Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is controversial – but Emily Brontë’s classic novel has been shocking people for 178 years

I’ve been seeing so much talk online about Emerald Fennell’s new take on Wuthering Heights, and it’s definitely stirring up a lot of debate! But honestly, it’s kind of amazing—this story has been shocking and fascinating people ever since Emily Brontë first published it way back in 1847. It’s always gotten a reaction!

Miller described the violence as incredibly graphic, almost to the point of being unbelievable. He believes accurately portraying it on screen would require a highly stylized, cartoonish approach similar to the work of Quentin Tarantino.

If you showed a scene of an adult repeatedly and aggressively rubbing a child’s wrist against broken glass until it bled, audiences would immediately leave the theater.

The 2026 movie – out in cinemas today – retains an element of that shock factor.

According to O’Callaghan, who collaborates with the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the current focus on sex in the film and the resulting debate mirrors the uproar that greeted the original publication of Emily Brontë’s book.

It’s not surprising this is causing a strong reaction – it mirrors how the work was first received and highlights how much our culture has evolved.

This highlights how our ideas of what’s shocking or suggestive really vary. However, it’s a misunderstanding to think Emily Brontë’s novel lacks sensual undertones – it absolutely has them.

The book contains scenes that are intentionally suggestive and can’t be ignored, even though they’re not explicitly stated. The author uses the writing style common in the Victorian era to hint at a deep and intimate connection between the characters. This was a typical way Victorians addressed themes of sexuality, desire, and eroticism in their writing.

She mentioned a famous old review that said people should read Jane Eyre and then destroy Wuthering Heights. She pointed out that no one is suggesting anyone destroy Emerald Fennell’s movie in the same way.

First reaction to Wuthering Heights

When Wuthering Heights was published, reviewers were shocked by the violence.

According to Brontë biographer Barker, a key element of the novel is its lack of morality. She points to the frequent, thoughtless violence and cruelty, like Heathcliff’s pointless trapping of a lapwing, as examples.

He demonstrates a disturbing pattern of thoughtless cruelty, like when he harms Isabella’s dog and in how he treats her during their marriage. It’s shocking because the cruelty is so commonplace and harsh.

The novel also shows a pattern of pointless cruelty, particularly in how Hindley Earnshaw mistreats Heathcliff. Critics at the time were shocked by this violence. One review in The Atlas from January 22, 1848, went so far as to say that every character in the book is either deeply unlikeable or completely deserving of scorn.

As a critic, I’ve been digging through some old reviews, and one from Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper back in 1848 really struck me. They weren’t pulling any punches – the writer described being genuinely horrified, even physically sickened, by the sheer brutality, inhumanity, and vengeful hatred on display. It’s a strong reaction, but it paints a pretty vivid picture of just how shocking this work must have been at the time.

Wuthering Heights continues to spark debate, and as O’Callaghan noted, it’s still considered a remarkably challenging book.

Miller explained that Wuthering Heights was initially shocking to critics in 1847, and continues to be so today. However, this isn’t due to explicit sexual content – in fact, there is none. He pointed out that while the novel doesn’t depict sex, it’s implied that relationships exist that lead to the characters’ births.

Reaction to Emily Brontë’s secret

A surprising discovery about Wuthering Heights was learning that it was actually written by a woman.

According to Barker, the Brontë sisters’ use of male pen names sparked debate and judgment about both who wrote the novels and their moral character. The idea that a woman could have written them was considered even more shocking than if the author had been a rough or unrefined man.

Miller observed that criticism of Wuthering Heights became significantly more severe after people learned the author was a woman.

Some people even thought Emily Brontë’s brother, Branwell, actually wrote Wuthering Heights, believing a woman couldn’t have created such a powerfully passionate and obsessive story.

According to Barker, some of Branwell Brontë’s friends later claimed he’d shared a novel excerpt with them, and they believed it was Wuthering Heights. However, it was probably just the start of a story with a similar setting that Branwell began but never completed.

People who doubted a woman could have written the book quickly used this as evidence, and it gained a lot of attention.

She explained that people are always curious about Heathcliff’s origins and whether Emily Brontë based him on a real romance. However, she emphasized that Brontë didn’t have a passionate love life, and this story isn’t about one either.

Victorians were particularly surprised to learn who Brontë was because she came from a religious family – her father was a clergyman.

