《呼啸山庄》：一部女性哥特小说(2)

What’smore,hisattitudetowardsIsabellaisnotonlyverycruelbutalsoveryimperious.Edgarishisenemy,too.Oncehedeclareshewill“crushhisribsinlikearotten-hazel-nut”.[21]BecauseofhishatredforEdgar,hetakesadvantageofEdgar’ssister,Isabella.WhenhefindsIsabellahasfalleninlovewithhim,heencourageshertorunoffwithhimeventhoughhedoesnotloveheratall.HedoessoonlyfortheLintonpropertyandtherevengeonEdgar.Butafterhermarriagetohim,shereceivesnoloveorpityfromhim,butindifferenceanddistain.ThedesperatelyunhappyIsabellasendsalettertoNellysaying“IsMr.Heathcliffaman?Ifso,ishemad?Andifnot,isheadevil?”[22]EmilyBrontëusesIsabella’slettertoletusknowaboutthestateofaffairsatWutheringHeightsandaboutHeathcliff’sabusivetreatmentofIsabella.Whenshedefendsherbrother,Heathcliffretortsthatshelookslikeaslut.Hehintsthatsheislosinghermindandsayshewillnotletheroutsidethehouseforfearshewoulddisgracehim.Hehasbecomemoreandmoreimperioustoher.“You’renotfittobeyourownguardian,Isabella,now;andI,beingyourlegalprotector,mustretainyouinmycustody,however,distastefultheobligationmaybe.Goupstairs,IhavesomethingtosaytoEllenDeaninprivate.That’snottheway:upstairs,Itellyou!Why,thisistheroadupstairs,child!”[23]Herevealshowhehashumiliatedherandthatsheranoffwithhimevenafterhehangedherlittledog.HedeclaresIsabellawillneverleavehim,evenifheweretosetherfree.IsabelladeniesthisandsaysHeathcliffwouldneverallowhertoleave.Heronlywishistoseehimdie.Heathcliffsayssheisravingandpushesheroutoftheroom.AfterCatherine’sdeath,inHeathcliff’spresence,IsabellaremindedHindleythatHeathcliffwasresponsibleforalltheirmiseries,andthatbutforhim,Catherinewouldstillbealive.AsshespokeslightlyofCatherine,Heathcliffthrewadinnerknifeather,whichleavesawoundunderherear.Shewouldnolongertakehimasahumanbeing.Heathcliffsucceedsinthemajorpartofhisplanforvengeance:heisinpossessionoftheHeightsandHareton,formerlybelongingtohisenemy,Hindley.Onceagainplayingontheweaknessofhisenemy,HeathcliffappealstothepityandsensitivityhesensesinCathy,Catherine’sdaughter,andwringsherheartaboutLinton’sdeterioratingcondition.Hestoopstoanythingtogetwhathewants.MakinguseofCathy’sloyaltytoherweaklingcousinLinton,Heathcliff’sson,hebaitsthetrapforhermarryingtohissonsoastomasterthepropertyofThrushcrossGrange.Heathcliffisarealmonster.Hedisownshissonandtortureshimindefianceofhispoorhealth.TohaveCathymarriedtoLintonasquicklyaspossible,healwaysfindallsortsofexcusestoleavethehouseleavingtheyoungcouplestayalonesoastocreatemoretimetolivetogether.Eventually,CathygetsdoubtedaboutthemeetingswhileLintoninsistsnottellingherthereason.WhenCathydecidestoleave,Lintonstopsherandbegshertosavehim.“Butleaveme,andIshallbekilled.”[24]Hehintsshecandothisbyconsentingtosomething,what,hewillnotreveal.Hedaresnotbecausehedreadshisfather.ThevillainyofHeathcliff,culminatingintheillegalactofkidnappingCathyandNelly,wouldbesheermelodrama,ifitwerenotforthegeniusofEmilyBrontëincreatingwhollyconsistentcharacters.WebelieveHeathcliffwouldactinthismanner.Hehasreachedapointofcrisis.EvenwhenEdgarisdying,HeathcliffrefusestoletCathygobackhometoseehimforthelasttime.Togethisproperty,hebribesthelawyerandsucceedsputtingthepropertyintohisownpicket.

