Reading roundup of catching up

[hamsterwoman]

I haven't done a reading roundup in so long, and I think it's because I hit a patch where I don't want to talk about books at proper length, with quotes and stuff -- this happens to me occasionally. So, an abridged version, but I'm happy to talk about any of these with you in more detail -- more than happy!

35. D.M.Cornish, Factotum -- This is

Comments

[mezzogiorno]

I think am one of the only people I know who loves Wuthering Heights, and we've talked about this. I would defend the stance that Heathcliff is a Byronic hero, but people place far too much weight on the word Romantic under its little r meaning. But he is most certainly a Byronic hero - vengeful, self-loathing, miserable, but capable of intense love, a love that he disdains in himself. He's absolutely hateful, all brought about by this ridiculous passion, and I think that's the Romantic part. But certainly not romantic. I still love Heathcliff, as a villain, in the same way I like twisted people in books but would never actually want that fantasy realised. It's the desire to place yourself as Catherine, or a character that he would be suddenly different with, while you know in your mind that it wouldn't be different with you

[sephystabbity]

Ooh, this is an interesting way of thinking about it. I can buy Heathcliff as a Romantic with a capital R hero.

[_grayswandir_]

Yes! I was just going to say pretty much the same thing. I love Heathcliff because he's just such a great bad character (and, yes, definitely Romantic in the capital-R sense). I do also find Heathcliff sympathetic somehow, though, in that inexplicable way that it's possible to find fictional people sympathetic even if you know you would loathe them in real life. I guess it's just because they're so damned interesting.

And, hey, the Romantics decided Satan was interesting and sympathetic, so what else can you expect from a Byronic hero, anyway? ;)

[hamsterwoman]

And, hey, the Romantics decided Satan was interesting and sympathetic, so what else can you expect from a Byronic hero, anyway? ;)

See, I find Satan a hell of a lot more sympathetic than Heathcliff. I think it has to do with -- I'll just quote from my response to rougebaiserI do see a lot of the big-R Romantic aspects in his character, but he almost feels like a deconstruction of that to me. I think the distinguishing factor for me is that Romantics had something grander they were trying to be a part of -- ~fight for freedom, artistic ideals, religious vision (in the case of Blake, anyway) -- while with Heathcliff all of his passion and disdain is in service of a selfish and petty goal. It's not even *rightful* revenge -- I could actually forgive him Hindley, the only person he has a legitimate grudge against -- it's just... ugh

[hamsterwoman]

I would defend the stance that Heathcliff is a Byronic hero, but people place far too much weight on the word Romantic under its little r meaning. But he is most certainly a Byronic hero - vengeful, self-loathing, miserable, but capable of intense love, a love that he disdains in himself

Hm... I guess he does fit (most of) the traits of a Byronic hero, in the villain mode. I'm not sure I would call what he feels for Cathy "deep affection/devotion", as it feels way more pathological than that, but it's certainly intense somethingI do see a lot of the big-R Romantic aspects in his character, but he almost feels like a deconstruction of that to me. I think the distinguishing factor for me is that Romantics had something grander they were trying to be a part of -- ~fight for freedom, artistic ideals, religious vision (in the case of Blake, anyway) -- while with Heathcliff all of his passion and disdain is in service of a selfish and petty goal. It's not even *rightful* revenge -- I could actually forgive him Hindley, the only person he