that the kiss was on the lips); and that she might love and obsess with him as a friend or brother (because she claimed that, their relationship would never change, even after she married Edgar). So does that count as incest too?
When I first read Wuthering Heights, i had to refer to other reading materials to understand and appreciate it. I simply love Emily Bronte. Her work (including her poetry) is intense and evoke all sorts of feeling.
Wuthering Heights on my reread list this Victober. Hope you are joining in as well :)
A very interesting and motivating presentation and discussion of this novel. I am reading the novel at present, and can certainly attest that it is complex and psychologically deep. It is also intellectually satisfying.
Absolutely brilliant video. This is one of, if not the best books I've ever read. The psychology of why someone is who they are and why they do certain things is always what I like to think about when reading. I think one of the skills of a brilliant writer is making the reader feel sorry for such despicable charecters and I certainly did feel sorry in parts for Heathcliff. He had no chance really of being happy. I have read it 3 or 4 times I think and now I've watched your video I may just have to read it again. BTW the psychoanalysis part was not boring but very interesting.
Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Heathcliff was beaten like an animal. Degraded always. Women had to try to marry for money in that era. They married cousins as that was who was around. We have options in the USA. Heathcliff loved her. But he wanted revenge. She loved him but couldn't stay in poverty. Starvation with him. That's what I got from it. The gothic came from Ireland area centuries back. But I'm American. I can't give you the history of the whole background of them. It would take research of the area. But it was tragic love. That's all I know. There was love in there somewhere between them. And we certainly have tragic love in this country in modern day!!
I loved that I came here for a book review and took away with an interesting psychoanalysis theory brilliantly explained.
I found your explanation of the psychoanalytic theory to be the opposite of boring. Fabulous review, thankyou!
I'm new to this channel, and gosh wish I had discovered it earlier! Thank you Juan for your amazing book reviews ❤
Ps. I love how passionately you talk about books, it just makes me wanna read all the novels you reviewed. Keep it up
I appreciate your psychological analysis which is resonant with mine. the tragedy created by Heathcliff, Earnshaw, and Catherine is that they are all psychologically damaged in the period of their upbringing when they don't get nurturing and proper education. Thank you!
I have been on a bit of a Bronte binge lately and I was dying to discuss this book with someone. I was thrilled to find your video. It was just what I needed.
Just discovered you, Juan. I'm already a fan!
I'm currently reading Les Hauts de Hurle-Vent. I really enjoyed it despite the despair atmosphere. Your video opens new perspectives. I was thinking that nearly all the characters were mentally ill. Now with your explanation it's much clearer. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this review. It really helped me understand the novel better! So Thank you very much :)
fascinating juan...you're a gifted teacher. thanks for expanding my appreciation of this beloved, by me, book..
I have been putting off reading this book since a very long time, but this video makes me want to read it ASAP 😯 thank you Juan
I'm starting this book right now because of how you spoke of it in your video on the 4th of September. You gave me the push I needed. It's been on my shelf for much of my life and ugh, I've been put off of it due to reviews. I even have the same edition as you do. I wonder if I should wait and watch this after I read it, but how can I not watch 40 minutes of you?
nikki venable Your words are very kind and very appreciated 😊 Let me know what you make of this book, I think it’s fascinating to see all the different points of view.
Loved this video. Could it be said that Brions theory takes Banduras social learning and expands the theory to include mind/body experience by emotion before cognition is present. I've always loved wuthering heights.
Compré este libro hace años pero tengo un miedo terrible de no entenderlo, he aprendido inglés por mi misma y no se si voy a entender la historia, te voy a hacer caso y me voy a tirar de cabeza, deséame suerte 🤣
Я пишу этот комментарий на русском языке, потому что я уважаю вас и не вставляю свой комментарий в переводчик, а пользуюсь своим родным инструментом.
Спасибо Вам.
Приятно слышать свои идеи от носителя другой культуры, тем более, от носителя языка, на котором написан оригинал.
Juan, I really enjoyed this video! Its officially one of my favorite videos you’ve done so far! Now I beg you to please dissect every book you read with a lesson please!! Y también te quiero pedir si puedes hacer algunos videos en español por favor!!! Love your channel! Take care 😘