3.1.1.3FeminizedFemaleGothichero
AlthoughtheheroHeathcliffisdepictedtobeatypicaldevilishcharacterinGothicnovel,heisnotthesameasthoseintraditionalones.HisnatureissoftenedbyhisendlesslovetoCatherineandhisgivinginatlast.
HeathcliffcomesbacktoavengehimselfonHindleyandthenkillshimselfafterthreeyearsdisappearance.However,havingseenheragain,heknowshecandonothingtohurtCatherineandisabandoninghisvowofrevenge.EncountsCatherinehebecomesfulloftenderness.InparticularonthespotofCatherine’sdeathbed,thoughstillamonster-likeman,hisaffectiontoCatherineisengravedonhisbonesandheart.
“Onmyapproachinghurriedlytoascertainifshehadfainted,hegnashedatme,andfoamedlikeamaddog,andgatheredhertohimwithgreedyjealousy.IdidnotfeelasifIwereinthecompanyofacreatureofmyownspecies:itappearsthathewouldnotunderstand,thoughIspoketohim;soIstoodoff,andheldmytongue,ingreatperplexity.”[25]HereEmilyusestherhetoricofhyperboletodescribethesoul-stirringscene,displayingthecrazy,brutal,mysterious,andterrifyinglovebetweentheheroandheroine.
Attheendofthestory,onthesurfaceitwouldappearthattheoldtragedymightbereenactedbytheyoungpeopleofthesecondgenerationatWutheringHeightsandThrushcrossGrange.However,whileCathy,Linton,andHaretonshowsomeofthecharacteristicsoftheirparents,thesetraitshavebeenmodified,andthereishopeforahappiersolutiontotheproblemspresented.EmilyhasingeniouslydesignedHareton,anotherHeathcliff,whoselifeismuchluckierthanHeathcliff;andthesamerelationshipthatexistedbetweenHeathcliff,Catherine,andEdgarisbeingrepeatedbetweenHareton,Cathy,andLinton.However,thenewgenerationreceivesamuchbetterending,andtosomeextent,ahappyone.
HeathcliffisafeminizedFemaleGothicherowhodeservesoursympathy.Hehasagloomychildhood,spendsmostofhislifeinthedarkofrevenge,andthusneverleadsarelaxedlife,especiallyafterCatherine’sdeath.HehasbeenobsessedbythefeelingsofCatherine’spresencenightandday.Hefeelshauntedandthawshimself.Hisrevengehasturnedtoashes.Afterhisdeath,therearechangesatWutheringHeights.Thegateisopenandflowersfilltheyard.Thesunissettingandthemoonrisingsymbolsofanewregime.TheflowersthatCathyandHaretonplantafteruprootingJoseph’sblackcurrantbushesareblooming.TheoldorderofvengeanceandretributionasrepresentedbyHeathcliffandoldJoseph,haspassedandhasbeenreplacedbythespiritoflove.AllthesearethebrightsidesofthisnovelandevidentlyembodyEmily’smakinguseofFemaleGothic.

3.1.2CatherineEarnshaw’ssplitpersonality
AnotherkeycharacterinWutheringHeightsistheheroine,CatherineEarnshaw.ThefreespiritofEmilyBrontëisepitomizedinCatherine,who,asachild,couldrideanyhorseinthestable,andinlateryearsridesroughshodovereveryonewhotriestostandinherway.Beautiful,wild,arrogant,andwillful,CatherineisafittingcompanionforthearrogantandvindictiveHeathcliff.Herloveforhimandthemoorsistherulingpassionofherlife.WhileshemayappearheartlesswhenshechoosestomarryEdgarLinton,sheisnaïveenoughtothinkthatbysodoingshewillbeabletolifthimfromthedegradationintowhichhehasbeenthrustbyHindley.
