Remember When

Sitting with some friends, there's a moment of laughter followed by someone saying,"Remember when...?" Past memories are brought up by a simple sentence or action. I had a bit of a "remember when" moment while reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Even though the books are quite different, I couldn't help but be reminded of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. 

I perceived a great symmetry between the situations of Isabella Linton and Lydia Bennet. Both become entranced by a fantasy world that they've concocted which include the men that they believe are the loves of their lives. Isabella dreams of an adventurous life with Heathcliff. Lydia has a more glamorous lifestyle in mind as the wife of Mr.Wickham, the militia officer. Both young ladies run off with the ones that they are infatuated with and that love them in return. At least, that's what the girls blindly believe. They can't see that the men don't actually care for them. Heathcliff marries Isabella to cause great agony to Edgar Linton and to later obtain Thrushcross Grange. Wickham refuses to marry Lydia after they elope unless he receives an annual payment. Neither marriage results in a happily ever after ending. Both girls are shunned by family members. Isabella runs from the terrifying Heathcliff and his almost tangible hatred for her at the first chance she gets. Lydia is stuck having to take care of Wickham after he is paralyzed in an accident. Although Lydia does care for her husband without faltering, there is no doubt that neither girl ended up with the life from their previous dreaming.

All of these similarities were bound in short side stories found inside of much larger tales. Looking through those tales, even more similarities can be found, yet the books as a whole aren't exactly the same. Wuthering Heights can be much darker at times, helped along by Heathcliff and his fury. Pride and Prejudice has a much lighter feel with characters that tend to express any anger or pain in a much more calm fashion.