ENG 3A1
May 29/00.
The Effects of Social Class
The societal structure of the Victorian Era may have inspired many authors to write classic novels such as Emily Bronte?s Wuthering Heights. The time that Bronte grew up in was much different than the times of today. Wuthering Heights was a love story that related to the ways of life that people lived. During the Victorian Era, people?s rights, duties, social standings, jobs, and education were predetermined by their class. These classes consisted of working class, middle class, and upper class. People of working class were considered to be at the very bottom of the social scale and usually had very large families, little food, and shacks for their housing. The middle class usually consisted of farmers. These people could often afford things (like hired hands around the farm), they had food on the table, and they dressed much better than those of working class. The upper class people were rich. They had servants around their homes, dressed very well, enjoyed a leisurely life, and were extremely well educated. During the Victorian Era it was difficult to move from a lower class to a higher class and if you were born in a working class you married and had friends of the same class. This also applied to the middle and the upper classes of the Era. Social class influenced the actions of characters and outcomes of situations pertaining to love, education, and power in Wuthering Heights.
In order for love and friendships to be accepted in Wuthering Heights, the characters? lovers and friends had to be from the same class. Hindley did not love Heathcliff as a brother because he thought of him as a ?gypsy beggar.? He was jealous and angry that his father would bring someone from a lower class to live with their family, so Hindley treated Heathcliff with much disdain. When Hindley said to Heathcliff, ?Take my colt, gypsy, then!?(Pg. 43) he was treating his new brother as a servant because he was originally from a lower class. Mrs. Earnshaw shared Hindley?s discontent when she said to Nelly, ??how could he fashion to bring that gypsy brat into the house?What he meant to do with it, and weather he were mad??(Pg. 41); she was also upset that Mr. Earnshaw brought Heathcliff off the streets to live in their house as their new son. Despite her love for Heathcliff, Catherine married Edgar Linton because he provided her with a first class life. When Catherine told Nelly, ?And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest women of the neighbourhood, and I?ll shall be proud of having such a husband.?(Pg. 80), and when she said, ?It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him?but because he?s more myself than I am.?(Pg. 82), she meant that she wanted to live an upper class life, so she had to marry Edgar. This was the reason that Heathcliff could not know that she loved him. At the same time Isabella Linton wanted to marry Heathcliff because she loved him, but Mrs. Linton did not approve because Heathcliff used to be from a lower class. When Mrs. Linton said to Isabella, ?But I?ll not believe this idiocy! It is impossible that you can covet the admiration of Heatcliff-that you can consider him an agreeable person!?(Pg. 102) she was mad at Isabella because she wanted to marry Heathcliff (a person from a lower class). When Isabella told her mother, ?I love him more than you ever loved Edgar??(Pg. 103) she was telling her mother that her love for Heathcliff was stronger than her mother?s love of her own son.
Education was one of the most important aspects of social class because it affected a person?s class designation. Hareton did not look, talk, or have the manners that a higher class person did. This was due to his lack of education. Mr. Lockwood was confused when he first met Hareton because he never knew if he should have treated him with the respect of the upper class or lower. When Mr. Lockwood said, ?I began to doubt weather he were a servant or not: his dress and speech were embrowned like those of a common laboured??(Pg. 17) he was also confused about Hareton?s labeled class. However, when Hareton said to Mr. Lockwood, ?My name is Hareton Earnshaw?and I?d counsel you to respect it!?(Pg. 19) Mr. Lockwood had the impression that Hareton was from higher-class standards. Heathcliff?s questionable class also bothered Hindley. When Nelly said, ?He drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should labour out of doors??(Pg. 49) she spoke of Hindley?s fear that Heathcliff might undeservedly live the life of a higher class gentleman. This fear caused Hindley to end Heathcliff?s education and force him to become a servant. Edgar Linton made fun of Hareton in hopes that Cathy would agree and shun her cousin. When Edgar said to Cathy, ?Have you noticed, Cathy his frightful Yorkshire pronunciation??(Pg. 212) he was telling Cathy that Hareton?s accent was a result of his poor education; this also indicated that he was not fully from a higher class. Without the help of education most people would not talk or read at the upper class standard, and this disadvantage meant a great loss of power.
