Rachel Green Final Argument

Although the romantic and enthralling plot of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice seems to attract many fans, Emily Bronte’s experimentation with the frontiers of literature in Wuthering Heights offers multiple possibly educational aspects and is therefore more worthy of classroom study. Bronte delves deep into the intricate and difficult aspects of literature, interweaving the complex narration of a frame story, complicated characteristics of a Byronic Hero, and the dark and mysterious features of a gothic romance into a sophisticated, well-balanced novel. Meanwhile, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice lingers on the surface of the intricacies of literature, choosing instead to focus on social criticism and satire, thoroughly entertaining but not necessarily challenging the reader. Bronte’s unique approach to narration requires the reader to recall not only the events of the two independent stories told in Wuthering Heights, but also the various opinions of each of the unique narrators. Students would benefit from studying Wuthering Heights simply for this aspect because frame stories are not extremely prevalent in most novels. Austen’s approach to narration is instead chronological and does not easily provide a classroom discussion topic because of its uniqueness or difficulty to master. Wuthering Heights’s dark and mysterious gothic qualities, as well as the presence of the Byronic Hero, also add suspense, drama, and conflict to the novel, making it not only educational but also entertaining. Wuthering Heights’s obvious educational benefits and possibilities provide sufficient reason to teach this novel as opposed to Pride and Prejudice during the school year.

Word Count: 249