Great Books that are must-read ?

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The Id versus the Superego---in Freudian terms.

There's something more than that. Emily herself paints a decidedly sympathetic picture of Heathcliff by making him in his own turn the victim of others' (particularly Hindley's) malevolence, as well as being a victim of the scorn of polite society, for obvious reasons.

Personally, I've not seen any of the film or other adaptations of the novel, but this is just the impression I get. She has too much insight into the workings of Heathcliff's mind not to have on some level been in sympathy with him.

Yes, if the novel serves any moral purpose at all it's as an indictment of pride in its worst sense.

so many books i havent read.. what have i been doing

I haven't seen the movie adaptations either. I quite refuse, because they glorify WH as a romance and apparently omit Volume II (the entire story after Catherine's death). You may wish to reconsider Heathcliff's purpose when you finish the novel and reinterpret his final characterisation. Yes, Hindley (horse's 'hind' imagery), is just as horrific as Heathcliff if not more so. Likewise, Catherine Earnshaw is also sociopathic.

It's a shame that Emily can't be considered "genius" without critics ascribing a mental defect on her part. This judgemental treatment doesn't happen to male authors, who are never considered amoral, hysterical or mystic for exploring the power of evil.

There's still time, my friend....

Yes, I too have a thing about avoiding versions of my favourite works I consider to be "watered down".

You're quite right about Catherine, too. The only important character who's totally worthy of sympathy is, I suppose, Isabella.

In the words of Theo Kojak, "tell me about it, sweetheart".

Defect? That is silly. I think ppl don’t get geniuses they try to put the genius down rather than admitting they just don’t understand

They try to retrospectively say Dickens had bipolar which, if he did, I don’t consider a defect .

just a challenge n yet another reason to admire him fr being successful despite the pain of dealing with that esp thw ‘lows’ of bipolar God that just makes a person more admirable

just like with the Bronte sisters if any of them had autism, depression, whatever, it was a challenge that countless others wd have had.

Anyway ‘normal’ ppl often have the misfortune of lacking spirit, imagination , or insight that great writers n artists got

I like watching adaptations to admire their hair n clothes n things. I liked Catherine’s long blonde frizzy hair in one adaptation the actress looked like a fairy!

I like when ppl make up actors n actresses they wd cast in a film version of their fave fictional books

Are you really 22, as it says in your profile? You don’t have to answer

Yes, but I grew up on classic television and won't touch anything later than around 2000.

I CANNOT believe you are 22 n know about Focault n all those ppl. Well good idea to preserve ur mind like a sacred space n only allowing worthy things in. Wow I wd give up driving if i cd have that IQ n focus

Also, Cathy Linton.

I haven't yet read much of the Cathy portion of the novel.

Foucault is about the only thinker taught to twenty year old philosophy/social science students now, which is why I stay away from social science departments. I'm actually a physics student, though I have deep interests in philosophy and literature, too. I was taught from a young age that we live in our minds and that we ought to use our own instead of relying on others', the way the overwhelming majority of people do. I've also always been a great deal more mature than most people my age. Actually, my first post on this forum was about feeling marginalised because I'm so hopelessly (and proudly) old-fashioned:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=367376&p=7987599#p7987599

As for my IQ, it's in the 130s/140s somewhere - probably the low 130s, most days. My focus is off at the moment which is why I'm on WP at 1:30 in the morning

I think I'll turn in.

PS, I think being able to drive would be a great boon for me. My instructor has had - or so he says - over a thousand pupils to date, and he seems to think I'm the first of them who is totally unteachable.

Last edited by Prometheus18 on 20 Feb 2019, 8:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I picture Lily Cole in WH, either as Catherine or Isabella. Heathcliff is portrayed as dark, possibly black, in the novel but this has only been cast once in a Hollywood film, to the best of my understanding.

my favorite of all time Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.

YES!

I love and completely identify with Fantine.