‘In the literature of love, separation intensifies feelings of love.’ - In the light of this view compare
how the authors of two texts you have studied present the effects of separation.
In the literature of love, generally, separation is shown to intensify feelings of love – however this is
often from a male perspective, this can be seen by examining the male speakers’ in Wyatt’s ‘Who So
List’ and Dowson’s ‘Non Sum Qualis’, and by contrasting gender perspectives in Brontë’s ‘Wuthering
Heights.’ Even allowing for the evolution of the literature of love through different historical contexts,
I would suggest that gender plays a crucial role into the effects of separation in a relationship.
Initially, in Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights,’ separation is presented as an intensifier of love and inspires
rebellion in both Cathy and Heathcliff. When the two characters are children, Nelly states ‘She was
much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep her
separate from him,’ yet this only inspired a deeper desire to be together. However, as the novel
progresses, we realise the growing pressure Cathy, as a young woman in early Victorian society, is
under. She is in a particularly vulnerable position, in an incredibly isolated community, with no
financial independence and a shaky social standing, marriage is the only tool at her disposal, to
improve her circumstances. Therefore, when Heathcliff later leaves for three years, a ‘return of
sunshine’ and a ‘deep and growing happiness’ becomes present within Cathy and Linton’s
relationship. I would argue that in order to be not only emotionally, but also financially and socially
stable, Cathy had to learn to be content with separation. Arguably, time separated had a healing
effect, and gave passion the chance to cool down.
It is only when Heathcliff returns, that Cathy’s wildness and passion intensifies, yet I would contend
that this should not be confused with feelings of love. She cries ‘I will die’ and is presented as savage
and out of control: ‘she tore the pillow with her teeth.’ Linton states that Heathcliff’s ‘presence is a
moral poison,’ perhaps suggesting that it is his presence, not absence, that is the intensifier. ‘Poison’
conjures imagery of Heathcliff contaminating any peace and positive feelings Cathy had. In fact,
Cathy wishes for separation, ‘let me alone. Let me alone…’ she cries, ‘If I've done wrong, I'm dying for
it. It is enough! You left me!’ Brontë presents a sense of injustice in Cathy’s fate, Heathcliff’s long,
silent, absence is a choice. This separation allowed Brontë to show the contentment and peace
available to a woman in a stable and socially acceptable marriage. It is only after that Heathcliff
chooses to return. I would assert that Heathcliff uses separation as a weapon against Cathy, and it is
merely Cathy’s feelings of pain and sorrow that intensify as a result.
I would therefore partially agree with the Marxist critic Terry Eagleton’s 1975 contention that Cathy
had no choice but to marry Edgar in a ‘bourgeois society’ as she would have ‘no opportunity for
freedom’ aside from marriage. However, I would question that it was ‘an act of bad faith’, more a
practical approach taken by a young woman who did not share the male view that separation
somehow made love more valuable.
Continuing this theme, we can see how separation is often shown to intensify feelings of love for
men. History shows us that, men have generally had the privilege of financial independence, legal
protection and higher social standing, meaning they can let separation intensify their love, instead of
having to calm their feelings in order to cope. For example, in Dowson’s poem ‘Non Sum Qualis’ the
male speaker consistently repeats how he felt ‘desolate’ and ‘sick of an old passion,’ showing that
separation has not dulled his feelings, he cannot rid himself of feelings of love, and suggests that
separation painfully intensifies them. The constant repetition of the adjective ‘desolate’ creates a
strong sense of absolute lifelessness, that he cannot cope without his love. Separation is unbearable
for him. In ‘Non Sum Qualis’, each line has twelve syllables, emphasising the melancholic ebb and
flow to his feelings. Despite the unbearable separation, he cannot stop loving her.
how the authors of two texts you have studied present the effects of separation.
In the literature of love, generally, separation is shown to intensify feelings of love – however this is
often from a male perspective, this can be seen by examining the male speakers’ in Wyatt’s ‘Who So
List’ and Dowson’s ‘Non Sum Qualis’, and by contrasting gender perspectives in Brontë’s ‘Wuthering
Heights.’ Even allowing for the evolution of the literature of love through different historical contexts,
I would suggest that gender plays a crucial role into the effects of separation in a relationship.
Initially, in Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights,’ separation is presented as an intensifier of love and inspires
rebellion in both Cathy and Heathcliff. When the two characters are children, Nelly states ‘She was
much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep her
separate from him,’ yet this only inspired a deeper desire to be together. However, as the novel
progresses, we realise the growing pressure Cathy, as a young woman in early Victorian society, is
under. She is in a particularly vulnerable position, in an incredibly isolated community, with no
financial independence and a shaky social standing, marriage is the only tool at her disposal, to
improve her circumstances. Therefore, when Heathcliff later leaves for three years, a ‘return of
sunshine’ and a ‘deep and growing happiness’ becomes present within Cathy and Linton’s
relationship. I would argue that in order to be not only emotionally, but also financially and socially
stable, Cathy had to learn to be content with separation. Arguably, time separated had a healing
effect, and gave passion the chance to cool down.
It is only when Heathcliff returns, that Cathy’s wildness and passion intensifies, yet I would contend
that this should not be confused with feelings of love. She cries ‘I will die’ and is presented as savage
and out of control: ‘she tore the pillow with her teeth.’ Linton states that Heathcliff’s ‘presence is a
moral poison,’ perhaps suggesting that it is his presence, not absence, that is the intensifier. ‘Poison’
conjures imagery of Heathcliff contaminating any peace and positive feelings Cathy had. In fact,
Cathy wishes for separation, ‘let me alone. Let me alone…’ she cries, ‘If I've done wrong, I'm dying for
it. It is enough! You left me!’ Brontë presents a sense of injustice in Cathy’s fate, Heathcliff’s long,
silent, absence is a choice. This separation allowed Brontë to show the contentment and peace
available to a woman in a stable and socially acceptable marriage. It is only after that Heathcliff
chooses to return. I would assert that Heathcliff uses separation as a weapon against Cathy, and it is
merely Cathy’s feelings of pain and sorrow that intensify as a result.
I would therefore partially agree with the Marxist critic Terry Eagleton’s 1975 contention that Cathy
had no choice but to marry Edgar in a ‘bourgeois society’ as she would have ‘no opportunity for
freedom’ aside from marriage. However, I would question that it was ‘an act of bad faith’, more a
practical approach taken by a young woman who did not share the male view that separation
somehow made love more valuable.
Continuing this theme, we can see how separation is often shown to intensify feelings of love for
men. History shows us that, men have generally had the privilege of financial independence, legal
protection and higher social standing, meaning they can let separation intensify their love, instead of
having to calm their feelings in order to cope. For example, in Dowson’s poem ‘Non Sum Qualis’ the
male speaker consistently repeats how he felt ‘desolate’ and ‘sick of an old passion,’ showing that
separation has not dulled his feelings, he cannot rid himself of feelings of love, and suggests that
separation painfully intensifies them. The constant repetition of the adjective ‘desolate’ creates a
strong sense of absolute lifelessness, that he cannot cope without his love. Separation is unbearable
for him. In ‘Non Sum Qualis’, each line has twelve syllables, emphasising the melancholic ebb and
flow to his feelings. Despite the unbearable separation, he cannot stop loving her.
