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4th period
Final Exam Blogpost
Final Exam Blogpost
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Impact of Postmodern qualities
Introduction
In this final blogpost, we will dive deep into the postmodern qualities in which Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë displays. This film exposes the reality of England's class system during the Victorian Era; however, if we take a different perspective, we see elements of magical realism, historiographic metafiction, and pastiche.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a classic film published in 1939. It recounts the story of the passionate yet destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, despite the haunting setting of the “Wuthering Heights” property. The movie explores themes of love, revenge, social class, and supernatural elements.
In the beginning, we see Heathcliff, an orphan, brought into Wuthering Heights where he spends his childhood with Catherine. They create a tight bond with one another, proclaiming their desire to be with each other. Catherine however chooses to marry Edgar Linton, a guy that is of higher status, which ultimately makes Heathcliff seek revenge. Heathcliff's quest for vengeance affects the future generations of Wuthering Heights and The Grange inevitably leading to a tragedy.
Summary of Element #1- Magical Realism:
Brontë employs elements of magical realism throughout Wuthering Heights, by incorporating an uncomfortable blend of uneventful daily life activities and surreal events. One example of this is Heathcliff's haunting obsession with Catherine, which continues even after her death. WEIRDDD!! When Heathcliff prays Catherine's spirit to haunt him, saying "Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you - haunt me, then!" it represents a moment of magical realism (Brontë). This quote shows Heathcliff's belief in the supernatural and his desire to win Catherine’s soul in the physical realm. By blending these elements of fantasy with the ordinary, Bronte challenges readers to explore the confines between reality and imagination.
In the music video “Humility,” Gorillaz employs magical realism through an uncomfortable blend of mundane daily life and surreal events. We see a lot of real people and then one animated 2-D character showing reality vs. fantasy. The background, humans, and activities are all the reality while the main character interrupts the human’s daily life. The surreal and dreamlike qualities are seen when the character skates, dances, and interacts with other people. This use of magical realism disrupts traditional ideas of reality, allowing the audience to examine the world around them. By adding elements of fantasy with everyday life, Gorillaz creates a sense of wonder and possibility, inviting the viewer to embrace the magical aspects of which they exist in.
These are similar in the fact that they both have a character who is an "outcast" who seeks to fit into society. The only difference is Heathcliff is this vengeful character who seeks to punish others, and the animated character, after being rejected, still offers a hand to a struggling skater.
Summary of Element #2- Historiographic Metafiction:
We see historiographic metafiction in "Wuthering Heights" through the complex narrative structure and different interpretations of events by various characters. Lockwood explains, "I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind," through the discovery of others' diaries (Brontë). His dream experiences are just one representation of how a story can get diverted from its true sequence of events. Every character's interpretation of events is influenced by their experiences and biases, which inevitably leads to an unreliable author and an inconsistency of the narrative. WOMP WOMP!! Overall, the quote demonstrates how "Wuthering Heights" employs historiographic metafiction to challenge traditional truths and interpretations, inviting readers to focus on the complexities of storytelling given human experiences.
Moreover, "Decortication of an Airplane" contains elements of historiographic metafiction by intertwining historical events with fictional narratives, blurring the limits between what is true and what is not. We see this in the narrative's reflection on the process of dismantling an airplane’s outer layer. The text states, "Four bolts was all it took to hold the aircraft’s skin onto the body... The wind will catch on the underbelly right over the village scrap yard; it is perfect.'' Here, Suraski challenges the reader's perception of truth through mixing historical records with fictional scenarios, prompting readers to reconsider the construction of reality. The significance of these postmodern factors points to their disruption of conventional storytelling conventions, inviting readers to question the reliability and consistency of the narrative.
In both stories we experience an unreliable narrator that causes the reader to question the consistency of the passage. We also experience a complex meaning behind the story.
Summary of Element #3- Pastiche:
Emily Brontë employs pastiche in "Wuthering Heights" through the blending of various narrative styles and literary traditions. One example of pastiche is seen in the romantic language used throughout the novel, as demonstrated by the quote, "He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same" (Brontë). This quote reflects a combination of Gothic romance and philosophical inquiry, showcasing Brontë's ability to easily connect different genres and literary elements. The language in this quote echoes the ideas of Romanticism. By implementing themes of unity and deep love between Heathcliff and Catherine, Brontë presses into the Romantic tradition of exploring the depths of human emotion and the undeniable power of love. Furthermore, the quote reveals elements of Gothic literature, with its haunting and eerie tone, and its exploration of the supernatural and the mysterious. All these elements show the different techniques seen in all types of literature throughout the different ages.
In “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in],” Cummings employs pastiche by blending numerous literary styles throughout the text. This is evident within the essay’s unusual punctuation, capitalization and use of words. For example, the poem begins with “i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it” where Cummings includes parentheses and lowercase letters creating a unique and visually appealing beginning. These elements implemented into the poem are some of the many postmodern components that goes against traditional literary styles. Lastly, incorporating these techniques allows the reader to approach the text with an open and curious mind.
In both stories, we see characters in love and willing to sacrifice all for the other. We see a love that evolves and grows as time goes on. We also see different literary styles, opening up the reader's mind for curiosity regarding the elements used in different pieces.
Conclusion
In many stories of many different time periods, we often find strange and interesting elements intertwined together. It is all about perspective; each genre can be interpreted differently and connected to other ages. Postmodernism elements especially can be seen within all these stories. It is the beauty of interpretation that allows us to recognize the complexity and richness of storytelling across different eras.
Works Cited
Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights, 1847. Universidad Complutense Madrid, December 1996, www.ucm.es/data/cont/docs/119-2014-04-09-Wuthering%20Heights.pdf. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Pocket Books, 1999.
Cummings E. E. “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in].” Poetry Foundation. www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/49493/i-carry-your-heart-with-mei-carry-it-in. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Disney. “Disney Pixar Love GIF By Disney.” Giphy, 28 September 2015, giphy.com/gifs/disney-up-pixar-disney- 10wwy1cJ8j2aD6. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Gorillaz. “Humility.” YouTube, 31 May 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5yFcdPAGv0. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Leach, Holly. “Highlights of Postmodernism.” Nerd Central, 3 May 2023, nerdcentralorg.files.wordpress.com/2024/05/highlights-of-postmodernism.pdf. Accessed 9 May 2024.
quarantineedits 1 “ALL AMERICAN - Spencer James.” YouTube. 5 July 2021, www.youtube.com/watch? v=nPP0MKsiwyQ. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Scott, Ben Lionel. “YOUR VALUE - Powerful Motivational Speech.” YouTube. 11 July 2018, Accessed 9 May 2024.
“Shocked A Bugs Life GIF.” Giphy, 2 September 2014, giphy.com/gifs/Yuvl9zDgVNCcU. Accessed 9 May 2024.
Suraski, Book. “Decortication of an Airplane.” Pank, Fiction 16-17 . / sneak peek 4, pankmagazine.com/piece/decortication-of-an-airplane/. Accessed 9 May 2024.