Ms. Schwarz, a teacher interviewed for this article, shared her thoughts on the movie version of Wuthering Heights. She said that the relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy shouldn’t be seen as a “healthy romance.” Instead, their relationship is “toxic,” more an obsession than love. This matches one of the debates about Wuthering Heights: Is it a romance story, or a warning about how passionate love can be bad?
Ms. Schwarz disagrees with how the movie portrayed their love story. But she did like some things about the movie, such as the set design and Gothic imagery. Ms. Schwarz’s views on Wuthering Heights make us question Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship. According to The New York Times, “Wuthering Heights shows that love can be an obsession that destroys everything,” echoing what Ms. Schwarz said. Wuthering Heights is about an unhealthy emotional connection, not a romantic one.
Ava Mooney, a student who was interviewed, has quite a different opinion. She says her overall opinion of Wuthering Heights is that it is “a really dramatic and emotional story,” even though the “characters’ bad choices are frustrating.” Ava also mentioned that her favorite character is Heathcliff, played by heartthrob Jacob Elordi. She finds him very intriguing because his feelings change a lot throughout the movie. Heathcliff does things because he wants revenge and loves Catherine, his interloper. She explained that one of the most memorable moments is Heathcliff’s return after years away, which changes everything. Ava says she would recommend it to other students “who enjoy dramatic stories about complicated relationships and emotional intensity.”
In the end, Wuthering Heights leaves viewers with one big question: Is intense love always romantic, or can it become something far more harmful?