Belonging to a higher social class gave individuals more power over money, property, servants, and who they were to marry. Edgar Linton disapproved of Heathcliff and Isabella because he was scared that Heathcliff might take over the Grange. When Edgar told Mr. Linton, ??and the possible fact that his property, in default of heirs male, might pass into such a one?s power, her has sense to comprehend Heathcliff?s disposition??(Pg. 101) it became evident that he did not want Heathcliff to marry Isabella and gain power over the Grange. Heathcliff wanted Linton to marry Cathy because the inheritance of everything was to Isabella and young Linton is the Heir. This was shown when Heathcliff said, ?My design is a honest a possible?That the two cousins may fall in love and get married?his property would go to me; but to prevent disputes, I desire their union, and I am resolved to bring it about.?(Pg.207) When Heathcliff became a gentleman, he instantly had power over the servants that he once worked with. After being forbidden from seeing Catherine, he threatened Nelly by saying, ?In that case I?ll take measures to secure you, Woman! You shall not leave Wuthering Heights till tomorrow morning.?(Pg. 151) If Heathcliff was still a commoner, he would not have been able to threaten her as he did.
The factors that affected love, education, and power, in Wuthering Heights related to social class. Hindley did not love Heathcliff as a brother because he was born to a lower class. The reasons that Heathcliff was originally from a lower class, made Catherine not want to marry him and Mrs. Linton not want Isabella to marry him. In the Victorian Era it was considered taboo if one loved a person from a lower class; this was why education was such an important element of social class. Education gave a person a better chance of becoming successful, therefore giving them the means to rise to an upper class. Educations were terminated in Wuthering Heights so that people did not have a chance to become wealthy. If they did not have an education they would not belong to a higher class and, therefore, they could not love freely or possess any power. Power was such an integral part of social hierarchy because belonging to the upper class gave automatic power over love, money, land, and people. Those with power were free to live their lives however they wished to and were free to do as they pleased. Times have changed dramatically over the past two hundred years. The structure of today?s society has given all people the ability to love freely and have equal opportunities for education and jobs. In the modern world people have proven to attain success out of any class and have the power to achieve anything they want.
Work Cited
Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Penguin, 1959.
Другие работы по теме:
The Industrial Revolution Essay Research Paper The
The Industrial Revolution Essay, Research Paper The industrial revolution My view of the industrial age started in the 1700 A positive effect of the industrial revolution was the greatly enhanced labor productivity brought about by the mechanization of production processes (and the resulting widespread adoption of coal or water power factory-based manufacturing).
Enlightenment Essay Research Paper THE THINKING OF
Enlightenment Essay, Research Paper THE THINKING OF THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS? The theme of the “unintended and unanticipated consequences of social action” implies that social change occurs through social action without foreseeing the outcome. Scottish Enlightenment thinkers Adam Smith and Adam Ferguson, each provide their own theory of unanticipated effects of human action.
Social Ills Essay Research Paper Every society
Social Ills Essay, Research Paper Every society of every civilization known to man has had its share of social ills. Even dating back to biblical times people have struggled with an ever-increasing number of hardships. All of which have led to the downfall of its social structure. As we all know, nothing lasts forever, but with the help of strong minds and able bodies, societies can curb their ills and ?clean up their act?.
Slaves Essay Research Paper In what way
Slaves Essay, Research Paper In what way do proletarians differ from slaves? The slave is sold once and for all; the proletarian must sell himself daily and hourly.
Social Stratification Essay Research Paper In Manifesto
Social Stratification Essay, Research Paper In Manifesto of the Communist Party by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, both authors believe that society had rapidly splitting into only two classes: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat as result of a long historical process and social revolutionary of machineries and large scale productions.
Animal Farm Essay Research Paper All communities
Animal Farm Essay, Research Paper All communities have the same, similar social structure. The social structures on Earth have had the same general outline since Creation to right now. If you stand back and look, you can see that a government, neighborhood, school or family all have the same general social structures.
