Jane Eyre
question
Which book is more enjoyable -- Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights?
Nishtha
(last edited
Aug 04, 2020 02:32PM
)
Feb 01, 2013 06:28AM
While I know wholeheartedly that both the books are incomparable and absolutely amazing, I can't seem to feel as gravitated towards Wuthering Heights as I do towards Jane Eyre. What are your views?
I want to re-read both of them, and I wonder which one is a better read.
I want to re-read both of them, and I wonder which one is a better read.
I don't know why but I have a feeling that people get turned off by depressing books and that is the reason that Wuthering Heights is under-appreciated by so many people. The story is compelling because of its negativities. The evil that floats in the book actually resembles the evil in all of us. It is there and we ignore it. But when we have to read something that tells us more about it, we don't like it. The characters in Wuthering Heights are original because Emily has portrayed them in such a way that they have nothing to hide from the audience. She has bared the truth of humanity in every single of them. These characters, if looked closely can be related to so many people in our lives that it's not funny. By no means am I implying that Jane Eyre doesn't do the same or is not worthy. It is a very good read and has it's own redeeming qualities. However, Wuthering Heights is the one that is out for my heart.
Wuthering Heights gets my vote without a doubt. It is a much superior book to The Professor, which it was written to compete with. Jane Eyre is Charlotte's second better attempt at novel writing. It just a standard romance.
WH, however, is groundbreaking. It challenges the reader's idea of a novel; it experiments with narrative devices and time frames. It's as organic as the moors.
If Emily Bronte lived to write more novels she would have left Charlotte in the shade and then some.
WH, however, is groundbreaking. It challenges the reader's idea of a novel; it experiments with narrative devices and time frames. It's as organic as the moors.
If Emily Bronte lived to write more novels she would have left Charlotte in the shade and then some.
Jane Eyre, hands down. I loved Jane Eyre, I hated Wuthering Heights - found Lockwood a boring narrator and I HATED almost every single character in WH.
Wuthering Heights. I love all the Bronte novels, but WH stands out for its wildness and passion. I just adore it. 'Nellie, I AM Heathcliff!'
Jane Eyre without question. I would never reread Wuthering Heights unless I was imprisoned and that was the only book available.
Gillian Pennington
hahahah it was going to be my next read, but now i'm having some second thoughts ;)
...more
I've read Wuthering Heights twice in my life. I've re-read my favorite scenes from Jane Eyre dozens if not hundreds of times. I just can't get into Catherine or Heathcliff. They're both so totally selfish. Rochester, for all his faults, has some sterling redeeming qualities, and Jane, of course, is AWESOME!
Jane Eyre is uplifting. Wuthering Heights is depressing. Wuthering Heights feels like one of those pretentious "classics" that the author made especially depressing in order to be considered more "important."
Jane Eyre is a more expertly constructed work of literature; Wuthering Heights can be confusing. Also, I don't find either Cathy or Heathcliff truly sympathetic. So while the story is full of drama, it isn't as engaging as Jane Eyre, in which you're rooting for Jane from page one. Furthermore, I can embrace the same values Jane embraces, whereas I can't say the same for any of the characters in Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights is worth reading once because of its place in the literary canon, but it isn't a favorite I go back to as is Jane Eyre.
I think Jane Eyre is more enjoyable, because of its characters who are so much more alive, descriptive and because it keeps its readers want to wait for the more interesting parts as the excitement builds. But PERSONALLY, Wuthering Heights is my favourite of the two. There is not much said about Catherine and we never get to know where Heathcliff had come from and what did he do for a living, yet the characters are so intense and full of themselves that it is almost unreal and mystifying. Its like one of those Shyamlan movies, set in another world, devoid of society, its like being in a different place with either very inhuman or very humnalike characters, they just seem to be more capable of things somehow. But as far as enjoyment is concerned, I'd go for Jane Eyre.
A Good question by the way.
A Good question by the way.
Jane Eyre is "easier" to read, but I agree with Jess - the characters of Wuthering Heights are so much more interesting (even if I despise Heathcliff and Catherine).
Very different books--I first read Jane Eyre back in high school and was NOT a fan; however, several years later I reread it for a college class and left with a completely different impression. I think to truly appreciate the novel, you have to read it with the conventions of the time in mind, especially when trying to figure out what to make of Jane's character.
