Jungian Wuthering Heights
I watched the porn-y remake on a plane, then later the 1939 version, now reading the book.
I was surprised I couldn’t find reference to it here. I may not have dug that deeply - sorry if so.
I’m not sure I need to put a spoiler alert on a book from 1847 but *spoiler alert*.
Catherine is the female archetype, with a manufactured attraction to stability, belonging and social status. She is denying her shadow, her more naturalistic, adventuresome spirit that is beaten down by her upbringing. I see this as her animus. She denies Heathcliff for Edgar because of very clear repression of self. She recognizes her shadow but it’s too late. She may still be seeking individuality in the afterlife.
Heathcliff is the male archetype, a brute with a simple view of the world and what it is to be powerful. He does not see his anima, maybe, but seems to double-down on his animus to achieve one with Cathy. He is denying his shadow in so many ways which is why I think he is still such a studied character - absolutely tormented by unrecognized shadow. In fact, he vows to live in her shadow, a direct quote.
Cathy sees him as not a man but a darkness, a vast ocean. I think maybe this was Brontë’s reluctance or inability to
Cathy’s key line in the book is “I am Heathcliff.” Two halves of one soul. Which is why she haunts him, coming to the window.
Heathcliff is the haunted one - again, maybe - because she did the work to uncover her true self, where Heathcliff never did. He still sees Cathy outside his window, as Kate Bush famously discussed.
I think the Yorkshire moors - where it takes place - is Jungian as well but I can’t figure that out. I’m a novice Jungian; but Brontë was certainly exploring the self…I think!
The image is **The Apparition (“**Cathy’s ghost at the window”) by Fritz Eichenberg, 1943.
Does anyone have any insight?