The Effects of All-Encompassing Passion

The Effects of All-Encompassing Passion

The novel of Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte', centers on the character Heathcliff Earnshaw. The story begins with his introduction into the Earnshaw family and ultimately ends with his death, while the entire plot is driven by his hatred and overwhelming pursuit of vengeance on Hindley Earnshaw and Catherine Linton. Heathcliff is a character that defies being understood. It seems possible that his cruelty is an expression of the frustration he feels in his love for Catherine; but his malevolence is so sadistic that one cannot believe that frustration is the only reason for his violence. It is fairly easy to identify Heathcliff’s passion as an intense devotion to acquiring revenge against the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.

Heathcliff, who began his life as a homeless orphan in Liverpool, makes it his life’s goal to bring upon the downfall of Hindley, the jealous and bitter son of Mr. Earnshaw. (Core 6) To do so, Heathcliff purchases Wuthering Heights, an estate that is the image of Hindley’s affluence and of Catherine’s being. (Core 2) Not only does he bring Hindley to financial ruin, but he also puts an end to his son, Hareton’s, education. (Core 3) In Heathcliff’s pursuit of destruction on Hindley, he destroys his own life and any happiness he may have found at Wuthering Heights. (Core 1)

Heathcliff’s love for Catherine, the knowledge that he can never be with her, and the jealousy he feels towards Edgar Linton entices him to marry Isabella Linton. (Core 4) This breaks Edgar’s heart and therefore satisfies Heathcliff’s envy. He treats Isabella with such wickedness and barbarity that she is forced to run away; yet another lost chance for Heathcliff’s happiness. In destroying his relationships with the rest of the characters to appease his jealousy and quests for revenge, Heathcliff exterminates any chance he may have had for loving anyone, and brings about his own unhappy destruction.

In the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, the protagonist, Winston Smith, shares a similar intensity as Heathcliff in his hate of the institution of Big Brother. He lacks however the cruel desires and intentions that Heathcliff possesses. Smith, on the other hand seeks to rebel against the Inner Party of Oceania and overcome the mysterious presence of Big Brother, the perceived ruler of Oceania. Winston hates the Party passionately and wishes to test the limits of its power. Whenever he commits one of his numerous crimes throughout the novel, Smith fully realizes that the party is going to catch up with him, yet he convinces himself to keep rebelling. (Core 7)

The effort Winston puts into his attempt to achieve freedom and independence from the Party is astonishing. He commits innumerable crimes against the Party,