Sarah Canary Essay Research Paper Lilian Heker
Sarah Canary Essay, Research Paper Lilian Heker s The Stolen Party is about a nine-year-old girl named Rosaura who goes to a rich girl s party. This takes place at a rich girl s house where her mother works as a maid. Rosaura thinks she is Luciana s friend but at the end finds out that they could never be friends because of social class difference.
Greeks Essay Research Paper Our culture is
Greeks Essay, Research Paper Our culture is ruled by social norms. In America it is expected that we abide by these unwritten laws. Whether viewed by a small group of people or society as a whole, breaking such guidelines could have devastating effects. I choose to do my experiment with the least intimate group of people; total strangers.
Drinking And Driving Essay Research Paper ALCOHOL
Drinking And Driving Essay, Research Paper ALCOHOL is the most commonly used psychoactive (mind-altering) substance used in the United States. Ethyl alcohol is the active psychoactive drug found in alcoholic beverages. It is produced as a waste product of the fermentation of carbohydrates, and is consumed worldwide for the social and psychological effects it produces.
Effects Of Daycare Essay Research Paper The
Effects Of Daycare Essay, Research Paper The Effects of Daycare We all go through and experience some form of care from someone other than our parents throughout infancy and early childhood. Whether it was your grandparents or aunts and uncles or if it was a friend of the family paid to take care of you, it is considered daycare.
Teen Smoking Essay Research Paper Negative effects
Teen Smoking Essay, Research Paper Negative effects of Marijuana Marijuana is the least harmful drug, but it does have negative health effects. Though moderate users of marijuana are taking less risks than a moderate
The Protestant Reformation Essay Research Paper AP
The Protestant Reformation Essay, Research Paper _______________ AP European History Period 4 The Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation changed the course of European history very strongly, and rapidly. This paper will talk about what exactly the reformation did to Europe, in terms of social, political, and philosophical impacts.
How Rap Effects Socity Essay Research Paper
Many individuals in our society today believe that the positive portrayal of violence and sex in rap music has negative effects on its listeners. Due to this widespread perception, many studies have systematically examined rap music for evidence of its negative effects.
Enfluening OF Music Essay Research Paper This
Enfluening OF Music Essay, Research Paper This Essay is about how music can influence the emotions and effects of a person. I will be giving you precentages. I will also be giving you quotes of students
Global Warming Effects Essay Research Paper How
Global Warming Effects Essay, Research Paper How the World is changing due to the effects caused by Global Warming The reason for this topic is our increasingly changing climate. Every year our climate
Soil Component Lab Essay Research Paper The
Soil Component Lab Essay, Research Paper The purpose of this lab is to separate soil by setting in water to find the % of various components. In this lab I learned a lot. I learned that there is a lot more stuff to the soil than we can see; there is floating leaf litter, Sunken leaf litter, silt and sand all in a jar of soil.
Social Work Essay Research Paper Social Workers
Social Work Essay, Research Paper Social Workers in the United States have many roles and needs to fill in society. They are seen as the people that nurse the homeless, unemployed, hunger-stricken, and destitute back to life. It is their choice to help those more unfortunate than themselves, and although it is considered a “job”, it is really a way of life.
The Harmful Effects Of Body Piercings On
The Body Essay, Research Paper HARMFUL EFFECTS OF BODY PIERCING ON EVERYDAY LIFE A great number of teenagers and young adults have a body piercing. These can range anywhere from your belly button to your tongue. There are many effects it can have on you socially, or physically. This essay will describe the social aspects of body piercing, this includes first impressions, types of friends, and job prospects.
Social Security Essay Research Paper Social securityThe
Social Security Essay, Research Paper Social security The issue I am addressing today is what to do about social security. There is going to be a large problem with our social security in years to come. Both Al Gore and Bush
Deviance Essay Research Paper Theories of Deviant
Deviance Essay, Research Paper Theories of Deviant Behavior examines various theories and perspectives on conforming and deviant behavior which are products of Western scholarly thought: anomie, functionalism, social disorganization, social conflict, social control, psychoanalysis, status politics, differential association, labeling theory, etc.
