Religion in ‘Wuthering Heights’
Wuthering Heights is not usually considered a religious novel that
advocates Christianity or some other religious form, as other novels do
more obviously such as C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe. Yet there is a real awareness of religious experience in the
novel. I’ve followed the categories of Wuthering Heights as being
religious, metaphysical and mystical. It might be easier to categorise
the aspects of religion by character → Bronte’s view → Connection to
Romantic Movement. The people discussed might be useful with the
whole “critical underpinnings” quotes (especially if you wanted to
research them more) or maybe not… I don’t know.
The research on Wuthering Heights being a religious, metaphysical and/or mystic novel comes
primarily from:
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/wuthering/mystic.html
Wuthering Heights – Religious novel?
 Larger reality + non-rational mystery → akin to religious experience
 Rudolph Otto labeled it ‘the numinous’ → dread creating awe +
identifiable by inapproachability, power & urgency/energy
 This ‘daemonic’ experience has (historically according to Otto) lead
to understanding of gods in other religions :. it could be considered
religious, like many Gothic fictions
 Derek Traversi suggests primary motive = thirst for religious
experience (that’s non-Christian)
Quote: Catherine states “surely you and everybody have a notion that
there is, or should be, an existence of yours beyond you. What were the
use of my creation if I were entirely contained here?” p96 Ch IX, V1
 Human nature → yearning for higher, infinite, eternal, permanent
reality that is evident most strongly in Heathcliff & Cathy’s forbidden
union
What does this show about Bronte’s religious beliefs?
“Brontë's religious view encompasses both Cathy's and Linton's views of
heaven and of life, for she sees a world of contending forces which are
contained within her own nature. She seeks to unite them in this novel,
though, Traversi admits, the emphasis on passion and death tends to
overshadow the drive for unity.”
→ Perhaps Bronte reflects her context which is still heavily influenced by
Christianity, religiously and politically, by showing distinct Christian
beliefs in heaven & hell. The fact that Heathcliff and Cathy both die
miserable and alone also shows a 19th century view of the punishment
for disregarding the natural order of society (class system) and
traditional religion. On the other hand, her views might characterise
the Romantic Movement’s preference for transcendent experiences
on earth (e.g. by engaging with sublime in nature) as being the true
embodiment of paradise (differing from Christian heaven).
Heathcliff’s approach to death signifies the religious significance of
his outlook.
Quote: "My soul's bliss kills my body, but does not satisfy itself" p389 Ch
XX V2
Quote: “To-day I’m within sight of my heaven – I have my eyes on it –
hardly three feet severe to me!” P 384 Ch XX V2.
 Thomas John Winnifirith sees the religious message of Wuthering
Heights as – salvation is won through suffering.
 For Heathcliff, the loss of Catherine is literally hell.
Quote: "existence after losing her would be hell” p Ch XIV V
 Even in their final (earthly) meeting, Catherine and Heathcliff both
suffer agonies because of their separation, she will be condemned
to suffer "the same distress underground" and he to "writhe in the
torments of hell" (p Ch XV V1)
 Winnifirith suggests that Heathcliff’s years of suffering (earthly hell)
after losing Cathy allow him to attain ‘his’ heaven i.e. union with
Cathy in spirit
Does Bronte value suffering as a means of salvation in Wuthering
Heights?
All the characters had to suffer – no-one escaped.
E.g. Hindley Earnshaw – Heathcliff usurped his role, isolated him from his
family (leaving him friendless); wife died; became drinker/gambler;
forced to tolerate Heathcliff’s presence/control over him as his
mortgager; died young(ish) and alone after suffering for years.
Heathcliff – poor, impoverished, Gypsy → rejected by society; always
slightly out of place in Earnshaw household as child (didn’t even have
a last name); forced to be apart from Cathy, partially because of lack
of wealth + status; his love married another man; had to endure Edgar
Linton’s ‘victory’; only love died; son = a disappointment; life dictated
by revenge→ suffering; yet some happiness/redemption in death?
But not all attained salvation or redemption e.g. Hindley Earnshaw
suffered enormously and had a very little chance of any sort of
‘reward’. So maybe this shows that only certain types of suffering lead
to ‘eternal’ reward?

Wuthering Heights - Metaphysical Novel?
 Metaphysics = "branch of speculative inquiry which treats of the first
principles of things, including such concepts as being, substance,
essence, time, space, cause, identity, etc.; theoretical philosophy as
the ultimate science of Being and Knowing"
 Dorothy Van Gent’s theory: two opposing forces (controlled society
vs. unrestrained nature/natural energies) continuously clash in the
novel. Catherine and Heathcliff represent the violent elements of
nature. Their passionate, impulsive, amoral and childish love only
bring self-destruction, in contrast to the more adult, mature and
responsible love of Cathy & Hareton that brings the story to a
satisfactory conclusion. The two types of love are connected by
Heathcliff who crosses the two generations, having distinct roles in
the two volumes of Wuthering Heights.
 This central ‘clash’ links to the idea of the inside/domestic vs.
outside/nature (E.g. Thrusscross Grange stands alone and feeble
compared to the great expanding nature outside its borders)
 Catherine & Heathcliff have a “mythological love” that Van Gent
considers mythological because of “"the astonishingly ravenous and
possessive, perfectly amoral love of Catherine and Heath cliff
belongs to that realm of the imagination where myths are created".
Myths are important to all religions in explaining the universe’s origins
and so their relationship is linked to primary religions beliefs.
How does Bronte view Catherine & Heathcliff’s love, considering it
religiously and metaphysically?
Obviously, the clash of forces (tame civilization and wild nature) is
linked to the Romantic Movement because this shows their response to
their context (following the Enlightenment). It might be a bit of a stretch
to say that Wuthering Heights is ‘a metaphysical novel’ but certainly,
there is a relationship between the physical and supernatural world,
captured best in Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship. E.g.
