Strong emotions differ in both ‘Phaedra’s Love’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’, for example through the way central relationships are displayed. Even though the periods the texts were written span across 100 years, strong emotions cleverly present characters thoughts and feelings. In both texts, the strong emotions revolving around the central relationships, vital to the plots, show the indifference in how their feelings vary from one another. For example, Catherine's conventional emotions toward the superficial Edgar Linton contrast with the profound love she has for Heathcliff, of whom she wishes “never to be parted” from. This suggests a deep attachment she has to him, which she never wishes to lose. On the other hand, Phaedra proposes “There’s a thing between us, an awesome fucking thing, can you feel it? It burns.” However, Kane illustrates the fact that Hippolytus does not “feel it”; he is physically and emotionally unchanged, specified in “feel”. As well as creating a sense of shock in the audience, Kane represents unrequited emotions. As well, the fast-paced language becomes more graphic as the play endures, as seen in “Die, scum”, highlighting how the language of the play acts a vehicle in representing strong emotions of the characters well, even if it is in the form of a play whereby language is usually minimal and to the point.
Strong emotions are presented in ‘Phaedra’s Love’; the most interesting being the contrast of Phaedras’s strong emotions that are adoration and desire for Hippolytus, and his indifference and dislike towards her. This can be seen in: Phaedra: ‘I love you’; Hippolytus: ‘No’; Phaedra: ‘So much’; Hippolytus: ‘Don’t even know me’. This contact between them reveals a strong desire Phaedra has for Hippolytus, as suggested in the word “love” which is not reciprocated. Kane presents the chilling nature of despaired, obsessive love. During Chapter 9 of ‘Wuthering Heights’, Catherine talks with Ellen and reveals that she has accepted an offer of marriage from Edgar; saying that she couldn't marry Heathcliff because he is too poor, but in actuality; her heart belongs to him. “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff” exemplifies Bronte’s portrayal of strong emotions based on her self-interest, rather than sincerity, which is suggested in Bronte using the word “degrade” particularly, implying a sense of shame and humiliation which is ironic as it is irrational and harsh when referring to someone you love deeply.
Another way strong emotions are presented in ‘Phaedra’s Love’ is through Hippolytus being described as a “heartless bastard” several times. Audiences are repulsed by his savage response to everything, but desire to understand him, highlighting a way in how Kane reinforces a reaction from the audience through the strong emotion characterizing him as so “heartless”. He states, “If there is a God, I’d like to look him in the face knowing I’d died as I’ve lived in conscious sin”. Here, Kane portrays him as an openly immoral character with a shocking attitude. “Sin” draws attention to what Kane, perhaps, is remarking on; that is how strong emotions are influenced by dishonour and shame of our culture. In comparison, readers can see how the relation between Catherine and Heathcliff goes beyond a strong emotion that is desire, and becomes one of unity suggested in “I am Heathcliff!” This statement is an epitome of strong emotion, describing the destructiveness of a love that refutes dissimilarity. Also, her irrationality and confliction in her emotions disappear in this forceful statement; Bronte portrays her as more assure of herself, even when strong emotions cause her to think and say illogical things. In a parallel way, a comparable strong emotion of a mutual love is presented in ‘The Anniversary’. John Donne claims the only thing not subject to “decay” is the love that he and the object of his affections share, suggesting love surpasses nature. The presentation of love reinforces their passion has “no tomorrow hath, nor yesterday” and is therefore timeless, beyond the reach of mortality. These strong emotions reinforce how they can take over us, uncontrollably.
Within ‘Wuthering Heights’, Bronte vividly represents of an array of strong emotions, such as romanticism, a key concept explored in the Romantic Era of the late eighteenth century, when this novel was written. Perhaps Bronte wanted to idealize the lovers, Cathy and Heathcliff as romantic heroes, whose love exceeds social norms, further indicating the strong emotion that is passion is central to the novel. Romanticism in the novel is shown through Cathy’s discomfort in happiness with Heathcliff. She admits to Nelly that she knows she does not belong with Linton, yet she was willing to marry him for his class and money. Moreover, strong emotions based on the enduring love between Gatsby and Daisy in ‘The Great Gatsby’ are evident as Gatsby devotes Daisy with an unrealistic perfection that she cannot possibly attain in reality and pursues her with a passion that blinds him. This is evident from Fitzgerald describing how he is “consumed with wonder at her presence”. However, his dream of her crumbles, revealing the corruption that wealth can cause, due to overpowering, strong emotion similar to the way Fitzgerald sees the American dream collapsing during the 1920s.
M Chacko
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