Prompt 2

Prompt 2: Choose a character in a novel or play of your choice (from the AP List!) and write about the conflict(s) that arise since they are in conflict with the society they are from. This may be socially, religiously, and/or morally. Dig deep! You should also address whether your character comes to a good/bad fate due to this conflict(s).

Heathcliff, the central character of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, transformed himself from the status of an impoverished orphan to that of a wealthy gentleman in a society that centered around social standing. Taken off of the streets of industrialized Liverpool, Heathcliff is abruptly transplanted into a class conscious village in the English countryside. With the exception of a select few, Heathcliff is immediately disliked by his new peers and shunned for his ill mannered ways. In response to losing his true love to a high society gentleman, Heathcliff embarks on an elaborate plan in which he seeks to take revenge upon those who had alienated him as a child.

The orphaned Heathcliff is adopted into Wuthering Heights, the home of the Earnshaws’. Heathcliff is adored by Mr. Earnshaw but remains tormented Mr. Earnshaw’s son, Hindley, who takes control of Wuthering Heights after his father dies. Although Heathcliff is often ostracized as a child for being a “gypsy,” he easily earns the admiration of Mr. Earnshaw’s daughter, Catherine. Heathcliff and Catherine grow to be great companions and eventually lovers. However, once Catherine matures, her desire for social advancement overpowers her feelings for Heathcliff and she begins a relationship with Edgar from the Thrushcross Grange manor. Catherine recognizes that her love for Heathcliff is greater than her love for Edgar, but her want of stability and a life of affluence pushes her to marry Edgar whose family is very respected throughout the village. Devastated by Catherine’s betrayal and tired of Hindley’s terrible treatment, Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights for years and vows to take revenge upon Hindley and Edgar.

Heathcliff returns to the English countryside after amassing a fortune. Despite being alienated as a child for his poor breeding, Heathcliff is now more respected for the wealth that he has gained. The first act in his plan of revenge is to obtain the property of Wuthering Heights from Hindley, who had always made his life miserable as a child. Heathcliff manipulatively gets Hindley to borrow money from him; as Hindley is unable to pay off his debts, Heathcliff slyly assumes control over Wuthering Heights.

Eager to get revenge upon Edgar for marrying Catherine, Heathcliff works to gain the property of Thrushcross Grange. In the hopes of putting himself in a position to inherit Thrusscross Grange and infuriating Edgar, Heathcliff convinces Edgar’s sister, Isabella, to marry him. After their wedding, Heathcliff treats Isabella horribly and ignores their son, Linton. At around the same time, Edgar and Catherine have a daughter, Cathy. Years pass in which Catherine and Isabella die and their children Linton and Cathy grow up. During this time, Edgar has become sickly as has Linton. Heathcliff remains resentful towards Edgar and still wants the property of Thrushcross Grange. In a desperate attempt to gain the property, he holds Cathy captive in Wuthering Heights and does not allow her to leave until she and Linton get married. Linton and Edgar die and Heathcliff, now having both properties of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange has fulfilled his quest of revenge.

Heathcliff’s actions throughout the novel Wuthering Heights all center around his quest of revenge against those who had treated him wrongly because of his low birth. In this society, a man is defined by his breeding, wealth and property. Heathcliff’s actions are driven by a need to compensate for what he was born lacking. Although Heathcliff is successful in gaining wealth and property, his vengeful actions do not make up for the loss of his true love, Catherine, and he dies a man obsessed and haunted by the memory of her.

(written in about 50 minutes)