EmilyBronte, an English female writer of superb talent in the nineteenth century,was well known for her only novel Wuthering Heights, which is viewed as one ofthe greatest English literary works. Since its publication in 1847, WutheringHeights has attracted much academic attention, but the research results are alittle monotonous. Most studies have centered upon the powerful love betweenHeathcliff and Catherine, the analysis of the characters and its Gothicfeatures. For a long time, most critics tend to think that Heathcliff is thefocus and the key of the novel, while women of this book are, to some extent,considered insignificant. With the rise of the feminist movement and feministliterary criticism, feminist critics begin to challenge the traditional view byfocusing on the role of women in the novel.

Inthis paper, the author focuses on the female supporting role——IsabellaLinton. The article’s research method is studying the previous literature todig out the theme through Isabella's flaccidity and toughness, so as toappreciate the cultural significance and value of Wuthering Heights. From thebackground of the Victorian age, the feminism and the consciousness of femalesarouses public’s attention. In this perspective, the paper tries to analyze thecharacter’s influence on the themes.

Literature Review

Sincethe first edition of the novel was published, Wuthering Heights has become theobject of literary studies worldwide. People's attitudes towards this novel aretotally different because of their different angels and methods used on the interpretationof Wuthering Heights. Some critics argued that this novel was a strange andfunny book which advocated the cruelty and the morality collapse. Some people thoughtit as the most powerful book which was compared to the Shakespeare's King Lear.In foreign countries, the scholars who made research on Wuthering Heights emergedin a great number since the late 19th century. Many researchers have a deep studyof this novel from the perspectives of the structural studies, narrativestudies, feminism and class struggle. For example, C .P .Sanger in "TheStructure of Wuthering Heights" thought that the structure of this novelwas arranged well by the author: "the extreme care in realizing the agesof the characters at the time of each incident which is described seems to me amore unusual characteristic of a novel."(1921) Woolf believed in"Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights" that Wuthering Heights was morepowerful than Jane Eyre in the aspect of awakening female consciousness,because Charlotte only declared "I love" or "I hate", butEmily declared "we, the hole human race" and "the eternalpowers". (1925) Arnold Kettle made comments from the perspective of classstruggle that: "Catherine and Heathcliff’s love is based on feelings ofthe oppressed class; her marriage with Linton is a betrayal of Heathcliff;while Heathcliff revenges on the oppressors by means of the oppressor."(1951) Q. D. Leavis praised it as a "humanistwork." (Leavis, 1983:138) Margaret Lane regarded it as "a story ofthe author's childhood dream continuing." (Yang,1983:6). Besides, DavidCecil thought: "it was a philosophical explosion ofmysticism."(Yang,1983:6) William Somerset Mangham viewed it as "an explanationof author's seeking for and crying out for freedom." (Yang, 1983: 403) Michael stated that it was a novel of "a place apart in English letters."(Macovski,1987).

Atthe beginning of the Chinese literary criticism. 20^th century,Wuthering Heights has researches mainly focus on the hot topic characters,artistic techniques, themes and images of this novel. In terms of characters,there are numerous research articles that focus on the analysis of the hero,Heathcliff. The related works are Fu Qiang and Shen Liwen in "An Analysisof the Character of Heathcliff——AReading of Emily Bronte's WutheringHeights" analyzes the characters ofHeathcliff in detail. As for its artistic achievements, Zhang Huihui in "AModel of Perfect Combination between Modernism and Romanticism on Artistic Charmof Wuthering Heights" concludes that: "Wuthering Heights was theauthor's experience of the spirit and was the mode of perfect combinationbetween modernism and romanticism." Pu Ruoqian proposes in "WutheringHeights and Gothic Tradition" that Emily Bronte's application of theGothic tradition in "theme interpretation, characterization, plot,structure and environmental description reflect her super imagination incombining realistic elements with surrealistic elements." As for feminism,the related articles are: Wang Liuyuan in "Emily Bronte's FemaleConsciousness in Wuthering Heights—An Analysis of the Character ofCatherine" states that: "Emily Bronte expressed her own femaleconsciousness and rebellion against the patriarchal society by describing the lifeof Catherine." (2007) Li Jianping in "Description of Characters inWuthering Heights——fromthe Perspective of Feminism" proposes that: "The author is eager to getfreedom and equality with men, so that women can be liberated."(2009) JiangJilin and Zhao Liping in "Resisting and Subverting the PatriarchalCulture: Narrative Politics Relating to Wuthering Heights" believes that:"This novel reflects Emily Bronte's resistance to the patriarchal cultureand discourses of the Victorian Age."(2010)

Amongthe researches brought about by scholars both at home and abroad, it seems thatlittle has been touched on the disclosure of the supporting actress, Isabella’scharacteristics towards the themes. Moreover, her flaccidity and toughness hasnever be mentioned under the control of patriarchal society and growth of femaleconsciousness in Wuthering Heights. This paper attempts to focus on thediscussion of this topic.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

Thisnovel is the reflection of women's true living conditions of the Victorian Age.Through her keen perception of living conditions of women, Emily Bronte was awarethat women's status was low and they couldn't enjoy the equal right with men inthe society and family. By analyzing Isabella’s characteristic and hertransformation from an innocent girl to a rebellious woman, the author bravelyput forward her view that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacyof sentiment and requirement of taste were the synonym for women's weakness,which challenged the traditional conception the society imposed on women.Therefore, she created the new women images in her novel Wuthering Heights toencourage women to rebel against the patriarchy to get their financialindependence and enjoy their equality with men in the society and family, whichlays the foundation for the western feminism.

Thearticle’s research method is studying the previous literature. Analyzing thetext of Wuthering Heights, the author aims to explore the dual character ofsupporting actress —— Isabella, and dig out the theme through Isabella'sflaccidity and toughness, so as to appreciate the cultural significance andvalue of Wuthering Heights.