Wuthering Heights I loved from the moment I first read it, and have loved just as much every time I've read it since.
Both books are very dark, Gothic atmospheres; lots about love, loss, and people's struggle against established positions in society/class boundaries. If you like things a little darker, I'd read Wuthering Heights; if you want a cleaner resolution, read Jane Eyre. Frankly, I would be sure to read both!!
Wuthering Heights I loved from the moment I first read it, and have loved just as much every time I've read it since.
Both books are very dark, Gothic atmospheres; lots about love, loss, and people's struggle against established positions in society/class boundaries. If you like things a little darker, I'd read Wuthering Heights; if you want a cleaner resolution, read Jane Eyre. Frankly, I would be sure to read both!!
Hated Wuthering Heights and loved Jane Eyre. The two Cathy's in Wuthering Heights made me want to pull my hair out. The whole book made me cringe and want to walk out into a deep pond with rocks in my pocket.
Read both books in the last few years, as an adult. Loathed WH - both Catherine & Heathcliff were self-indulgent drama queens and despite all the raves here, not very interesting people, IMO. The most sympathetic character was Catherine's husband, what's-his-face (yes, he was that memorable).
Jane takes action for herself, and for all his flaws, so does Rochester.
For a good Gothic read, try Norah Lofts.
Jane takes action for herself, and for all his flaws, so does Rochester.
For a good Gothic read, try Norah Lofts.
Jane Eyre by a mile. Wuthering Heights is just too gloomy. Not that Eyre is a happy tale but I've read it two or three times and watch all of the movies made of it and never tire of the story and characters.
I think it depends on your personality. To me, they are vastly different novels. Wuthering Heights is about passion and craziness and to that end the characters act selfishly and bizarre. But it's all in the name of passion. But I think that if you're an introspective person, who feels shy and out of place sometimes, then you will identify with Jane Eyre and find Charlotte's descriptions of feelings and emotions so spot on, that it makes the 'other-worldliness' of Wuthering Heights feel almost like an unrealistic cartoon. I don't know anyone who acts like Cathy and Heathcliffe. They're not real people to me. But I sure do know Jane Eyre.
So this is really simplistic and generalized, but basically my theory is, if you're an extrovert, you'd prefer WH. If you're an introvert, you'd prefer Jane Eyre.
So this is really simplistic and generalized, but basically my theory is, if you're an extrovert, you'd prefer WH. If you're an introvert, you'd prefer Jane Eyre.
Jane Eyre will always be my favorite. I've read Wuthering Heights several times, and I've tried very hard to like it. I think I really ought to like it, but I just don't. I find myself wanting to smack Cathy and shake Heathcliff.
I was pretty young when I read both of them and Jane Eyre was way easier to read, although now that time passed I think Wuthering Heighs is in a way deeper. Jane Eyre is a very positive book (e.g.strong and loveable characters) as a whole while Wuthering is way darker and you can sense a sort of tragedy and sadness from the first sentences (I felt like it touched harded, and more difficult themes). But more then 10 years passed so I might be wrong but that is how I remember them.
My opinion of Wuthering Heights has been admirably stated here:
http://leathinksaloud.blogspot.com/20...
I would not change anything that writer says.
http://leathinksaloud.blogspot.com/20...
I would not change anything that writer says.
I found Jane Eyre amusing and entertaining with a good story line. However, from the moment I read the first scene of Wuthering Heights I was hooked. I finished that book in 3 days, which is unusually quick for me.
I enjoyed both but I have to go with Wuthering Heights. The love/hate story between the generations is captivating to me. This book was considered so scandalous at the time and even more so once it was discovered to be written by the daughter of a pastor. It shows insight into a culture and time that very few people understand. It has a rawness and truth about the darker side of people and shows that not everything is clean and happy.
Jane Eyre is my all-time favourite, though I really liked WH a lot. While it was wilder and darker than JE, the passion between Jane and Rochester resonated with me much more! and Rochester’s secret was pure genius. There were aspects to WH I really loved though, like Heathcliff’s grief over Cathy in particular!
