As a whole, even though there are some characteristics of good parenting in the novel Wuthering heights, Bronte displays mostly negative parenting, mainly through Mr. Earnshaw and Heathcliff’s behaviour. There are various forms of negative parenting in a household that some children are put through such as verbal or physical abuse, favouritism of other siblings, parents who disregard their kid’s feelings, etc. The qualities of inappropriate parenting are truly shown through Mr. Earnshaw and Heathcliff.
The first way Emily Bronte displayed poor parenting in the novel was how Mr. Earnshaw brought Heathcliff home, and favoured him over his biological son Hindley. “He has been blaming our father for treating Heathcliff too liberally; and he swears he will reduce him to his right place” (Bronte 40) Hindley was crushed and hurt that his very own father would favour some orphan off the streets of Liverpool more than himself, and this is was mainly began his intense hatred he had for Heathcliff. Even though Hindley completely oversteps his boundaries by being cruel to Heathcliff, some sympathy is shown for him because Heathcliff has taken Hindley’s place of a son in Mr. Earnsahw’s eyes. Many children can relate to when they feel like they have a sibling who is more liked by the parent, which often results in the child acting out inappropriately. A child will often insult or degrade the favoured sibling, or grow rebellious against the parents because they are jealous. Some children will even attempt to outdo the favoured sibling when it comes to their achievements, or anything that will capture the positive attention of a parent so they can feel “loved” also. Since Heathcliff was favoured over Hindley, he completely overreacted and overstepped his boundaries by degrading Heathcliff, and forcing to become a common laborer, working the fields.
The second way inappropriate parenting was shown in Wuthering Heights was how Heathcliff degraded Hareton for being Hindley’s son. Even though Heathcliff wasn’t Hareton’s biological father, he played the role of a father because he didn’t have any parents. “The uncivil little thing stood on tiptoe, and whispered a sentence in Heathcliff's ear. He laughed; Hareton darkened: I perceived he was very sensitive to suspected slights, and had obviously a dim notion of his inferiority."(Bronte 191) The main reason for Heathcliff being cruel to young Hareton was because he was Hindleys son, and Heathcliff couldn’t let go of how badly he was degraded by him. Also, Nelly notices that Hareton resembles Catherine Senior in many ways, which is why Heathcliff wishes to degrade him. Some children who often grow up with cruel parents will usually adapt and accept their ways when they are young because they feel like their parents ways are correct. Hareton did not adapt to Heathcliff’s ways because he grew up with different parents originally, and he was older.
Even though some forms are parenting come across cruel or unjust, do you think parents are sometimes required to sometimes be harsh with their children so they learn boundaries? Or do you think children should always grow up in a loving, caring, calm environment?
The first way Emily Bronte displayed poor parenting in the novel was how Mr. Earnshaw brought Heathcliff home, and favoured him over his biological son Hindley. “He has been blaming our father for treating Heathcliff too liberally; and he swears he will reduce him to his right place” (Bronte 40) Hindley was crushed and hurt that his very own father would favour some orphan off the streets of Liverpool more than himself, and this is was mainly began his intense hatred he had for Heathcliff. Even though Hindley completely oversteps his boundaries by being cruel to Heathcliff, some sympathy is shown for him because Heathcliff has taken Hindley’s place of a son in Mr. Earnsahw’s eyes. Many children can relate to when they feel like they have a sibling who is more liked by the parent, which often results in the child acting out inappropriately. A child will often insult or degrade the favoured sibling, or grow rebellious against the parents because they are jealous. Some children will even attempt to outdo the favoured sibling when it comes to their achievements, or anything that will capture the positive attention of a parent so they can feel “loved” also. Since Heathcliff was favoured over Hindley, he completely overreacted and overstepped his boundaries by degrading Heathcliff, and forcing to become a common laborer, working the fields.
The second way inappropriate parenting was shown in Wuthering Heights was how Heathcliff degraded Hareton for being Hindley’s son. Even though Heathcliff wasn’t Hareton’s biological father, he played the role of a father because he didn’t have any parents. “The uncivil little thing stood on tiptoe, and whispered a sentence in Heathcliff's ear. He laughed; Hareton darkened: I perceived he was very sensitive to suspected slights, and had obviously a dim notion of his inferiority."(Bronte 191) The main reason for Heathcliff being cruel to young Hareton was because he was Hindleys son, and Heathcliff couldn’t let go of how badly he was degraded by him. Also, Nelly notices that Hareton resembles Catherine Senior in many ways, which is why Heathcliff wishes to degrade him. Some children who often grow up with cruel parents will usually adapt and accept their ways when they are young because they feel like their parents ways are correct. Hareton did not adapt to Heathcliff’s ways because he grew up with different parents originally, and he was older.
Even though some forms are parenting come across cruel or unjust, do you think parents are sometimes required to sometimes be harsh with their children so they learn boundaries? Or do you think children should always grow up in a loving, caring, calm environment?