Social Status and Poverty

After reading the first chapters of “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, I couldn’t help but notice the obvious underlying racial tension that arise due to social status. It’s obvious that Lockwood feels superior to Heathcliff as almost ever comment he makes about him is negative or degrading to the way he looks. It appears to me that Lockwood is so accustomed to the privileges he’s had in life and has no regard for anyone who isn’t of the same social standing as himself. It’s important to note that growing up Heathcliff was a homeless orphan who had no money to his name but now, years later, he has acquired both power and money and has made something of himself. This sort of made me think of the poem we read last week called “The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake. This poem talks about a child who is forced to become a chimney sweeper due to financial troubles at home. These jobs were life threatening as they caused major damage to children’s lungs. It was during this time in the Victorian Era that poverty effected many families and children were out on the streets looking for ways to make a living. In Heathcliff’s childhood he was just like this boy in the poem, poor and doing anything to get by. 

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