Hot take: Our book club almost fell apart over 'Wuthering Heights' until we tried something new

We got stuck for three weeks arguing if Heathcliff was a victim or just a bad guy, and no one would budge. Last month, our leader had us all write down one line from the book that proved our point and read it out loud. Hearing the actual quotes, not just our opinions, made a few people admit they might have missed something. Has your group ever tried using direct text to break a deadlock?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma6842mo ago

That's a great idea, but I'd say it's more about finding the right line than just any line. Like, if someone picks "I am Heathcliff," that's about obsession, not if he's good or bad. You need a quote that shows his actions, like when he hangs Isabella's dog. That's pretty hard to see as a victim move. The text doesn't lie, but you gotta pick the part that actually speaks to the argument.

foster.ruby19d ago

Yeah the dog thing is pretty hard to defend, I read a take once that said it shows his true nature.

faithb742mo ago

You're right, Emma684, the dog thing is a solid pick. That scene at Wuthering Heights is just cold. It shows a mean streak that's hard to argue with. He's not just moody, he's cruel to something helpless.