Many people believe that environment helps determine how its inhabitants interact. Part of any given environment is the kind of people that live there. In Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff, a gypsy child, is brought into a wealthy English family, but then he is treated horribly by his jealous foster siblings. Emily Bronte presents that character is determined by surroundings through Heathcliff, as he goes from an innocent boy to a cynical monster.
Heathcliff was thrown into the racist upper-class Victorian society. As a gypsy, he was looked down upon, and treated badly. His foster brother, Hindley, was crueler to him than anyone. Hindley persecuted Heathcliff, forcing him to do hard labor, seperating him from the family, and degrading him with language. Hindley is portrayed as quite evil, and his when he becomes an alcoholic, he allows the house to fall into the dark. During this time, Heathcliff also begins to show "evil" tendencies, very different from his childhood, where he was portrayed as the victim.
After Hindley takes away Heathcliff's only friend, Catherine, Heathcliff turns inward, and upon Hindley's death Heathcliff becomes crueler than Hindley ever was. Bronte uses diction to show Heathcliff's new character, describing him as a "monster" at many times in the book. She also constantly shows him in shadows, creating a dark atmosphere. These tactics show that Heathcliff's character has turned dark, and mysterious.
Bronte proves her point by presenting Heathcliff differently from the beginning of the book to the end. By showing him as a moderately happy, although shy, child, and then as a near monster, we see that because of the fierce racism Hindley shows Heathcliff, a monster is born.
You sort of summarize the plot a little to much, but I also feel like some summarization is necessary for this certain prompt. I like how you explain how the character turns into the "cynical monster". Over all this is a good essay, the only bad thing really is that I think you summarized a little to much.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laura. You tend to summarize a little too much, and while some background info is necessary, you would be find with leaving out more of what you included. I think it was just fast typing but I'm having touble with your thesis. I think you probably want to include more specific details, especially tone, details, language and imagrey that should be included for support. Sometimes your points seema bit vauge but you they are still great interpretations, they just need to be dug into deeper.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laura and Carina about the summerizing, although some summery helps to introduce your topic, I think it is same to assume the reader of an AP essay would have at least basic backround knowlegde of this book. also. I think you did a good job at discussing how the effect of the character's envienment on the character, but you could have addressed the "standards of the fictional society" more besides describing how the character was treated by by others.
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