I found this literary analysis interesting when comparing Shelley and Bronte. Information is provided that delves into their past to bring up the distinct commonality that they are both motherless, orphans. Gilbert brings up an intriguing concept,"motherless orphans like Mary Shelley and Emily Bronte almost see to seek literal answers to that question, so passionately do their novels enact distinctive female literary obsessions" (380). The female roles in Frankenstein in comparison to Wuthering Heights have similarities and differences. Given both author's similar backgrounds, they approach female characters in a different light. I personally think Shelley used women in her novel to represent lack of mother and upbringing. Perhaps she is suggesting or touching upon the fact that Victor or the creature succeed or survive, because the lack of a mother. In Bronte's Wuthering Heights, the female characters are more present in the story. A mother is still lacking, similar to that of Shelley's Frankenstein, but the female roles are incorporated with observations, thoughts, feels and conservations. I think there are more dynamics to the female in her novel, considering she has leading female characters. However, I do agree with Gilbert that Shelley and Bronte both demonstrate the theme of motherless/orphan in both literary works.
A few questions arose when reading about the heaven and hell in Wuthering Heights. I wasn't absolutely certain where Gilbert was going with this. Why was she dissecting the title? "Which of the two words of Wuthering Heights (if either) does Bronte mean to represent the truly 'fallen' world?" (382). Wuthering Heights is one place, why would it matter which word represents the "fallen"? In this criticism the word "Miltonic" keeps being brought up, what is that in reference to? Example: "And that the fall in Wuthering Heights has Miltonic overtones is no doubt culturally inevitable" (382).
Another aspect of Gilbert's work that interested me was the section that stretched from page 388-89. "From the outside, at least, the Lintons' elegant haven appears paradisaical. But once the children have experienced its Urizenic interior, they know that in their terms this heaven is hell" (389). This touches again on the theme of heaven is hell, hell heaven. I never really thought of that theme while reading the book, but now it makes me look more in-depth to how the characters developed and why they did in such a way. For example, Heathcliff left Wuthering Heights, which was hell for him and returned to Thruschcross Grange, a clean slate, a heaven. However, Heathcliff is still the same, but reserved. His outrageous impulses still exist, his Hell still transfers with him to "heaven".
A complete side thought on this heaven hell issue is that it makes me think of Paradise Lost. "make a Heaven of Hell/A Hell of Heaven". After just looking up that quote I was thinking of I answered my own question I had previously. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost and he is a significant point of reference for Gilbert describing her analysis of the heaven hell theme. That is what she means by "Miltonic".
I love the summary Gilbert gives towards the end, "Catherine and Heathcliff nevertheless linger still at the edge of the estate, as witch and goblin, Eve and Satan" (393). I think that brilliantly captures Cathering and Heathcliff's situation in relation to Paradise Lost, the Bible and other literary works that would have been a point of reference for Bronte.
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This is an excellent post. Very thorough, inquisitive, and critical. I can really see your mind at work here, exploring Gilbert's ideas and pushing them further. I especially like your discussion of Heathcliff and Catherine at the end of your post. We didn't have an opportunity to discuss this in class, but what do you think is the significance of Catherine's ghost? How might the ghost and the ghost figure be symbolic of marginality?
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