Jane Eyre
discussion
If you've read both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights - Rochester or Heathcliff?
Rochester. From the moment I - sorry, I meant, Jane - met him :) Is there an emoticon for swoon?Great discussion, thanks.
certainly Rochester, it seems like Heathcliff turns to be sadist rather than a lover !
Yes, Heathcliff was too dark, to savage. He went beyond the 'bad boy' image many women respond to and went all the way to frightening and psychotic.
Rochester! I've loved him since I was 12 years old and have never been disappointed. Heathcliff on the other hand...
Rochester, to be sure. Heathcliff left me decidedly repelled; he killed puppies. Or rather, a puppy, but he is still an unbalanced and incredibly selfish person.
In my opinion Heathcliff was a psychopath. Definitely Rochester for me.
Maybe we could throw Jane Austen in the mix and make it even more interesting. I like both novels but living close to Haworth I think Wuthering...shows a great understanding and love for the area and in many ways Heathcliffe seems to be a reflection of the moors. Dark, thunderous, rugged...He and Kathy are one like two sides of same coin and both wreck havock on those around them. I've also read WideWide Sargasso Sea...great novel but puts a spin on things...Haven't read Villette..
Rochester by far. Especially when played in the movie by Timothy Dalton.
Rochester - he's kind of boring though. I do love Healthcliff's passion.
Becky wrote: "Rochester by far. Especially when played in the movie by Timothy Dalton."I never saw the Timothy Dalton one. I saw the old Orson Welles one, and then the Michael Fassbender one.
I'm also fond of Ralph Fiennes' portrayal of Heathcliff, though.
I prefer Rochester. Even though i don't think he deserved the blindness, he really loved Jane when everyone else thought she was just plane. Heathcliff was nice as a boy but grew into a mean and bitter man which made him a very unfavourable hero. He died a sad death though. i felt pity for him- he didn't deserve it. Everyone deserves love.
i read both of 2 novels more than 4 times, i would choose Rochester with no doubt , but i luv Heathcliff for the intensity of his love for Catherine.
I love both books but I never quite 'got' Heathcliff as a romantic hero (sorry!) so it has to be Mr Rochester for me.
Jane wrote: "I love both books but I never quite 'got' Heathcliff as a romantic hero (sorry!) so it has to be Mr Rochester for me."
He ISN'T a romantic hero.
He ISN'T a romantic hero.
Brooke wrote: "Jane wrote: "I love both books but I never quite 'got' Heathcliff as a romantic hero (sorry!) so it has to be Mr Rochester for me."He ISN'T a romantic hero."
that's what makes Heathcliff different from the rest of the pack... he's one hell of an anti-hero... great characterization from Bronte but one of the worst literary characters ever
Yes, I love how Bronte says that she hardly thinks it is right to create a character like Heathcliff. Even she didn't like him all that much! :)
I agree, Emily. He wanted to possess, not love.
Rochester, hands down. Every time.
Rochester, Rochester, and did I mention Rochester!!
"I'm not sure that Heathcliff was in love. His behavior is more like one who is obsessed. "
Absolutely.
Rochester, hands down wins. He had true love for Jane. I don't believe Heathcliff knew the meaning of love in any of it's incarnations.
Cateline wrote: ""I'm not sure that Heathcliff was in love. His behavior is more like one who is obsessed. "
Absolutely.
Rochester, hands down wins. He had true love for Jane. I don't believe Heathcliff knew t..."
I think he loved Catherine. I just think he hadn't imagined a life without her, and when he had to come up with one thanks to Catherine's thoughtless betrayal, he got obsessed with revenge.
Heathcliff all the way (wounded bird, bad boy, emotional instability, mysterious and swarthy, neverending passion that drove him to die, etc). Rocheseter was cruel too. He left a madwoman in an attic for goodness' sake. (Wide Sargasso Sea-- great read).... Never could get through Villette. Tried several times. Anyway, Heathcliff= way sexier.
Neither. Both of them are wackos. But if you put a gun to my head, I'd pick Rochester because he's more sane than Heathcliff.
Heathcliff..yes violent, obsessed maybe..but who said that Ch.Bronte didnt want to show how men could be? that sometimes behind big love are things which we don't see or don't want to see? how many couples look like they're in love and nobody knows what happens behind the closed door?
Rochester!! Sorry, but Heathcliff was ten kinds of crazy!! I still love the book, though;)
Rochester, without a doubt. Heathcliff is psychotic, and he'll kill your dog. By contrast, Rochester's dog, Pilot, is very attached to his master. It's a tell-tale sign of each character's inner nature! Seriously, for 19th-century writers and readers the way these characters treat animals is really important. I don't think Heathcliff was ever meant to be read as a romantic character, but modern readers seem intent on seeing him as the wounded, Byronic bad boy.
Really? I always thought of Heathcliff as the romantic lead of Wuthering Heights. Obsessed? Yes... Fiery, forbidden passion, with a fatal flaw.
Heather wrote: "Really? I always thought of Heathcliff as the romantic lead of Wuthering Heights. Obsessed? Yes... Fiery, forbidden passion, with a fatal flaw."Wow! Heather, you are the first person I know who thinks Heathcliff is romantic. I must admit he's one of my favorite literary characters. Be it flawed or flawless
Heather wrote: "Really? I always thought of Heathcliff as the romantic lead of Wuthering Heights. Obsessed? Yes... Fiery, forbidden passion, with a fatal flaw."Why do u think he is romantic Heather? That has me curious..
