| As Emily Bronte’s only novel, Wuthering Heights has received massive comments and interpretations since it was published. This thesis attempts to explore the theme of freedom implied in Wuthering Heights. Emily Bronte expresses her views on freedom through Wuthering Heights, her only novel, and we can sense that her perceptions of freedom roughly agree with Sartre’s views on freedom. This thesis attempts to analyze Wuthering Heights in the light of Sartre’s philosophical views on freedom.In the Introduction, there is a description of life background that had affected Emily’s creation. It holds that her life experiences and personalities result in the idea on freedom that is expounded by the character. To a large extent, the novel is modeled after the life experiences of Emily Bronte, the writer herself. Bewildered by depression and be frustrated with the injustice of her fate, Emily forces herself to write something and passionately expresses her ideas in Wuthering Heights. Through the whole story, the flavor of a human struggling for freedom can be sensed. Thus it is easy for us to find the answer why Emily Bronte creates a character as Heathcliff, a merciless and malicious demon. The Introduction also gives the literature review, which shows that ever since its publication, Wuthering Heights has won many laudatory comments from both the critical circle and the criticisms involves different perspectives. At last, in this part, the author also elaborates Sartre’s views on freedom. Sartre holds that freedom is the destined state of man. For Sartrean freedom, there are two things are definite:no limit for freedom and the necessity to surpass the "situations.’Chapter One to Chapter Five are conducted to analyze Wuthering Heights based on the realization of freedom from five aspects. Chapter One attempts to illustrate that "my place" does not appear as a limit to "my" freedom. For Heathcliff, the only "place" he surpasses is Wuthering Heights and then he finds his "ideal place"-the Moors, where he and his lover roam perpetually. Thus, in Wuthering Heights,"my place" does not present as a big obstacle to the realization of freedom. Chapter Two illustrates that Heathcliff has the obscure "past" experience and then escapes the uncovery of the "past," with an eventual fidelity to his "past." Heathcliff is always conscious of his freedom. In Chapter Three, the relationship between "my environment" and the character is probed. For Heathcliff, he firmly manipulates "his environment" and seldom has to struggle against it, so the relationship between Heathcliff and the environment is "surpassing and being surpassed" rather than the "warfare". So we can find easily the author gives the first priority to the individual freedom. In Chapter Four argues that, in order to realize his freedom, Heathcliff successfully surpasses his "fellowmen". In order to achieve this, Heathcliff displays lots of strength and confidence in the process of surpassing others. In Chapter Five, Heathcliff’s death or rather his afterlife is analyzed, it’s clear that according to the author, personal death does not pose a threat to "my freedom". Whether it is real or just villagers’fantasy, the lingering ghost of Heathcliff proves his overwhelming influence during his lifetime and his pursuit for freedom has given a deep impression on the nearby people.In the Conclusion, the thesis concludes that Emily has elucidated her unique view on freedom. From Wuthering Heights, we are impressed by Heathcliff’s faith and strength of realizing his freedom. The story of Heathcliff is his history of freedom surpassing obstacles. Emily has implied that human beings are always free and should also be confident of their infinite freedom, which roughly agree with Sartre’s views on freedom. This may be where Emily’s in-depth perception lies. |
PDF Full Text Request