Pykett’s assertions drew the women of this Wuthering Heights into a new light for me. Her critique allowed me to more clearly see the power of the female characters of this novel in shaping their own destiny, where before I often thought of them as victims. They struggle to create a life which suits them in an environment that defines them by the men they choose. Pykett also illustrated to me how this text was actually a bit radical for its time. The heroines hardly act as proper ladies by the standards of the day.
The elder Catherine is punished, not for going against society, but for going against her true nature.
Although time have changed greatly since the setting of this novel, women still face similar problems trying to reconcile their true selves with the expectations of society. This connection makes the novel seem more timeless. I have developed greater respect for the women in this novel and the challenges they faced.
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