The LRB Podcast Is ‘Wuthering Heights’ amoral?
Patricia Lockwood, a contributing editor at the London Review of Books and author known for her unique blend of poetry and memoir, joins David Trotter, an Emeritus professor of English literature. They dive into the amoral nature of 'Wuthering Heights,' exploring Emily Brontë’s bold narrative choices. Lockwood describes the novel's animalistic undertones, while Trotter unpacks Heathcliff's complex origins and the intricate family dynamics. They also discuss cultural adaptations, the impact of marriage on property rights, and the haunting legacy of Brontë's only novel.
01:38:56
Wuthering Heights As Amoral Literature
- Reviewers judged Wuthering Heights as “completely amoral,” and David Trotter agrees with that verdict.
- The novel resists respectable moral lessons and foregrounds consequences over motives.
The Novel As A Canine World
- Patricia Lockwood argues Wuthering Heights plays out in the animal world, especially dogs, with characters behaving like canine avatars.
- David Trotter recounts Emily Brontë peppering fighting dogs to break up a street fight, reinforcing that view.
Landscape And Chronology Structure The Plot
- Wuthering Heights spans generations and carefully maps time and place from 1771 to 1803.
- The two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, structure the novel's social and temporal consequences.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right 19 chevron_right 20 chevron_right 21 chevron_right 22 chevron_right 23 chevron_right 24 chevron_right 25 chevron_right 26 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Publication circumstances and the Brontë household
01:31 • 2min
Early reception: why Wuthering Heights shocked
03:03 • 6min
Wuthering Heights as an animal/dog world
08:51 • 2min
Plot outline and time structure
11:10 • 4min
The novel's many afterlives and Kate Bush
15:38 • 1min
Complex chronology and narrative framing
16:51 • 3min
Family tree: Earnshaws, Lintons, and heirs
19:51 • 4min
Lockwood's first visit and atmosphere at Wuthering Heights
23:43 • 3min
Why Lockwood as tenant and narrator matters
26:19 • 7min
Heathcliff's origins and racial ambiguity
33:35 • 5min
Childhood imaginings: Angria, Gondal and colonial fantasy
38:59 • 1min
Is Heathcliff a Byronic hero?
40:05 • 3min
Nelly Dean as narrator and custodian
43:26 • 7min
Nellie narrates: Cathy sings and the death rhythm
50:19 • 4min
Dialect, Joseph, and risks with language
53:50 • 2min
Descriptions versus dialogue and bodily intensity
55:52 • 8min
Childlike passion and metamorphosis of desire
01:04:21 • 5min
Gnarling, landscape and twisting character
01:09:40 • 6min
Cathy's resilience and resistance to gnarling
01:15:52 • 5min
Isabella's escape and domestic abuse portrayal
01:20:26 • 3min
Heathcliff's revenge through property and law
01:23:52 • 5min
Marriage, property, and women's legal vulnerability
01:28:32 • 3min
The pivotal Cathy confession and its consequences
01:31:57 • 3min
Ending: ghosts, landscape and Lockwood's transformation
01:35:17 • 3min
Outro
01:38:25 • 51sec
#466
• Mentioned in 58 episodes
Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë
Published in 1847, 'Wuthering Heights' is a novel that tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and the foundling Heathcliff, whom her father brings home to Wuthering Heights.
The narrative, framed by the visitor Lockwood and the housekeeper Nelly Dean, explores themes of love, revenge, and the cyclical nature of life.
Heathcliff's bitter vengeance against those who wronged him drives the plot, which spans generations and delves into the dark, passionate, and often destructive aspects of human nature.
The novel is renowned for its dramatic and poetic presentation, its unique structure, and its vivid depiction of the Yorkshire moors as a reflection of the characters' inner lives.
#18432
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Rob Roy
Sir Walter Scott
Published in 1817, 'Rob Roy' is part of the Waverley novels series by Sir Walter Scott.
The novel is set in 1715, during the first Jacobite uprising, and follows Frank Osbaldistone, the son of a rich merchant in London, who is sent to stay with his uncle, Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone, in Northumberland.
Frank becomes embroiled in a series of events involving his cousin Rashleigh, who steals important documents, and the enigmatic Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish figure known for his heroic and sometimes outlawed activities.
The novel explores themes of social and economic conditions in Highland and Lowland Scotland, as well as the conflicts and cultural differences between England and Scotland during that period.
