Gothic Elements in Wuthering Heights

Gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance.
The most important Gothic elements in the novel Wuthering Heights include terror (both
psychological and physical), mystery, the supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic
architecture, death, decay, doubles, madness, secrets, and hereditary curses.

The terror in this novel plays a vital part in the overall Gothic sensation. Hindley and
Heathcliff often display physical violence towards others, but also psychological violence. They
cause pain, the humiliate members of their family, take revenge against others and torture the
people they love.

Closely connected the topics of violence and taking revenge, are the topics of death and
decay. Close family member die and every character experiences the feeling of loss. Often the
death dont serve as lessons to the others and they keep making mistakes. The decay which is
mentioned is not only concrete, actual, but also moral. One of the greatest problems in Victorian
England was the widely decadent society.

We cannot speak of Gothic elements if we dont focus on the nature, the haunted houses
and the architecture. Wuthering Heights is a tremendous place looking like a haunted castle.
Heathcliff often imagines seeing the ghost of Catherine and enjoying it with every fiber of his
being.

To sum up, the novel Wuthering Heights is enriched with Gothic elements. It still
evokes and resonates the Victorian past and the unfortunate family history of several people,
some of which are fighting for their place in the society, disregarding a revenge, darkness, decay
etc.