August Rothpletz
2/2/20
English
Mr. Yanke
Exclusion and Suffering
What is the worst thing that can happen to someone in this life? Emily Brontë seeks to
redefine this in her gothic novel Wuthering Heights. Though the world often treats exclusion as
the worst possible thing for a person, Brontë uses the character of Nelly to show the lie of this
belief, guiding readers to the truth. Though she suffers greatly throughout the novel, Nelly never
complains or admits her suffering, instead acting as a beacon of wisdom to the mislead characters
whom she serves. Through her actions, Nelly expresses that, because no one will ever belong in
this world, the worst thing that can happen to a person is not exclusion, but rather fixation on
suffering, as it causes them to seek heaven here and therefore never be content in this life.
Modern society treats exclusion as the worst thing that can happen to someone. There are
countless examples in books, movies, and TV shows where the villain became who they are
because they were mistreated or pushed away by the rest of society. Many companies give special
attention to job applications by people of color, as they don’t want to exclude these minorities.
Some universities offer “safe places” where people’s ideas will not be confronted or argued
against, as to not make them feel mistreated or excluded. Even over one hundred and eighty years
after the publication of the novel, this concept still subconsciously swims so deeply into the
thoughts of modern society that people are sometimes willing to justify someone’s crimes by the
way they were excluded by their friends or family. The world treats exclusion as the one of the
most horrible things that can happen to someone, but is it really the worst thing?
This notion is confronted by Brontë with the argument that because humanity was not
created for this world, people can experience much worse than exclusion. Granted, humans are
social creatures, so exclusion can definitely have bad effects on people. However, people are not
made to inhabit this sinful, fallen world, but instead a greater, everlasting place, heaven. Because
of this, everyone is always trying to insert themselves into another group. Just like Catherine and
Heathcliff, people think that they can be happy in this world, if only they could gain the trust of
that higher ranked, better paid, or more popular crowd. However, since humanity is not meant for
this world, people will always discover there is another, better group they need to join, no matter
how successful they are in life. If exclusion is a universal reality for everyone on this earth, it
cannot be the worst thing that can happen to someone.
Instead, Brontë seeks to illustrate that the worst thing is for someone to become fixated on
their own suffering, as it causes them to seek heaven in this life. When a person becomes absorbed
in their own suffering, they focus solely on everything wrong with their life, even if they have no
reason to complain. This is perfectly illustrated through Linton, the weak, pampered son of
Heathcliff. Throughout his short life, Linton is given everything he could possibly desire without
having to earn it. As a result, he becomes spoiled and fixated on even the smallest points of
suffering a human can experience- this milk is to cold, that pillow isn’t soft enough, it takes too
much work to go outside. Just like Linton, this self-obsession makes people attempt to create their
own heaven- one where they are the most important person. Through this unconscious action, they
reject the perfect heaven, as they are putting themselves on the throne reserved for God alone.
Since they cannot choose the true heaven, as doing so would put God before them, people seek to
find a heaven in this sinful world, where they will not have to bow to the Lord of Creation. Fixation
on one’s own suffering causes people to seek heaven here, as this selfishness makes them want to
act in the place of God.
In spite of this, does this fixation on suffering have real consequences in this life? Brontë
shows us that this is very much the case. On the surface, the result of this self-centeredness is very
apparent. Linton, for example, is highly unpleasant to be around in the novel, or, for that matter,
to even be read about. All he does is whine about his deep, imaginary sufferings and expects ever
to cater to his every wish. As a result, there is no one in the novel who truly loves him or cares for
him out of the kindness of their hearts. Even Cathy, who believes she loves him under false
conceptions of romance, soon realizes that he is not worthy of her affections. On the surface, this
selfishness, just like Linton, makes people unpleasant to be around and drives away friends and
family, a very real consequence of this action.
However, the real consequences of fixation on one’s own which lie below the surface are
much worse. Brontë expresses that the real reason this is the worst thing that can happen to
someone is because seeking heaven here prevents them from ever being content in this life. We
live in a sinful, broken world, full of crime and injustice and sickness and death. By seeking heaven
in this life, people are looking to find a perfect paradise in the midst of all this brokenness, where
they are at the center. Everyone has their selfish moments, and if everyone wants to be the center
of their own heaven, how could anyone actually accomplish this? Furthermore, the pleasures of
this earth cannot satisfy. There are countless examples of people who have had everything this
world has to offer- money, success, fame, and pleasure, only to discover they are no happier than
when they lacked those things. Clearly, no one is able to be the center of their own heaven, and a
heaven here is only an illusion of fake pleasures that will not last. Brontë shows us that by rejecting
the true heaven for an earthly version that will not satisfy, we can never be content in this life,
which is truly the worst thing that can happen to a person.
Nevertheless, is there an alternative which will lead to being content in this life? The
answer can be found in the way Nelly chooses to live her life. Though she suffers greatly as a
result of her treatment by other characters, she never acknowledges that she has suffered and is
perfectly content with her life. She shows the reader that, because humanity lives in a broken
world, suffering and exclusion is inevitable, so everyone’s contentedness is not dependent on if
they suffer or not, but instead on how they act in light of their suffering. People can find
contentedness if, instead of dwelling on their suffering and letting it control their lives, they accept
their suffering and look to God, as their suffering will be no more in heaven. This, Brontë says, is
the only way one can be content in this life.
In her gothic novel Wuthering Heights, Brontë explores what can be the worst thing that
can happen to a person. She concludes that it is not exclusion, because humans were not meant for
this earth, and therefore will be always excluded. Instead, her answer is fixation on one’s own
suffering, is it will cause a person to seek heaven here, preventing them from ever being content
in this life. Because of this, we must accept that we will inevitably experience suffering in this life
and look to God for our happiness, for only in heaven will suffering truly no longer exist.