Abstract

Gothic novel emerged as a new genre of literature in the late 18th century that fascinated readers at that time with its mysterious and horrific atmosphere, wide and fertile imagination, suppressed original passion, romantic oriental sentiment and attractive exotic scenery. Wuthering Heights is just such a novel which is regarded as a "strange sort of book—baffling all regular criticism" in the history of English literature after published. The entire novel is permeated with the strong fighting spirit, as well as an air of eccentricity. It not only perfectly combines elements of both romanticism and realism, but also, to a certain extent, reflects the social background of the time in England. Besides, the love tragedy of the protagonists in the story also brings up many feelings.
This thesis aims to analyze the application of gothic elements in the novel and show the inheritance of gothic tradition adopted by the writer. Through the description of the love and hatred, the horrific natural environment and the characters' personality, the writer painted a distinctive picture of English female gothic novel during the period from the late 18th century to middle 19th century.

Key Words: Wuthering Heights; Gothic; Love Tragedy; Revenge

摘要

哥特式小说是十八世纪末出现的一种新的文学样式,它以其神秘恐怖的气氛、被压抑的原始激情、大胆神奇的想象、浪漫的东方情调和迷人的异国风光深深地吸引着当时的读者。《呼啸山庄》正是这样一部典型的哥特式小说，出版后一直被人认为是英国文学史上一部“最奇特的小说”，是一部“奥秘莫测”的“怪书”。整部小说都充满了强烈的反压迫的斗争精神，又始终笼罩着离奇、恐怖的浪漫气氛，是现实主义与浪漫主义的完美融合，并且在一定程度上反映了当时英国的社会背景。故事中的主人公的爱情悲剧更是令人唏嘘不已。
本文将以探讨哥特式写作手法在小说中的运用为切入点，分析作者对哥特传统与元素的继承和挖掘，通过其对强烈的爱恨的描写、对恐怖的自然环境的描绘，以及对人物性格的刻画展现18世纪末到19世纪中叶的英国女性哥特小说的独特风貌。

关键词：《呼啸山庄》；哥特式；爱情悲剧；复仇

Ⅰ. Introduction
In the long gallery of the British literature in the nineteenth century, Wuthering Heights is no doubt a heart-striking work, which makes Emily Bronte stand out in list of the famous British writers. For more than a century, with enduring value, this so-called “strange book” has been studied by republic of letters from the East and the West in various aspects and methods.
Unfortunately, the novel received fierce criticism from the publicity as soon as it was published, and even her sister Charlotte Bronte considered it a rough and immature work. It was not accepted and applauded by people until twentieth century. Regarding the reasons, this is mainly because its intricate structure and special narrative ran against the literature trend at the time. What’s more, the criticism also lies in her characterization of the lunatic hero, Heathcliff. His brutality, callousness, and sinfulness, all of these make him unbearable.