3. Do you think the novel is a tale of redemption, despair, or both?

[Jen]

3. Do you think the novel is a tale of redemption, despair, or both? Discuss the novel's meaning to you. Do you think the novel's moral content dictates one choice over the other?

[[deleted user]]

I would say both. Heathcliff and Cathy is a story of despair of love and hate and revenge, however there is hope that the next generation will get things right.

The novel to me is a love story about love so intense you would destroy it and the world rather than not have it.

I don't think the moral content does dictate which is the best choice.

[Lynn]

This is a love story gone wrong. A woman who openly reveals she loves one but marries another due to social class is really a sad tale.

[Pip]

I REALLY should have re-read the book again to answer these questions - but I have already read it three times and there are too many other books out there! My 13 year old self would have said it was a tale of true, passionate love at all cost, which led to redemption in the next generation. My twenty something reading a second time would have said that revenge was the primary focus and the moors reflected the despair of the protagonists. After Kate Bush's interpretation, much beloved of my teenage daughters in the 70's, I would have been utterly confused!

[Diane]

For my 40 something self, I think this is a story about revenge. Heathcliff's utter consumption to ruin everyone around him is what stuck out to me the most.

[Patrick]

I lean towards revenge. While I understand Heathcliff's pain, I can't really agree with the means he took to unleash his pain.

[Tracy]

Pip wrote: "I REALLY should have re-read the book again to answer these questions - but I have already read it three times and there are too many other books out there! My 13 year old self would have said it w..."
Heathcliff..it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home.. Love that song!
I agree- my teenage self felt that this was such a passionate love, while my 20 something self saw it about revenge and some manipulation. The last time I read it was in my 30s, and I still loved it, but for the story and the imagery- I was amazed that an author so young could create such a dramatic story and setting.

[Tracy]

Oops. "It's me, your Cathy, I've come home." My apologies to Kate Bush!

[John]

Vengeance and manipulation, as Patrick noted. As far as its being a passionate love story, about 3/4s of the way through I was struck by the thought: "You keep saying that word 'love.' I do not think it means what you think it means."

[Kristel]

I don't think it is redemption so despair but I also see vengeance, manipulation and can that be real love. It doesn't fit with real love at all.