Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights is set in the Yorkshire moors in the 19^th century. Social class is really evident through her use of setting as the vast differences between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange really show the vast contrast in classes. Thrushcross Grange is a haven of respect, civility and order. As the middle class, the Earnshaws and Lintons lived comfortably with servants, a big estate and plenty of land. Catherine’s decides to marry Edgar so she will be “the greatest woman of the neighbourhood” We see the luxurious life education provides whilst Wuthering Heights is a centre of chaos, ignorance and neglect.

The Yorkshire moors helps to develop the theme of setting as you get the impression as the characters walk over the hill they enter a parallel world. On one side is the calm, educated Thrushcross Grange where everyone gets along and is generally happy. When you step over the hill to Wuthering Heights, it’s like you step into a different world of neglect, anger and commotion where the likes of Heathcliff, Zillah and Joseph are neither welcoming nor happy. It also symbolises Heathcliff and Catherine’s love as this is where they played together as children, and also the dips and hills in the moors represent their relationship; there’s the good, happy memories and then the sad times of being forced apart.

The use of ghosts in Wuthering Heights is a way of bringing the living and dead together and showing that Catherine and Heathcliff were actually destined for each other as towards the end of Heath cliff’s life he becomes blissfully happy as he begins to connect with Catherine in another world. They portray the way that the past never really leaves the present and that memories help to determine outcomes and reminiscences are forever.