If anyone is interested, I wrote a Gothic paranormal romance inspired by Jane Eyre and it will be free to download from Amazon this week from March 3rd to 7th. It’s set at a Tudor mansion in present-day southeast England, and is more its own story where I wanted to recreate that chemistry between Jane and Rochester in a contemporary situation. I’ve had favourable reviews; feel free to take advantage. :-)
If anyone is interested, I wrote a Gothic paranormal romance inspired by Jane Eyre and it will be free to download from Amazon this week from March 3rd to 7th. It’s set at a Tudor mansion in present-day southeast England, and is more its own story where I wanted to recreate that chemistry between Jane and Rochester in a contemporary situation. I’ve had favourable reviews; feel free to take advantage. :-)
Jane Eyre is a far better read to me. It is an absolute favorite of mine! I have read and watched nearly every version of Jane Eyre. In contrast I could only take Wuthering Heights one time and it was one of the movies starring Ralph Fiennes. I don't know exactly why I love Jane Eyre so much but I think part of the reason is that Jane keeps her own mind about herself. She loves but not without using her brain in conjunction with her heart.
Jane Eyre at any point. I love to read it and then re read it again and again. Its a great book with a great stoty line. Jane is a great heroine and can connect with her easliy.
Jane Eyre. Simply brilliant and probably both the best classic novel and best romance I have ever read.
Jane Eyre without a doubt. I never enjoyed Wuthering Heights but Jane Eyre is a book I come back to every couple of years and in fact my daughter's middle name is Jane. Jane as a charachter is so much more interesting and inspiring than Catherine or Heathcliff.
Although both books were written by sisters and at a first glance appear to appeal to the same audience, they don't. Wuthering Heights appear to be more passionate, more wild, more unrestrained and some even argue (I disagree) that it sometimes has examples of even stream of consciousness. Wuthering Heights is a little bit more difficult to go through, because there are several characters with the same or similar names, personalities and voice, the past and the present isn't always distinguished and sometimes near impossible to separate, and you really have to keep track of what is happening to whom. The protagonists are unsympathetic to many, which makes the whole emotional investment in a novel believable and when that happens many people end up feeling unsatisfied due to being unable to relate to the character.
Wuthering Heights was published after Jane Eyre's success, and I think it would be a mistake to hold the same to the same standard. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontes only published novel. I think Wuthering Heights is a must read for anyone interested in British Literature and those who are interested in Women Writers. But I think also many can do without ever reading Wuthering Heights.
Jane Eyre can be over sentimental and can give too many unnecessary descriptions, go on pages and pages about something that Charlotte Bronte eventually never connects by the end of the book, and can be over the top or over obvious with her symbolism and metaphors, and go on and on about morals and can be quite didactic at times. It is however a good book with distinct characters, a well established plot, with a purpose and an emotional pay off. When one is done with Jane Eyre there is some sort of an understanding of the Victorian Era gender roles, norms, mores and even traditions. There is fulfillment by the end of the book for many.
I personally like Jane Eyre far better than Wuthering Heights. Of course literature can be highly subjective and this does not necessarily mean that Wuthering Heights is entirely unacceptable for a novel and is a waste of time--because it really isn't.
Wuthering Heights was published after Jane Eyre's success, and I think it would be a mistake to hold the same to the same standard. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontes only published novel. I think Wuthering Heights is a must read for anyone interested in British Literature and those who are interested in Women Writers. But I think also many can do without ever reading Wuthering Heights.
Jane Eyre can be over sentimental and can give too many unnecessary descriptions, go on pages and pages about something that Charlotte Bronte eventually never connects by the end of the book, and can be over the top or over obvious with her symbolism and metaphors, and go on and on about morals and can be quite didactic at times. It is however a good book with distinct characters, a well established plot, with a purpose and an emotional pay off. When one is done with Jane Eyre there is some sort of an understanding of the Victorian Era gender roles, norms, mores and even traditions. There is fulfillment by the end of the book for many.
I personally like Jane Eyre far better than Wuthering Heights. Of course literature can be highly subjective and this does not necessarily mean that Wuthering Heights is entirely unacceptable for a novel and is a waste of time--because it really isn't.
Nishtha wrote: "While I know wholeheartedly that both the books are incomparable and absolutely amazing, I can't seem feel as gravitated towards Wuthering Heights as I do towards Jane Eyre. What are your views?
