Social Class Blog

Julie Zook

Mrs. Burnett

12 AP English

31 October 2011

Social Class

            Everyone wants to agree that people are treated equally but they know that it is not how the real world works.  Individuals are separated and put into groups based on different factors about them.  Even though I think it is unfair, everyone is discriminated against by other people who either know or are unaware they are doing it.  Question 27 in the Socratic Seminar for Wuthering Heights deals with social class and its affect.  I think the novel is a great example of the social class back then and in the present time.  Throughout Wuthering Heights, the characters are separated by their place in society.  The decisions of the characters are influenced because of this.  None of the characters are able to do what they want since they are held back.  They are taught to act the way their social class believes is appropriate.  Heathcliff is a character who is treated badly because he is considered as the lower class.  Everyone treats him like he is just a servant.  Catherine’s relationship with Heathcliff starts out well by becoming the best of friends while living together at Wuthering Heights.  Catherine didn’t care what her brother thought about him so they were always together.  Later, their relationship declined when Catherine went to the Thrushcross Grange and learned how to behave like a real lady.  Catherine began to act differently toward Heathcliff since she knows she is superior to him.  She decides to marry Edgar for social advancement even though she loves Heathcliff.  Catherine decides to be friends with Heathcliff when he gets higher up in society by gaining money.  The social class in the novel is just like today’s social class.  Just like Wuthering Heights, some people will marry only because their mate is considered higher than themselves.  They think they will live a better life with someone whom they can use rather than someone they love.  Some students will pick their friends because they think they are on the same social rank.  Not many people associate with friends that are way above or way below them.  In conclusion, the social class has an impact in the novel and it has the same affect in today’s society.