ThereisoneoccasionshowingCatherine’swildness.WhenNellyrefusestoleaveherandEdgarintheroomalone,Catherinetriestopushheroutoftheroomandpinchesherarm,leavinganuglymark.WhenthebabyHaretoncomplainsabout“wickedAuntCathy”,[26]sheshakeshimuntilhisteethrattle,andEdgartriestointervene.ShedeniesshepinchedNelly,butNellyshowsEdgarthemark.Lividwithfury,CatherineboxesEdgar’ears.EdgarishorrifiedtoseethisothersideofCatherine,capableoftellingliesandbecomingviolent.EmilyusesthedescriptionofFemaleGothictoshowthatthenatureofhumanbeingshastwosides.Nooneisperfectandoneisboundtohavehisorheruglyside.AlthoughsheismarriedtoEdgar,sheisclearthatherloveforHeathcliffisrememberedwithdeepgratitude.“ifthewickedmanintherehadnotbroughtHeathcliffsolow,Ishouldn’thavethoughtofit.ItwoulddegrademetomarryHeathcliffnow;soheshallneverknowhowIlovehim;andthatnotbecausehe’shandsome,Nelly,butbecausehe’smoremyselfthanIam.Whateveroursoulsaremadeof,hisandminearethesame;andLinton’sisasdifferentasamoonbeamfromlightning,orfrostfromfire.”[27]HereEmilyemploystheimageoftheNaturetosymbolizethedifferencesbetweenHeathcliff,Catherine,andEdgar’snature.IntheworldofEmily,thereisnodistinctionbetweenthegoodandtheevil.Catherine’sloveforHeathcliffisunparalleled.“MyloveforLintonislikethefoliageinthewoods:timewillchangeit,I’mwellaware,aswinterchangesthetrees.MyloveforHeathcliffresemblestheeternalrocksbeneath:asourceoflittlevisibledelight,butnecessary.Nelly,IamHeathcliff!He’salways,alwaysinmymind:notasapleasure,anymorethanIamalwaysapleasuretomyself,butasmyownbeing.”[28]TheextraordinarylovehardlyappearsinanyGothicnovels,inwhichtheloveisalwayscondensedormentionedcasually.ComparedwiththeordinaryGothiccharacters,theheroandheroineinEmily’sWutheringHeightsownmoretruefeelingsandfreshvigor.Catherine’smixedandconflictedattitudetowardshermarriagesplitsandtearsher.TheanguishvergingoncollapseandtheravingsinmorbidstatedifferfromtheoldGothictraditionandpavethewayforGothicnovels.EmilyBrontëobservespeoplefromtheangleofthefeministportrayshercharactersfromtheaspectsofFemaleGothic,andthereforebringsustheshockofsupernaturalstrengthaswellasthevividportrayaloftheheroandtheheroines.ThefurtherresearchforthepsychologyoftheGothiccharactersdevelopstheshallowhorror-makingtechniqueintheoldGothicnovelsandsosoftenstheprimitive,pureterrortosomeextent.ItleavesthereadersmoreroomtodeveloptheirownthoughtandenhancesthedepthofthoughtandtheaestheticawarenessinGothicnovels.

3.2Terrifyingnightmares
TheterrifyingandmysteriousatmosphereformsinthenightmareofMr.Lockwood.NowhereelseinthebookisEmilyBrontë’sgeniussovividlyrevealedasinthispart.Here,pastandpresent,dreamandreality,aremeldedintoacoherentwhole.Allreferencestieintogether:thebooksLockwoodfindsandreadsinthebedroom,thenamesthatarementioned,andfinally,Lockwood’sunbelievablyvividdreams.
“Imuttered,knockingmyknucklesthroughtheglass,andstretchinganarmouttoseizetheimportunatebranch;insteadofwhich,myfingersclosedonthefingersofalittle,ice-coldhand!Theintensehorrorofnightmarecameoverme:Itriedtodrawbackmyarm,butthehandclungtoit,andamostmelancholyvoicesobbed,‘Letmein-Letmein!’…Terrormademecruel;andfindingituselesstoattemptshakingthecreatureoff,Ipulleditswaistontothebrokenpane,andrubbedittoandfrotillthebloodrandownandsoakedthebedclothes;stillitwailed,‘Letmein!’andmaintaineditstenaciousgrip,almostmaddeningmewithfear.”[29]ItisherethatEmilyintroducesthesupernaturalintothestory.CatherineistheonlyghostinMr.Lockwood’snightmare.Thenightmareisamasterpieceofsuspense.
