This discussion is helping me with "understanding" Wuthering Heights. I am relieved to know that I'm not the only one who wanted to smack almost all of the characters upside the head. And I guess that I got the impression that Revenge is a Bad Thing and Not Really Worth the Effort. But it was nice of Maia to put that into words. ("the sterility of revenge" -- not a very Klingon sentiment.)

After reading all the comments I'm now seeing the book as an attempt on Emily's part to reconcile the demands of Duty versus the demands of Desire.

Now... here is a question for you literature experts: Was Wuthering Heights considered "main stream" fiction in its day?


(Perhaps that's not a legitimate question. Maybe there was ONLY "main stream" fiction in those days. Today, I think the story would be better told as a heart rending Harlequin Romance. At least then we might know whether Heathcliffe and Cathy ever consummated their love.)