Observation

This question requires the candidates to discuss the treatment of the theme of love in the novel.

Candidates were expected to discuss the following:

• Statement of the theme of love.

• Love for material advantage: class-oriented love between Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar Linton is love on an even keel. Also, sickly Linton Jnr. is Cathy’s match materially.
• Love for emotional advantage: the love between Isabella and Heathcliff is based on the infatuation of Isabella for Heathcliff; Heathcliff capitalizes on it to get his own back on the social class that snubs him; Hareton’s love for Cathy is forced but subdued romance.
• Implication of love as presented in the novel: the stifling of Heathcliff’s love for Catherine only triggers vengeance and destruction in the family; the love between Isabella and Heathcliff portrays the theme of unrequited love; Catherine too never returns Edgar’s love; Impediments to love are unpredictable.
• The force and nature of the love expressed in each relationship are varied. The intensity of love in certain cases brings about the ruin of the characters.

Candidates performed well.