I'm utter trash for this thing. Utter trash. Holy shit. This novel started out in the most ridiculous manner ever, and then turned into a friggin' masterpiece, and now everything makes sense, and my heart is full. Can't wait to discuss it properly! 
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 Wuthering Heights is Emily Bronte's only novel. It was published in 1847, the year before Emily (at the tender age of 30) passed away. Wuthering Heights was a book of controversy in Victorian England; the stark depiction of mental and physical cruelty challenged the strict ideals of religious hypocrisy and gender inequality. 
 Early reviews of Wuthering Heights were mixed in their assessment. Whilst most critics at the time recognised the power and imagination of the novel, they were also baffled by the storyline and found the characters extremely forward and uninhibited. 
 One contemporary reviewer said that there is not a single character who is not utterly hateful or thoroughly contemptible. And whilst I agree that I loathed most characters in this book, I have to say that I am utter trash for Hareton (and will defend him to the end of my days), and also Nelly Dean made me hollering throughout the whole thing. As for Catherine and Heathcliff, they can choke. 
 So, let's talk about my two faves. There are two things I took from this book: 1) Nelly Dean deserves better, and 2) Hareton is the ultimate bae. 
 Nelly Dean, the maid, first to Catherine I. and later to her daughter Cathy II., is the narrator of the story and I was living for her. She wouldn't put up with anyone's bullshit and she provided a voice of reason throughout the story (even though her judgement was far off a couple of times).I went about my household duties, convinced that the Grange had but one sensible soul in its walls, and that lodged in my body.I mean, c'mon, this girl is hilarious. I was shooketh that Emily Bronte actually constructed a narrative in which the servant seemed more sane than their masters. Granted, Nelly Dean suffers from a clear case of 'the happy maid with no cares of her own' which is highly unrealistic and sells her character short, nonetheless, I just loved that she got so many sassy moments. 
 I mean that woman is downright shady and cunning, always making sure to cover up her slip-ups and play dumb when she needs to. I also appreciated the #realtalks that she had with the two Catherine's who were just too high up their asses to see what privileged little fucks they were:Example A: If you had any real griefs, you'd be ashamed to waste a tear on this little contrariety. You never had one shadow of substantial sorrow, Miss Catherine. 
 Example B: When Cathy tells her that she loves Linton, Nelly replies: 'Did anybody ever hear the like! I might just as well talk of loving the miller who comes once a year to buy our corn.'Tell 'em, girl, tell 'em! 
 One of the best moments in this entire story were the ones in which Catherine talked about dying and going to heaven, and Nelly was lowkey judging her so hard being all like 'nah sista, you gonna rot in hell.' QUEEN! 
 Now onto my ultimate bae - Hareton, who also deserves better, but ultimately actually got better, so I am not complaining. 
 I could start this segment with a whole discussion on nature vs nurture, and whether one's character gets corrupted by the way we are brought up, or if certain traits are 'pre-installed', but honestly, I just want to gush about my trash children, sooo... 
 I think that Wuthering Heights is interpreted wrong in most of popular culture (especially in its movie adaptations who often cut out the second half of the novel like HOW DARE YOUUUU). So let's all take a seat and acutally listen to what Emily was trying to tell us here. It is no secret that there are two love stories in this book. The one between Heathcliff and Catherine, and then the one in the next generation between Hareton and Cathy. 
 Most people think that Heathcliff and Cathy are the big romantic couple of this story, but let me tell you, these people are wrong. Emily makes it very clear that both are absolutely miserable, and were never able to get over their own high opinion of themselves. She shows their unhealthy relationship which eventually lead to death and ruin. Yeah. Such romance. 
 The actual romantic lovers of this tale are Hareton and Cathy who actually managed to overcome their initial prejudices and learn from one another. They get a happy ending. SO PLEASE TELL ME WHY PEOPLE ARE IGNORING THEM WHEN THEY ARE SO CUTE. 
 Here are my TOP 10 Hareton and Cathy moments (can ya tell I'm trash): 
 1) The first time he showed his vulnerability after his cousin made fun of him: "Hareton darkened; I perceived he was very sensitive to suspected slights, and had obviously a dim notion of his inferiority." UGH 
 2) When he tried to improve himself by learning how to read just to impress Cathy, and just in general how he even wanted to look presentable for her. My awkward baby! 