I was reading about the Bell brothers, and it was crazy to find out they weren’t brothers at all! They were actually women – and not just any women, but the daughters of a minister! It totally shocked people back in Victorian times, apparently.

When people found out Emily was a woman, it raised questions about why a young woman, especially the daughter of a minister, would write such daring material. What was particularly surprising was that her writing didn’t seem to have any hidden moral message.

The Oscar-nominated 1939 Wuthering Heights film influence

Since its very first film adaptation—a silent movie made in 1920 that unfortunately no longer exists—Wuthering Heights has captivated viewers.

According to O’Callaghan, the very first movie adaptation of the story was advertised as Emily Brontë’s intense tale of hatred, and it was a silent film.

Over time, especially in Hollywood, there’s been a growing tendency to emphasize the romantic and emotional parts of stories. We’re seeing this again now with interpretations of ‘Wuthering Heights,’ where the connection between Catherine and Heathcliff is often presented primarily as a love story.

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Laurence Olivier’s 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which received an Oscar nomination, is often credited with shaping the popular understanding of the novel as a purely tragic love story. According to critic John Barker, this film is where that interpretation really began.

What’s striking about the Laurence Olivier adaptation of Wuthering Heights is how it transforms Heathcliff into a romantic hero, ultimately making the story a classic romance.

The movie adaptation completely changes the story, turning what isn’t a tragedy into one. That film’s release was a turning point. I remember reading someone describe the book’s Heathcliff as an almost perfect, heroic figure.

“He goes away, he comes back and he’s a wealthy man. And that’s the American story.”

She explained that adapting the book for the screen was challenging. It requires a strong internal understanding because some parts are so dramatic they could easily seem silly if not handled carefully.

That’s why I believe the 1939 film version was toned down. Many consider the story a romance, but it’s actually about intense, damaging desire and the consequences when that desire gets out of control.

Wuthering Heights has been adapted for both film and stage numerous times, with Andrea Arnold’s 2011 movie being one example.

Miller contrasted the new film with Arnold’s take, describing it as a stark departure. He explained that the blockbuster is realistic and somber, intentionally avoiding glamorous effects like makeup or a traditional musical score.

Shooting with candlelight and a handheld camera creates a good effect. However, just because one approach works doesn’t guarantee another will, and no single filming style can fully capture the essence of Wuthering Heights.

Wuthering Heights now

Many adaptations of ‘Jane Eyre’, including the versions starring Arnold in 2011, Timothy Dalton in the 1970s, and Olivier’s Oscar-nominated film, leave out the latter part of the novel. Emerald Fennell’s adaptation does the same, and this decision has often disappointed fans of Charlotte Brontë.

Barker explained that the story doesn’t logically follow without understanding the importance of the next generation. He believes their growth and learning – specifically Cathy’s teaching of Hareton, who suffered a similar harsh upbringing to Heathcliff – represents the story’s ultimate resolution and offers hope for the future.

She teaches him to read, and that’s ultimately how their story concludes. He shows his gratitude by creating a garden for her at Wuthering Heights, and those final chapters are filled with a feeling of hope and forgiveness.

Almost two centuries after Emily Brontë’s novel came out, director Fennell’s new version of Wuthering Heights might be the most talked-about adaptation yet, due to her daring choices as a filmmaker.

The 5 most scandalous novels of all time

Claire O’Callaghan unearths the five most scandalous books in history:

Radclyffe Hall’s 1928 novel, The Well of Loneliness, faced a court case over its depiction of lesbian relationships and was ultimately banned as a result.

D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928) is well-known for being at the center of a scandalous obscenity trial, largely due to its frank depictions of sexual intimacy.

Gustave Flaubert’s novel, Madame Bovary (1856), caused a scandal when it was first published. Critics accused it of being immoral and disrespectful to religion due to its portrayal of an adulterous affair.

Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre (1847) caused controversy when it was first published. Critics claimed it encouraged defiance and went against Christian values, largely due to its depiction of independent children, a governess’s romantic feelings for her boss, the secret of a wife locked away, and a near-marriage to a woman who was already married.

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1847) was scandalous to Victorian readers. Its themes of rebellious behavior, intense violence, challenges to social norms, and overwhelming passion were considered shocking for the time.

Authors

Lily Waddell

2026-02-15 13:37