I ..."loved the shift in narration Emily gave us in WH, with Nellie throwing her views at the reader. But...
Charlotte makes a place for us alongside Jane. Emily allows Cathy to disappear into the landscape. The different approaches are fantastic. Charlotte edges the other book out by a page-width - no more.
I suspect it's the opening, in the school, that haunts the rest of Jane's narrative. That autobiographical aspect makes the decision for me.
I ..."loved the shift in narration Emily gave us in WH, with Nellie throwing her views at the reader. But...
Charlotte makes a place for us alongside Jane. Emily allows Cathy to disappear into the landscape. The different approaches are fantastic. Charlotte edges the other book out by a page-width - no more.
I suspect it's the opening, in the school, that haunts the rest of Jane's narrative. That autobiographical aspect makes the decision for me.
I have read both and feel that each book has its merit. However, to compare them is like comparing apples to oranges. I take Wuthering Heights more as a gothic novel, whereas Jane Eyre is definitely Victorian.
I'm never good at saying one book, especially classics of this caliber, is better than another.
Both of these books are compelling to me and were central to me during my teen years.
I agree that both of these books are important to include in any discussion of the Romantic Period. They embody everything that was "The Romantic," and need to be understood from that perspective.
From another perspective--the humane--it was difficult to read of the abuse that went on in the households--in both books--it helped me to realize important aspects of human behavior, and the cyclical nature of abuse and its continuance throughout generations.
This is especially true in Wuthering Heights and it surprises me how many people writing here "hated" Heathcliff and Catherine. How would you expect two children raised in such abuse and terror to turn out?
Jane Eyre was/is an important expose on how children (especially girls) were treated in that era (and now, sadly),also how mental disease was viewed--incurable and worthy of being chained in an attic!
There is one thing that profoundly changed my views on Jane Eyre, however, and that was when I read, "The Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys. I could never regard Mr. Rochester in the same light after that.
Both of these books are compelling to me and were central to me during my teen years.
I agree that both of these books are important to include in any discussion of the Romantic Period. They embody everything that was "The Romantic," and need to be understood from that perspective.
From another perspective--the humane--it was difficult to read of the abuse that went on in the households--in both books--it helped me to realize important aspects of human behavior, and the cyclical nature of abuse and its continuance throughout generations.
This is especially true in Wuthering Heights and it surprises me how many people writing here "hated" Heathcliff and Catherine. How would you expect two children raised in such abuse and terror to turn out?
Jane Eyre was/is an important expose on how children (especially girls) were treated in that era (and now, sadly),also how mental disease was viewed--incurable and worthy of being chained in an attic!
There is one thing that profoundly changed my views on Jane Eyre, however, and that was when I read, "The Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys. I could never regard Mr. Rochester in the same light after that.
Jane Eyre!! Love that story. Have read Wuthering Heights and I don't get involved with the characters like I did with Jane.
Wuthering Height. Rarely read a book with so much raw energy (and it has to be said sex appeal) which transcends the ages. Incredible intense. Agree that most of the characters are very flawed, but who isn't. Do love Jane Eyre though as well.
Jane Eyre is definitely better. Wuthering Heights was a horrible story. I had to force myself to finish it.
Without a doubt Jane Eyre was the most enjoyable. Wuthering was very depressing and dark as compared.
^ Wuthering Heights is sad though. Jane Eyre ends with her happily married. Wuthering Heights might as well be called "Everybody is Sad then Everybody Dies"
Wuthering Heights just barely beats Jane Eyre...... While I love Jane and Rochester, the Cathy/Heathliff love and hate thing....it's chilling, it's raw. WH was the first "classic" I ever willingly read,and I loved it. Even though everyone died :/
Both of the novels are just amazing, I enjoyed reading them both. But, I love Wuthering Heights more, It's a very different story, there is so much creativity in it. for Jane Eyre, we have seen many other stories that dealt with the same topic (Orphans). For me, Wuthering Heights is one of the most passionate and heartfelt novels ever written, I adore it !
jane eyre is quite much better than wuthering heights. wuthering heights is depressing and makes you feel uncomfortable while reading it
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Aug 16, 2018 02:39PM · flag