 3) The first time he was totally entranced by Cathy: "And, perhaps, not quite awake to what he did, but attracted like a child to a candle, at last, he proceeded from staring to touching; he put out his hand and stroked one curl, as gently as if it were a bird." LIKE FUCK ME UP! This was the moment I knew I was trash for this angsty couple! 
 4) Hareton asking Nelly if she could ask Cathy to read to them without mentioning that he asked in the first place. MY TRASH CHILDREN ARE TRASH! 
 5) Hareton making sure Cathy got the letter from the Grange. 
 6) When Cathy called him out for "stealing" her books: "Earnshaw blushed crimson, when his cousin made this revelation of his private literary accumulations, and stammered an indignant denial of her accusations. The young man evidently thought it too bad that he should be laughed at for his ignorance, and then laughed at for trying to remove it." UGH my man just trying to improve himself! 
 7) The first time Cathy kissed his cheek to thank him for standing up for her: "She returned to the hearth, and frankly extended her hand. He blackened and scowled like a thunder-cloud, and kept his fists resolutely clenched, and his gaze fixed on the ground. Catherine, by instinct, must have divined it was obdurate perversity, and not dislike, that prompted this dogged conduct; for, after remaining an instant undecided, she stooped and impressed on his cheek a gentle kiss." 
 8) The first big reconciliation (after the cheeky kiss). ALL THE FEELS! 
 9) "The intimacy thus commenced grew rapidly; though it encountered temporary interruptions. Earnshaw was not to be civilised with a wish, and my young lady was no philosopher, and no paragon of patience; but both their minds tending to the same point - one loving and desiring to esteem, and the other loving and desiring to be esteemed - they contrived in the end to reach it." THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE ROMANCE PEOPLE! 
 10) Hareton mourning for Heathcliff, not because he liked him particularly but because he was his father figure after all. And then Cathy actually respecting his feelings and managing to hold her tongue in regards to her hatred for Heathcliff. Look at my trash children actually listening and learning from one another. #BLESSETH 
 Okay, now that we acutally got that out of the way (you don't even know how giddy I am right now), let's get further along with some analysis. 
 I will never stop thinking about Heathcliff's ambiguous appearance and whether he can be read as a person of color. I know that he is frequently described as being a 'gyspy', but there are just as many circumstances in which Emily Bronte describes him as dark-skinned. Whatever the 'truth' might be, it is clear that Heathcliff is a social outcast. He doesn't even get a first name. 
 In the beginning I actually liked him very much because I understood his struggle:Young Heathcliff: "Oh Nelly [...] I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed, and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be. [...] In other words, I must wish for Edgar Linton's great blue eyes, and even forehead."He is insecure about his appearance and his status, he just wanted to fit in. It was fascinating to see how his character got corrupted and more malicious as time went on. 
 As I mentioned earlier I was so not about his romance with Catherine. Their relationship is one of the most toxic that I have ever read about, however, Emily provides us with the most pettiest move in all of history by making Heathcliff remove Linton's lock of hair from Catherine's necklace and putting his own in it, so that she would be buried with something from him instead. I AM HURLING. THAT SHIT IS GREAT! Nonetheless, the melodrama was way too high with these too, and overall their lofty manner was ridiculous as fuck. I mean check this out:Heathcliff: "You teach me now how cruel you've been - cruel and false! Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and wring out my kisses and tears: they'll blight you - they'll damn you. You loved me - then what right had you to leave me? What right - answer me - for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? Because misery, and degradation, and death, and nothing God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine."These bitches need to chill the fuck out. 
 I highly appreciated Emily's criticism of alcohol throughout the whole novel, and that Cathy's illness can be interpreted as a metaphor for depression. In general, I have a feeling that this novel is extremely rich in theme and will get even better upon future rereads. Also, what's up with all these dogs that show up in this narrative??? 
 I am also a huge sucker for the gothic ending which hints that Heathcliff and Catherine are 'haunting' the moors together, and thus becoming local legends. ;) 
 Overall, I have only one minor criticism, and that is the frame narrative featuring Mr. Lockwood. It seemed pretty useless to me. Also, some of the stylistic choices, especially in regards to Joseph's speech and how every single narrator sounded exactly the same, were a little wacky but I can easily forgive that. I had such a blast reading this!