Alcohol 2 Essay Research Paper Alcohol is
Alcohol 2 Essay, Research Paper Alcohol is a drug, but unlike the other drug , marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and probably all the others for some reason this is socially accepted and is legal. Alcohol is bad for you and does have long term affects associated with it. Such as the long addiction to it, effects on the body, and the social interaction effects.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS Essay Research Paper SOCIAL PROBLEMSJOURNALFall
SOCIAL PROBLEMS Essay, Research Paper SOCIAL PROBLEMS JOURNAL Fall 1998 Professor Milton Social Problems Personal Essay 8/27/98 Over 21 years ago I was born in a little town in Iowa. Because of my dad??s work we moved to Illinois. It was there where I spent most of my childhood years, with my dad, mom, two brothers and two sisters.
Premarital Sex Essay Research Paper Premarital SexPremarital
Premarital Sex Essay, Research Paper Premarital Sex Premarital sex, an act that is practiced excessively in the world today, is not all that it is caught up to be. It definitely has more side effects than benefits. Premarital sex is an action that causes one’s emotional, social, spiritual and physical being to become corrupted.
Journal On Importance Of Being Earnest Essay
, Research Paper In this play, being earnest is made as superficial a trait as possible; it means simply having the name Earnest. The characters are motivated and controlled by a hollow and artificial set of social standards that have little substance but are used to maintain social distinctions and social class privileges.
The Effects Of Talk Show Viewing Essay
, Research Paper The article aims to assess whether data is consistent with critics? claims on the effects of talk show viewing on the social reality beliefs of adolescents. Critics hypothesize the following negative effects occur (on adolescents) as a result of talk-show viewing: 1) a incessant focus on bizarre behavior and social deviance leading viewers to accept distorted versions of reality, 2) desensitization to the suffering of others occurs due to (regular) viewer immunity to graphic discussions and guest outbursts, 3) the trivialization of important social issues due to the oversimplification of difficult issues.
Social Role Essay Research Paper About Its
Social Role Essay, Research Paper About Its Social Role Waxing eloquent about stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility is in some circles the surest way to stifle a business conversation, if not a business career. Corporate philanthropy brings satisfaction to those who give and receive, the argument goes, but let us not get carried away by talk of give-aways.
American Dream Essay Research Paper scribes the
American Dream Essay, Research Paper scribes the defeat of the American dream, and that the American ideals differ with the actual social conditions that exist in society. For the American constitutions stands for the freedom, and equality among people, but the truth of the matter is that social discrimination still exists and the grouping among the classes can never be overcome.
Effects Of Smoking Essay Research Paper Smoking
Effects Of Smoking Essay, Research Paper Smoking has many effects on the body and tobacco companies have many ways to advertise but one major target group. In this paper I will tell how they do both. Smoking has effects on all parts of the body. We?ll start with the brain. Smoking impairs your ability to concentrate and to think straight.
Suicide Essay Research Paper Social Problem Teen
Suicide Essay, Research Paper -Social Problem: Teen Suicide -Social Problem- Any problem that may cause pain and may affect a person?s life. ? Teen Suicide- Intentional and self-inflicted death.
Social Change In The Us Essay Research
Paper Social Change in the United States Social change is the changes with living together as a group with human beings. People experience social change all of their life and it never ends. Without social change, this world would be very dull and boring.
Social Class Differences Essay Research Paper Social
Social Class Differences Essay, Research Paper Social Class Differences Peer Influences?researchers say some low-SES students become part of resistance culture, these kinds of kids see it as "selling out" or
Music Essay Essay Research Paper English 4
Music Essay Essay, Research Paper English 4 Music Essay This paper is a “claim-driven” essay. That means, your goal is to persuade your audience to think the way you do about a particular issue regarding music. You will state a thesis and support this thesis with convincing evidence. Your “convincing evidence” will include analyses of lyrics, CD covers and videos and secondary sources about your musician or genre of music.
Legalize Marijuana Essay Research Paper I for
Legalize Marijuana Essay, Research Paper I, for one, believe that Marijuana should be legalized. I have several reasons for this, the main one is that it would almost completely eliminate the crime and other