Teliza Henderson

17 May 2016
AP English IV
Mrs. Kaitlyn Pierce

Lapse in Understanding: Romanticism is not romance

Though Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice were produced during the
Romanticism era, its expressive critique of human nature and society goes contrasts its common
label as a romance novel. It is not that in these two books romance isnt the core; its that these
classics should not be admired for one element.
Romanticism as described by Victor Hugo Liberalism in Literature or as defined by
Friedrich Engels, literature depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form. (Morner,
Rausch) Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice in their multiplicity of Romanticism
characteristics, extends beyond this definition. However, it provides a valid point for the
motivation behind Jane Austen and Emily Bront to eloquently write these two classic works of
literature. Romanticism whirl winded itself throughout the 18th and 19th century in literature,
visual arts, architecture, music, and other societal recreational areas. It was movement away from
neoclassicism, a society of rules and formal orthodoxy, to individualism and use of imagination
to proceed beyond realism. (The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica)
Jane Austen and Emily Bronte influenced by this individualistic idealism saturated their works
in hopes of enlightening readers of social inequities.

It cannot be argued that Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights are the godmothers
of Modern Romance literature- I think of these texts as grandmothers to the modern Young
Adult genre, and I wanted to read them through lens of comparison to contemporary YA texts
(especially romance stories.) (Rigney ) However, they are not to be similarly compared to
contemporary romances as Austen and Bront focus mainly on how social surroundings affect
the romantic relationship. It is only with contemporary romance novels that the surrounding
circumstances are secondary to the relationship.
A study under UKTV Drama found that 2000 readers considered Wuthering Heights and
Pride and Prejudice romances. The study was conducted to help the channel jumpstart their
summer of love season of romantic drama for their channel. found that most readers
wanted a decent slice of jealousy, sex and - for men - violence to add to the essential recipe of
two people falling in love for one another. Within book covers, although not necessarily in real
life, women readers overwhelmingly wanted a handsome man such as Darcy in Pride and
Prejudice to sweep them off their feet. (Wainwright, 2007) The interpretation of Wuthering
Heights and Pride and Prejudice is commonly deceived as a romance because contemporary
romance readers may not be able to conceive a society where men and women did not marry for
romantic love. (2013)
Wuthering Heights is most likely labeled as a romance novel because of Heathcliff and
Catherines relationship being the focal point of the book. Through analyzing Heathcliff and
Catherines developing relationship it does not mimic a developing relationship of a romantic
novel. A romance novel is the story of a man and a woman who, while theyre solving a
problem that threatens to keep them apart, discover that the love they feel for each other is the
sort that comes along once in a lifetime; this discovery leads to a permanent commitment and a

happy ending. (Michaels) Catherine and Heathcliffs problem is social classes, Heathcliff is
considered the scum of the Earth while Catherine holds the beauty and etiquette of a middle class
Victorian woman. Even though both feel that their souls are the same (Bronte, Merkin 2004)
but Catherine feels it would degrade her to marry Heathcliff. Throughout the book, the reader
realizes what the main characters already knew: both are miserable being that they will never be
together but through death.
During the Victorian era, men and women married for social status, career advancement,
real estate values, and the size of the entailment. This particular society was full of unrealistic
expectations- A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing,
and the modern languages; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air
and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions (Austen 1981) To
acquire this girls were sent off to Boarding schools, assigned an residential governess, or placed
under an influential family. Pride and Prejudice, however, breaks this social norm as the Bennett
sisters have never been sent to Boarding school or assigned an governess. (Hughes)
Romance and romanticism sounds similar but are two totally different concepts.
Romance, is a type of fiction, comprising idealized love, chivalry obsessive association with
somebody or somebody and mysterious adventures. However, Romanticism is a period in
English Literature where poets and writers were able to escape reality, Apart of romanticism, is
to show individual emotions in a world of social and political rules. The emotions of
Books are products of their time. Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice are products of
their time in the sense that their highly influenced by the Romanticism era. Romanticism is as
Victor Hugo defined it liberalism in literature, or as Friedrich Schlegel defined it literature

depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form. So, characteristics that Romanticism have
are subjectivity, imagination over reason/logic, and isolation from society.
Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and Bronts Wuthering
Heights was published 34 years later. Bront viewed Pride and Prejudice as a carefully fenced,
highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but no glance of bright vivid
physiognomy, no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck. ( At first impressions,
Pride and Prejudice splashes typical Victorian era romance in the midst of 19th century society,
which typically appeals as realism. In contradict, Pride and Prejudice reveals Austen's dislike for
romantic hysteria and sensibility. This is revealed through the way that the Bennett sisters are
raised outside of societal norms and the title, Pride and Prejudice. Before mentioned, Victorian
era females were sent to Boarding schools or had residential governess to teach them etiquette
and skills mainly to contribute to their prospects in marriage.
Emily Bront
In Romantic books, worshipping nature by personification of characters and their
relationships or extensively lyrical descriptions of settings are popular. Between Pride and
Prejudice and Wuthering Heights rural