Heathcliff’s association with the Moors.
Wuthering Heights – Mystical Novel?
 The main thing to consider here is the suggestion that Bronte was a
mystic or “a person who has, to a greater or less degree, such a
direct experience–one whose religion and life are centered, not
merely on an accepted belief or practice, but on that which he
regards as first-hand personal knowledge."
 Evelyn Underhill asserts this bade on Bronte’s other poems, including
from "High waving heather, 'neath stormy blasts" but how is this
evident in Wuthering Heights?
 Practically, it’s probably best to discuss the mystical and
metaphysical components of Wuthering Heights within the realm of
religion.
Another side of religion in Wuthering Heights is the characterisation of
other characters that I think show Bronte’s view of orthodox Christianity
and its function in society.
The most obvious character for this is Joseph, the servant working at
Wuthering Heights, who is the strongest voice of Christianity (the
dominant religion of the time). A minister himself, he often preaches to
the others. It is rare that he says anything without publicly condemning
others, since he’s primarily concerned with the punishment of the
immoral people surround him. Joseph believes that even Hareton, who
he helped raise and genuinely likes, will go to hell. As bitter old man
who is almost impossible to understand due to the strong garbled
accent affecting his (written) speech, it is an interesting choice of
character to represent orthodox religion. The fact that’s he quite
difficult to understand might show Bronte’s view that religion is
outdated and difficult to understand or value in her ‘modern’ time. This
would make sense considering the increased questioning of religion
and particularly Christianity’s hierarchal structure.
Joseph is largely ignored by the other characters, and only begins to
have some influence over Heathcliff, in regards to his religious views, in
his last days when he is terribly weak. This could show how Bronte may
have believed that Christianity played on a fear of death, that way
used as a means of giving the Church power and keeping the people
subjugated. Joseph’s condemnation of others (or judgmental-ness is
justified through his religious beliefs.
Quote: “Th’ divil’s harried off his soul’ he cried ‘and he muh hev his
carcass intuh t’bargain for ow’t Aw care! Ech! What a wicked un he
looks girnning at death!” p392 Ch XX V2
(Most of what Joseph says shows he’s almost incomprehensible, as well
as his judgmental nature and irritable personality).
The fact that Joseph is so judegemental, condemning and as a result, is
essentially friendless speaks volumes about his place in society.
Perhaps this is a reflection of the waning influence of organised religion
in Britain, at the time. It also shows how religion was viewed by some
post-Enlightenment thinkers as a heavy, oppressing regime that
prevented people from truly sharing transcending experience because
of the preoccupation with sin, morality and heaven and hell. This,
combined with the spiritual transcendent experience of Heathcliff, is a
reflection of the Romantic tenets of valuing these experiences over all
others.
Nelly also shows conventional attitudes towards religion; she is godfearing and considers the implication of moral behaviour regularly
since she sincerely believes in heaven and hell. Yet even her beliefs
generally come across as part of her moralizing or nagging. Her
attitude to religion is represented as an old superstition that is useful for
chastising others and is more tied up with her interfering behaviour and
love for gossip. The fact that she uses religious conventions to promote
her self and show how her actions were right for the time also
undermines her character.
Remember, Nelly narrates most of the story and frames the plot. This is
important when considering the 19th century audience and might
reflect how many would have viewed the events of the novel. Perhaps
Bronte is playing with society’s traditional perceptions and trying to
highlight their shortcomings because they fail to capture the most
important things – transcendent experiences that come as a result of
breaking through conventional moral orders.
An example of Nelly’s chastising is seen at the end of the novel when
she responds to Heathcliff looking forward to his impending death.
“You are aware Mr Heathcliff’ said I ‘that from the time you were
thirteen years old, you have lived a selfish, unchristian life; and
probably hardly had a Bible in your hands, during all that period. You
must have forgotten the contents of the book, and you may not have
space to search it now. Could it be hurtful to send from some one –
some minister of any denomination, it does not matter which, to
explain it and to show you how very far you have erred from its
precepts, and how unfit you will be for its heaven, unless a change
takes place before you die?”
Heathcliff’s reply to this is also worth considering. It essentially highlights
his triumphant response to conventional religion. “No minister need
come; nor need anything be said over me - I tell you I have nearly
attained my heaven; and that of others is altogether unvalued, and
uncoveted by me!” p 390 Ch XX V2
Although both Joseph and Nelly have important roles in the stroyline,
they are not the focus of the novel. It is the relationship between
Heathcliff and Catherine that dominates Wuthering Heights, which is
worth noting when trying to discern Bronte’s view of religion and her
use of it in her novel.
Although their relationship has already been discussed, a way to
surmise their religious beliefs are:
 Catherine believes in an afterlife, though it seems different to the
Christian concept of heaven This shows a longing for a higher,
transcendent reality, similar to what poets experience while creating
their ‘art’. Catherine and Heath cliff want this experience and they
find it in their consuming love for each other.
 Heathcliff saw heaven as being with his true love. This has lead some
to claim that love has replaced religion for these two characters. It is
interesting to note that this belief leads him to also believe in other
supernatural concepts such as ghosts. He clings to the hope that
Catherine came back to him in a spirit form, which shows how
sincere his passionate love is.
If you’re looking for more on religion in Wuthering Heights try:
 http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/
wuthering/love.html
 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/wuthering/section1.html
 http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/wutheri
ng_heights/19.html
Or you could fill in the following table.
Character
Heathcliff
Cathy (elder)
Nelly
Edgar Linton
Joseph
Catherine
(younger)
Linton
Heathcliff
Hareton
Isabella
How’s religion
represented
through him/her?
Quote
Bronte’s possible
view
Context + Link to
Romanticism