Wuthering Heights is an iconic English romantic novel written by Emily Brontë in 1847 Set in the Yorkshire moors of eighteenth-century England, the novel follows the intertwined love stories of Cathy and Heathcliff and their family members. The novel is told as a flashback and is filled with themes such as love, revenge, class, betrayal, and possession. It has been adapted for film, television, and even opera.
Essay Topic Idea #1: An Analysis of the Power Dynamics in Wuthering Heights. This essay could explore how power is used and abused in the novel. It could focus on characters like Heathcliff, Hindley, and Lockwood and how their relationships and hierarchy changes over the course of the novel.
Essay Topic Idea #2: An Exploration of Gender Roles in Wuthering Heights. This essay could focus on how gender roles are depicted in the novel, including how Cathy and Cathy's sister Isabella reject their roles as women. It could examine the way in which traditional gender roles are challenged by characters in the novel.
Essay Topic Idea #3: A Look at Nature and the Environment in Wuthering Heights. This essay could look at the way in which the Yorkshire moors are depicted in the novel, as well as how they are used in the story. It could explore how the environment reflects the emotions of the characters, and how it is used to invoke fear, sadness, and beauty.
Essay Topic Idea #4: An Examination of Heathcliff's Character. This essay could explore the complexities of Heathcliff’s character—his stubbornness, his cruelty, and his loyalty. It could examine how his past has shaped his present and how his actions are driven by his emotions.
Essay Topic Idea #5: An Analysis of Love and Revenge in Wuthering Heights. This essay could examine how love is used and abused within the novel, and how revenge has both positive and negative effects on the characters. It could explore how forces such as love and revenge can be used to manipulate and control.