Rochester all the way!!! I did not like Wuthering Heights at all. All the characters were unlikeable. Heathcliff's actions and motives all stemmed from hate and abuse that he never recovered from. Rochester acted on his love for Jane even though it was a poor decision not to tell her about his secret. I felt sympathy for Rochester but practically none for Heathcliff.
Spenser wrote: "Rochester all the way!!! I did not like Wuthering Heights at all. All the characters were unlikeable. Heathcliff's actions and motives all stemmed from hate and abuse that he never recovered from. ..."But it's NOT Heathcliff's fault that A) the person in the house who was setting the good behavior example died, B) Hindley abused him (and stopped his education in its tracks) and C) Catherine betrayed him for reasons of classism. Yet it IS Rochester's fault that he lied to Jane, both actively and by omission.
How does that make Rochester the more sympathetic character?
(I think they're both sympathetic characters, but in different ways.)
Definitely Rochester, for the many reasons already listed in the comments.
Arwen sums it up very well. Flawed characters are more interesting. I consider Heathcliff the romantic "lead" of WH because he essentially died for Cathrine. This thread has convinced me to reread both books,, been a few years.
Arwen wrote: "Heathcliff. He is, in my opinion, a character that is more developed than Rochester. He's a despicable person, I don't argue with that, and he's obsessive and abusive. That's what makes him rather ..."Agreed! I love classics because of that too! I love Charles Dicken's novel David Copperfield for all the reasons you specified. I agree that Heathcliff was a more developed character because it told his whole story, no argument there, he was a very real character. However I still go with Rochester because even though he did wrong in lying to Jane he didn't punish anyone else for his misfortune. However, that's exactly what Heathcliff did. He punished everyone associated with Catherine's and his life. Everyone that he could take out his misfortune on, he did, to the very end. In my opinion, that makes Rochester a better character in my book. Was he perfect, absolutely not, but was he a better man? In my opinion yes.
Rochester. A million times Rochester.At the beginning, there’s a Rochester. A wounded and deeply hurt soul he was. He convinced himself he was not worthy of love. But it was Jane the one who gave his heart a voice. And a voice is meant to be heard… and followed.
Jane's natural kindness was a gift of peace to his darkened and tortured mind. This comforting peace – once elusive - helped him perceive the beauty and loveliness in Jane – far beyond any physical appearance. He came to realize their likeness, the strong tie between these two beings so similar.
I love Rochester’s journey from darkness and fear to total love. He himself had to admit – heartily and unconditionally – his past wrong actions. He lied, hid and manipulated out of fear. But he did rise above his own demons ... and shone!
Arwen wrote: "Spenser wrote: "Arwen wrote: "Heathcliff. He is, in my opinion, a character that is more developed than Rochester. He's a despicable person, I don't argue with that, and he's obsessive and abusive...."I completely agree Arwen! Your post made perfect sense. I absolutely love Edmond Dantes as well. Very good book! Definitely one of my favorites! I can see what you mean about Heathcliff being a more developed character. I don't know if you have read Bleak House by Charles Dickens but it is also an amazing read! 800-ish pages produces many dynamic characters as well. You should check that one out if you haven't read it. I am partial of course because I am a Dickens fanatic :) Any books you recommend as well?
Edward Fairfax Rochester - without a doubt!
ROCHESTER! I never really thought much of Heathcliff as a romantic character in the first place.
I'd rather not choose either of them. I don't like the personalities or actions of either, but Rochester is definitely better than Heathcliff.
And the impossible question of the century goes to...
Leisie93 wrote: "And the impossible question of the century goes to..."For some reason, I am incredibly flattered by that comment. Thanks!
Rochester for sure!
Urg, I cannot stand Rochester. Heathcliff, I'd have to say, just because as well as him doing some bad shit I actually feel for him at times, and am invested in his character. I think because he was treated so badly as a child, and is poor and outcast and bullied, and turns into a bully, rather than just being born into the role. Rochester is a *super-privileged pr*ck* (who, no, I don't think is redeemed in the end -- I reckon if the story went on realistically he would go back to his condescending, control freak ways) i.m.o.. Wouldn't want any of them involved with me, or anybody I know though!
HEATHCLIFF DEFINITELY. No matter how mean and destructive he was, he still loved Catherine with all his soul and I think he wasn't a cruel person deeply. If Catherine had accepted him, I believe he would have changed. Either way, I just completely adore the way he feels for Catherine, I definitely choose Heathcliff. I also really like Mr Rochester, he was sexy and dark, but still I couldn't compare him with Heathcliff.
Jane Eyre is may all time favorite book, so Rochester of course. But I think Heathcliff has his own appeal. I love his hopeless love for Cathy, and think that if she had still been available when he returned from making his fortune, they could have lived happily ever after together. But Alas - then there would be no story.
Rochester but I adore Heathcliff! The adoration he had for Catherine was what destroyed him soul wise and his resentment he took out on the one who was eager to love him for all the wrong reasons: Issabella. He worshipped Catherine,he to love too much is the destruction but to love selflessly as Mr Rochester did is what is what makes him win that little bit more. He looked after his insane wife out of duty but married jane because she provided him with the love he had always truly wanted.
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Yes, that's true. I think that what tips the scales against Heathcliff for me is that his love drove him to the edge of madness (and possibly beyond it). I admit I never found him a sympathetic character; Rochester always had a glimmer of humour and a human warmth about him, despite his frequent irascibility.