Wuthering Heights - Catherine And Heathcliff Essays - British Films

Wuthering Heights - Catherine And Heathcliff Wuthering Heights - Catherine and Heathcliff Essay written by Midnight Toker A Presentation of the Personalities of Heathcliff and Murray Kempton once admitted, No great scoundrel is ever uninteresting. The human race continually focuses on characters who intentionally harm others and create damaging situations for their own benefit. Despite popular morals, characters who display an utter disregard for the natural order of human life are characters who are often deemed iconic and are thoroughly scrutinized. If only the characters of Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights were as simple as that. Set on the mysterious and gloomy Yorkshire moors in the nineteenth century, Wuthering Heights gives the illusion of lonesome isolation as a stranger, Mr. Lockwood, attempts to narrate a tale he is very far removed from. Emily Brontes in-depth novel can be considered a Gothic romance or an essay on the human relationship. The reader may regard the novel as a serious study of human problems such as love and hate, or revenge and jealousy. One may even consider the novel Brontes personal interpretation of the universe. However, when all is said and done, Heathcliff and Catherine are the story. Their powerful presence permeates throughout the novel, as well as their complex personalities. Their climatic feelings towards each other and often selfish behavior often exaggerates or possibly encapsulates certain universal psychological truths humans are too afraid to express. Heathcliff and Catherines stark backgrounds evolve respectively into dark personalities and mistaken life paths, but in the end their actions determine the course of their own relationships and lives. Their misfortunes, recklessness, willpower, and destructive passion are unable to penetrate the eternal love they share. Heathcliffs many-faceted existence is marked by wickedness, love, and strength. His dark actions are produced by the distortion of his natural personality. Although Heathcliff was once subjected to vicious racism due to his dark skin color and experienced wearisome orphan years in Liverpool, this distortion had already begun when Mr. Earnshaw brought him into Wuthering Heights, a dirty, ragged, black-haired child(45; ch.7). Already he was inured to hardship and uncomplainingly accepted suffering. Heathcliff displays his strength and steadfastness when he had the measles, and when Hindley treated him cruelly if he got what he wanted. From the very beginning he showed great courage, resoluteness, and love. Few have the audacity to be victimized (as Heathcliff was by Hindley after Mr. Earnshaws death) and find secret delight in his persecutor sinking into a life of debauchery which will undoubtedly cause his own death. Not only did Heathcliff show his strength through Hindley, but also by following his personal goal of a life with Catherine Earnshaw. Heathcliff vanishes for three years to win Cathy over with his successes. He chose to fight a battle most would never attempt to begin. Heathcliff, being the survivor that he is, proved himself to be quite a gentleman. Nelly offers her impression when narrating, he would certainly have struck a stranger as a born and bred gentleman (130; ch. 14). Although Heathcliffs personality is so unusually and intensely strong, he does emit qualities rooted in ourselves. His trials and tribulations only develop and exaggerate the darkness and violence inherited in not only Heathcliff, but everyone. However, Heathcliffs wickedness is entirely inappropriate and unusual. Without question he is brutal. The primal and universal darkness in Heathcliff must not be excused. The vicious manner n which he helps to destroy Hindley, kidnaps Cathy and Nelly, and brutalizes Isabella and Hareton, suggests that he is not born with the same prima l and universal structure as everyday man, but some other disturbed quality. For example, Isabella in a letter to Ellen wrote, Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? And if so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? (121; ch. 13). The antisocial menace now induces pain on his undeserving wife. In just a few chapters the reader identifies with Heathcliffs dark instincts, awes at his inability to feel compassion in certain instances, and becomes intrigued with his passion and undying love for Cathy. Lockwoods first impressions of this gentleman reflect the complex and contrasting images he presents simultaneously when he quotes, But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of

Administration of appropriate behavior in children

Administration of appropriate behavior in children A child’s behavior is very imperative in determining the future of a society; therefore, monitoring one’s child/adolescent behavior enables the parents to track any changes, which would deserve correction. According Chance (2003), behavior builds up into one’s character and therefore, parents play an important role in shaping a child’s character (p.65). Psychologists divide punishment as either positive or negative.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Administration of appropriate behavior in children specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Positive punishment is the â€Å"presentation of a stimulus that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior to occur†¦negative punishment is the removal of a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior to occur in future† (Domjan Burkhard, 1982, p.67). In both cases, the punishment works to reduce the likelihood of future occurrence of beh avior. If used appropriately, punishment can eliminate an odd behavior. The only disadvantage is that it takes a great deal of time and energy to implement. Behavior modification by punishment is very complex. Effective punishment administration is very specific in its order of delivery. Delivering punishment in a state of anger may result in violation of the rules of effective punishment administration hence end up with negative results (Domjan, 1996, p.28). Secondly, children learn best from copying their parents’ behaviors. However, children may grow to develop aggressive behaviors to cope up with their problems. Punishment works to eliminate inappropriate behavior but there is no introduction of other appropriate behaviors to replace the inappropriate one. The child ends up replacing an inappropriate behavior with an inappropriate one. By default, the disadvantages of punishment far out do the advantages. Another form of administering the correct behavior is by use of rei nforcement, but it can also be negative or positive. Reinforcement is the â€Å"introduction or removal of a stimulus that increases the occurrence of a certain behavior in future† (Michael, 2005, p. 219). Therefore, parents should dwell on the positive reinforcement; for instance, a parent might decide to take a child out upon completion of a certain task. This way, parents introduce an appropriate behavior to replace the inappropriate one hence parents should embrace it. Parents should embrace reinforcement as its advantages outdo those of punishment. References Chance, P. (2003) Learning and Behavior. Toronto: Thomson-Wadsworth.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Domjan, M. (1996). Essentials of conditioning and learning. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Domjan, M., Burkhard, B. (1982). The principles of learning and behavior. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Michael, J. (2005). Positive and negative reinforcement, a distinction that is no Longer necessary; or a better way to talk about bad things. Journal of  Organizational Behavior Management, 24, 207–222.