The Distortion and Restoration of Human Nature: The Imagery of ‘Windows’ and ‘books’ in Wuthering Heights

Abstract

Emily Brontë, the renowned British novelist, employs rich imagery in Wuthering Heights, imbuing everyday objects with profound symbolic significance to illuminate and deepen character development. This study focuses on two pivotal symbolic images in the novel ‘windows’ and ‘books’ and examines their roles in exploring the themes of human nature’s distortion and restoration. The ‘window of the soul’ symbolizes internal conflict, reflecting the tension between primal instincts and civilization, while the ‘window of reality’ represents societal oppression and emotional isolation. These images are crucial for understanding the fractured realities of characters like Heathcliff and Catherine. Meanwhile, books symbolize the transmission of knowledge, emotion, and reconciliation, serving as a bridge for characters to transcend hatred and rediscover their authentic selves. By comparing the experiences of two generations, the study reveals how love triumphs over hatred, ultimately restoring suppressed and distorted human nature. Through her masterful use of imagery, Brontë not only enriches the narrative’s thematic depth but also interrogates the complexities of freedom, societal constraints, and love’s transformative power within the human condition.