Wuthering Heights: the gothic masterpiece that still shocks and unsettles readers

A BBC Culture piece argues that Wuthering Heights remains misunderstood due to its nonlinear structure, multiple narrators, and brutal themes of love and revenge. It traces early mixed reviews and the reveal that Emily Brontë wrote under Ellis Bell, then discusses how Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn adaptation and other screen versions have handled the darker second half, often toning it down. The article emphasizes that the novel’s legacy endures by challenging readers to grapple with questions of love, violence, morality, and what makes a “great” story.