O MORRO DOS VENTOS UIVANTES, DE EMILY BRONTË (#15)

Summary

In this video, the presenter reflects on *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* (Wuthering Heights), a classic novel by Emily Brontë, contrasting it with modern teen vampire fiction like *Twilight*. The reviewer discusses the book's dark, intense love story, comparing its themes of obsession and tragic romance to works of second-phase Romanticism. The narrative delves into the author's unique background, the book's controversial reception, and the profound impact it had on literature. With a personal touch, the presenter highlights the enduring allure of Brontë's work, acknowledging its raw portrayal of human imperfection and emotional depth.

Takeaways

• 😀 The review compares *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* (Wuthering Heights) with *Crepúsculo* (Twilight), suggesting that both share themes of intense and unhealthy love.
• 😀 *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* is considered a classic that is often misjudged, especially in comparison to modern vampire series like *Twilight*.
• 😀 The speaker defends *Twilight* by arguing that it connects to a literary tradition that began with works like *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes*, which explores love, obsession, and death.
• 😀 Emily Brontë’s *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* is a complex, dark story with characters who are neither completely good nor bad, which was groundbreaking for its time.
• 😀 The Brontë sisters, including Emily, lived in a repressive and tragic family environment, which influenced their writings, including *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes*.
• 😀 *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* challenges Victorian societal norms, depicting characters who experience rage, jealousy, and revenge, which was considered immoral by critics of the time.
• 😀 The characters in *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* are deeply flawed, including Heathcliff, who is described as cruel and vengeful, yet capable of intense love.
• 😀 Emily Brontë’s writing was initially misunderstood because of the dark and violent nature of the story, leading some to believe it could only have been written by a man.
• 😀 The tragic fates of the Brontë family members, especially Emily’s early death, contributed to the dark themes of her writing, which often revolved around isolation and suffering.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that *Morro dos Ventos Uivantes* was ahead of its time by blending love and terror, creating a legacy for future works about passionate yet destructive love.

Q & A

Why does the speaker bring up *Twilight* in comparison to *Wuthering Heights*?

The speaker compares *Twilight* to *Wuthering Heights* to discuss how both books, although vastly different in quality and depth, share a common tradition in literature that involves intense, often unhealthy love. The speaker suggests that *Twilight* continues the tradition of the 'second phase romanticism' or 'ultra-romanticism,' a genre marked by pessimism and dark, obsessive love that began with works like *Wuthering Heights*.

What does the speaker say about the critical reception of *Wuthering Heights* when it was first published?

The speaker explains that *Wuthering Heights* was initially criticized for being immoral and a bad example, as its dark and intense portrayal of love conflicted with the puritanical views of Victorian society. However, despite the criticisms, the book was recognized for its hypnotic quality, drawing readers in with its complex and sometimes disturbing characters.

How does the speaker describe Emily Brontë's life and background?

Emily Brontë, along with her sisters, lived a reclusive life in 19th-century England, marked by a strict religious upbringing. The speaker highlights the tragic nature of their lives, with Emily and her sisters facing early deaths and few personal joys. Emily, in particular, is noted for her intense and controversial writing, which stood in stark contrast to societal expectations for women of her time.

What is the significance of the Brontë sisters writing under male pseudonyms?

The Brontë sisters initially wrote under male pseudonyms to protect their identities and to be taken seriously as writers in a male-dominated literary world. The speaker mentions that many readers of *Wuthering Heights* were shocked to learn that such a dark and passionate story had been written by a woman, which led to further speculation about the book's origins.

What is the central theme of *Wuthering Heights*, according to the speaker?

The central theme of *Wuthering Heights* is the complex, destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine. The speaker argues that it is not just a love story, but a tale of obsession, revenge, and moral ambiguity, where the characters' flaws and passions lead to their downfall.

How does the speaker describe Heathcliff's character in *Wuthering Heights*?

Heathcliff is described as a deeply troubled, cruel, and vengeful character, who is also capable of an overwhelming and unconditional love for Catherine. The speaker emphasizes that his character is not entirely evil, and like Catherine, he is a deeply flawed individual who evokes both sympathy and condemnation.

Why does the speaker mention the concept of 'imperfection' in *Wuthering Heights*?

The speaker discusses how *Wuthering Heights* presents its characters as deeply flawed and human, in contrast to the idealized or moralistic figures often found in literature. The imperfections of Heathcliff and Catherine make them more relatable and real, which contributes to the book's enduring impact on readers who connect with its portrayal of raw human emotion.

What role does the setting of *Wuthering Heights* play in the story?

The setting of *Wuthering Heights*—a remote and desolate area in northern England—mirrors the isolation, harshness, and turmoil of the characters' lives. The bleak landscape symbolizes the emotional and psychological states of Heathcliff, Catherine, and other characters, contributing to the novel's dark and gothic atmosphere.

How does the speaker relate *Wuthering Heights* to the tradition of Gothic literature?

The speaker mentions that *Wuthering Heights* fits into the Gothic literary tradition, especially with its emphasis on dark emotions, tragic love, and moral ambiguity. The novel's themes of obsession, revenge, and death are key elements of the Gothic genre, which often explores the darker sides of human nature.

Why does the speaker address the criticism of *Wuthering Heights* being written by a woman?

The speaker addresses the criticism of *Wuthering Heights* being written by a woman to challenge the gender bias that existed at the time. The speaker highlights how Emily Brontë's writing defied societal expectations and proves that women were capable of creating profound, complex, and dark works of literature, contrary to the assumption that women were only capable of writing light or sentimental stories.