A new Brontë-related paper from Indian scholars:
by Richa Bajaj
International Journal of Arts and Social Science, Volume 8, Issue 10, October 2025
Isabella's role in Wuthering Heights is largely functional, advancing the plot and highlighting Heathcliff's villainy. Her suffering accentuates Heathcliff's demonic traits, and her introduction introduces new conflicts, especially after Catherine's death severs connections between Heathcliff and the residents of Thrushcross Grange. Isabella becomes a contested figure in the love triangle between Catherine, Edgar, and Heathcliff, as her vulnerability is exploited to heighten narrative tension.Isabella’s trajectory demonstrates that Wuthering Heights is not only a story of Catherine and Heathcliff’s transcendent passion but also a complex examination of class, marriage, and gender. Her life highlights the intersection of social expectations, patriarchal control, and individual will. Her marriage is neither a fulfillment of romantic ideal nor a simple transfer of emotion—it is a battleground, a struggle of wills, and a crucible for her transformation. While marginal in narrative space, Isabella’s story enriches the novel’s thematic depth, offering insight into the consequences of power, passion, and social position beyond the central romantic plot.
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