The English novel “Wuthering Heights” (1847) by Emily Brontë, is very popular and has been adapted about fifteen times for film and television, mostly with biased interpretations that tend to romanticize the violence in the book. The current film adaptation, “Hurlevent,” directed by Emerald Fennell, is no exception.
A classic of literature, considered the last work of English Romanticism, “Wuthering Heights” has been adapted numerous times for TV and film, including the latest version starring actors Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. The first part of the book tells the story of Heathcliff, a poor boy from Liverpool, who enters the Earnshaw family and his tragic love story with his half-sister Cathy. The second part depicts Heathcliff’s revenge against the two families who humiliated him.
The recurring trend among directors is to only adapt the first part of the novel, turning it into a cursed love story where the characters of Cathy and Heathcliff are portrayed as victims of social and familial order, akin to the legendary couple of Romeo and Juliet.
The violence of Heathcliff is evident from the beginning of the book, but when films adapt the entire story, it is subtly softened. Different adaptations make recurring choices to omit or silence certain aspects of the book, which have political implications.
One recurring omission is Heathcliff’s origin and skin color. The question of his race in relation to the violence in the book is critical, yet most adaptations depict Heathcliff as white, ignoring his Romani origins.
Another point is the possible incestuous theme between Cathy and Heathcliff, which is overlooked in film adaptations, where their relationship is often portrayed as ideal and enviable rather than complex and tainted by violence.
In choosing to romanticize the violence, filmmakers have presented a sanitized version of the characters, missing the essence of the novel, where themes of revenge, malice, and the destructive nature of love are central.
Ultimately, the repetition of images that sell violence as the ultimate proof of love should prompt us to collectively question the portrayal of such toxic relationships in popular media.