NightmareisthecommonvehicleusedinGothicnovels.MostGothicnovelsareinspiredbydreams.ThisisparticularlytrueofEmily’sWutheringHeights.ThereisoneoccasionwhenEdgarconfrontsCatherineandtellshershemustchoosebetweenhimandHeathcliff,shefliesintoarage,locksthedoorandfortwodayssheremainsthere,touchingnofood.Herpsychicconflictsrisetotheclimax.“Tossingabout,sheincreasedherfeverishbewildermenttomadness,andtorethepillowwithherteeth…‘That’saturkey’s,’shemurmuredtoherself;‘andthisisawildduck’s;andthisisapigeon’s’…Bonnybird;wheelingeverourheadsinthemiddleofthemoor…Thisfeatherwaspickedupfromtheheath,thebirdwasnotshot;wesawitsnestinthewinter,fulloflittleskeletons.Heathcliffsetatrapoverit,andtheoldonedarenotcome.”[30]Catherine’sappallinghysteriaandtheseravingsseemtoshowthatsheisinthestateofdelirium.Actually,thedaydream-likesurrealisticdescriptionunfoldsherpsychicstateofstruggleagainstanguishandfantasy.HerhearthasdriftedawaytotheoldgooddayswhensheandHeathcliffaretogether.ThispassageofCatherine’sdisorderedravingssuggeststheheroinehassufferedseverelyfromtheanguishjustrightfortheoccasion.Byapplyingthisvehicle,whatEmilyBrontëfeelslikeexpressingisnotonlytocreateanatmosphereofterrorbutalsotoestablishtheemotionsuspense,andthensetupauniquestructureforthewholestory,whichembodiesthecolorofFemaleGothicatthesametime.

4.Conclusion
ItiscommonthatmanycriticstakeGothicnovelsasblacknovels.Inparticular,theyholdhighprejudicetothosewhowriteinthisstyle.ThereisnodoubtthatEmilyBrontëisregardedasawriteroutofthemainstreamofthenovelsinthe19thcentury.Herstyleisclearandsimplebutchargedwithtremendousvitality.ShedoesnotwriteformoralandsocialeffectasCharlesDickensdoes.Shewritesfortherhythmofhersentencesandtheexactchoiceofwordconveyshermeaningexplicitly.Thestyleissocondensed,likethatofapoetthateverywordmustberead,orsomevitalpointwillbemissed.Thesmallerobjectorsnatchofconversationhassomepartinthewholestructure.Forher,theuseofGothicisnotjusttoproduceaterrifyingatmosphereandmakereaderssickliketheGothicnovels,butsetupamoreperfectstructureandthenshowusthecomplicatedpsychologyofthecharacters.Byportrayingthedevilishcharactersandtheterrifyingnightmare,EmilyBrontëfindsanewwaytoexpressfeelings—FemaleGothic.Shepaysmoreattentiontothenatureofprotagonistsandholdsthatthereisnodefiniteborderlinebetweenthegoodandtheevil.Herboundlessimaginationandrealisticdepictionservebetterfortheportrayalofthecharacters.InheritingGothictraditioninherwriting,shedevelopsitfromherownangle.HeronlynovelWutheringHeightsisagoodembodimentofherFemaleGothictechnique.Thenovelmaybeconsideredasagreatlyricpoemforitaboundsinimagery.EmilyBrontë’swritingisalsomosteffectivewhendepictingthepassionateandviolentcharactersofHeathcliffandCatherine,forshehasuncannyabilitytotranslatefeelingsintowords.InherdescriptivepassagesshepaintsavividpictureofthewildbleaknessoftheHeights,andthecloyingeaseandluxuryofThrushcrossGrange.EmilyBrontëhasinputthelivelyenergyintotheEnglishGothicnovelandthereforespeededthedevelopmentoftheEnglishnovels.
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