#836
• Mentioned in 38 episodes
Finnegans Wake
David Hayman
James Joyce
Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years.
The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities.
The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences.
The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop.
#9330
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The Slow Professor
Challenging the culture of speed in the academy
Wendy Brown
Maggie Berg
Maggie Berg and Wendy Brown's "The Slow Professor" offers a critique of the pressures and demands placed upon academics in contemporary higher education.
The book advocates for a slower, more deliberate approach to teaching and research, emphasizing the importance of reflection, collaboration, and well-being.
It challenges the prevailing culture of overwork and competition, suggesting alternative ways of engaging with academic work.
The authors encourage readers to prioritize their own well-being and to resist the pressures to conform to unsustainable models of productivity.
The book provides a framework for creating a more sustainable and fulfilling academic life.
#304
• Mentioned in 77 episodes
Jane Eyre
Edmund Morrison Wimperis
Edmund H. Garrett
Jant van der Weg-Laverman
Charlotte Brontë
The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, and later her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall.
There, she falls in love with her enigmatic employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester, but discovers a dark secret about his past that forces her to make a difficult choice.
The novel explores themes of love, independence, and social justice, and is known for its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman during the Victorian era.
#423
• Mentioned in 62 episodes
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas père
#37326
The Brontes
Terry Eagleton
A book about the Brontes.
#150
• Mentioned in 124 episodes
Dracula
Bram Stoker
The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires.
The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula.
Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life.
Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy.
A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula.
The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs.
tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.
#27959
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Villette
Charlotte Brontë
Villette est un roman de Charlotte Brontë qui raconte l'histoire de Lucy Snowe, une jeune femme anglaise qui travaille comme institutrice dans une pension de jeunes filles à Villette, une ville fictive basée sur Bruxelles.
Le roman explore des thèmes tels que l'identité, l'amour, la religion et le féminisme.
Le style d'écriture de Charlotte Brontë est connu pour sa profondeur émotionnelle et ses descriptions détaillées des émotions et des expériences de Lucy.
Villette est un roman qui continue de captiver les lecteurs aujourd'hui grâce à son histoire captivante et ses personnages mémorables.
#819
• Mentioned in 38 episodes
Mansfield Park
Jane Austen
monica arcija
The novel follows Fanny Price, a young girl from a poor family who is sent to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park.
Fanny navigates the complexities of her new environment, dealing with the mistreatment by some family members and the kindness of her cousin Edmund.
The story unfolds with the arrival of the charming but morally dubious Crawfords, leading to a series of scandals and moral dilemmas.
Ultimately, Fanny's integrity and compassion guide her through the challenges, and she finds love and a sense of belonging with Edmund.
#75
• Mentioned in 192 episodes
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan.
The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
#40
• Mentioned in 248 episodes
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.
The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth.
The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect.
Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.
#11401
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Bear
Marian Engel
#7669
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Agnes Grey
Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë's "Agnes Grey" is a novel that offers a realistic portrayal of a governess's life in 19th-century England.
The novel explores themes of social class, morality, and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society.
Brontë's detailed descriptions of Agnes's experiences and her insightful observations on human nature make the novel a compelling read.
The novel's exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the importance of personal integrity continues to resonate with readers.
The novel's realistic portrayal of social inequalities and the struggles faced by women remains relevant today.
Emily Brontë died on 19 December 1848. As Patricia Lockwood said in an episode of Close Readings, there is evidence that Brontë was writing a second novel to follow ‘Wuthering Heights’, but if she was, it has been lost, and it has been suggested, though never proved, that her sister Charlotte might have destroyed it. But what could possibly be in that lost novel, Lockwood wondered, that was worse, more unacceptable, than what we find in ‘Wuthering Heights’?
To mark the anniversary, we’re releasing the full version of this episode from the Close Readings series ‘Novel Approaches’. David Trotter and Patricia Lockwood join Thomas Jones to discuss Brontë’s only surviving novel, one Trotter describes as ‘completely amoral’.
Readings by Alex Colley
Give a gift subscription to Close Readings for Christmas: https://lrb.me/audiogifts
From the LRB
Subscribe to the LRB: https://lrb.me/subslrbpod
Close Readings podcast: https://lrb.me/crlrbpod
LRB Audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod
Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: https://lrb.me/storelrbpod
Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk