How does this novel reflect the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting? What is the book's symbolic and thematic significance? Wuthering Heights was written in the eighteen-hundreds. I think this novel reflects history of the time period because women were considered lower than men. They were usually not treated with respect. I think some social issues happend in the house when Heathcliff was first brought to the house, and then they spiraled downward after that. When Mr. Earnshaw died(the man who "adopted" Heathcliff), Hindley became much worse to Heathcliff saying he was no better than a servant. The issue would be that nobody in the house liked outsiders and Heathcliff, indeed, was an outsider. When Catherine came home from Thrushcross Grange after her father's death, the first thing Hindley said to Heathcliff was, "'Heathcliff, you may come forward. You may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.'" (pg:53 p:2). Another issue was race. When Heathcliff and Catherine were caught spying on Thrushcross Grange, they were brought in. Heathcliff was discriminated against because of his race. The wife of the owner said when she saw that they were friends, "'Miss Earnshaw scouring the country with a gypsy! And yet, my dear, the child is in mourning-surely it is-and she may be lamed for life!'" (pg:50 p:2). I think Wuthering Heights's symbolic and thematic significance is the moors becase they represent the cycle of love and violence in this book.
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