Because of the different classes, these young lovers are in, society already disapproves of their friendship. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley is the new owner and Heathcliff becomes a servant. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley is the new owner of Wuthering Heights along with his wife and he makes Heathcliff become a servant. As the children grow older a couple of things happen to change the course of events in the book: Mr. The Earnshaw family is of high class in the small community they live in with, pure aristocratic blood (Magnificat).
Because of Heathcliff being of Gypsy descent, Hindley has no problem with reminding Heathcliff of this by calling him, dog beggarly interloper and imp of Satan (Bronte 34-35). Back then, Gypsies had a reputation for fortune telling, stealing, and prostitution and many people believed they were, in league with the Devil (History). In both the movie and book, Catherine and Heathcliff become best friends while Hindley (Catherine’s brother) is jealous of Heathcliff and doesn’t like him. Earnshaw brings Heathcliff home and Catherine is hesitant to welcome him but there is no sign of a Mrs. Even Nelly called him it and placed him on the landing of the stairs and hoped he would be gone by morning. Earnshaw asked, … how he could fashion to bring that gypsy brat into the house (Bronte 32). Earnshaw found Heathcliff on the streets and brought him home to live with his children. One example of how relationships of a romantic nature are stunted is by class. The characters of Heathcliff and Catherine represents how relationships can be stunted by class, environment, and miscommunication. Catherine took a liking to him but her brother Hindley hated him at first sight. Heathcliff is the orphan that Catherines father brought home to live with his family. Wuthering Heights is the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw and their wild love for one another. Standing on the cliff, you and me forever (Catherine to Heathcliff).
The director and producer shortened the story to represent the wild love that Heathcliff and Catherine felt for one another.
Samuel Goldwyn also changed the time period of the movie from the late 18th and early 19th century to the mid-19th century because the clothes were more good-looking. Nelly is the housekeeper of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange but in the movie her name is Ellen. One columnist disagreed with this stating that Emily Bronte wouldn’t have liked that because Catherine’s ghost is there to make sure her daughter receives her inheritance. A few details the producer from the film adaptation such as Heathcliff’s son, Catherine’s daughter, and Heathcliff’s wife remaining loyal to him by staying instead of leaving.Īt the end of the film, the director added the scene with Heathcliff and Catherine’s ghosts walking away to live their lives together in the afterworld. William Wyler was the director of the film with Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff and Merle Oberon as Catherine. The 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is a faithful adaptation with a few scenes from the book cut to make the film more wild and passionate than the book described.