Comparisons

[Sarah's_Chanson]

I don't know if it is just me with my vivid imagination, but I have recently watched the new movie version of the Phantom of the Opera and noticed a lot of similarities between the Phantom and Heathcliff.

They are both passionate men, who is reality their love destroys both of them. In Heathcliff's case it brings to his demise, in the Phantom's the film ends with him being hunted and completely heart-broken.

They are both violent, but cannot physically hurt Catherine/Christine, even if they mentally torment them, and cause them great heart-ache. They also are both determined to gain revenge for the lack of compassion the world has given to them.

All in all, I feel the two characters are extremely different in situation and story, but their personality is similar, in that they by fact are the 'bad guy', but you still feel pity for them and see that despite their cruelty, they're still human.

[mono]

Hello, Sarah's Chanson, welcome to the forum.
I have never noticed this similarity between Heathcliff and the Phantom, but I think I see what you mean - how interesting. Both characters, as you mentioned, seem entirely ruled by their emotions, for better or worse - Heathcliff more by anger and no consideration, obviously.
I suppose it seems very possible that Emily Brontë may have influenced Gaston Leroux, or the screenwriter and/or director. I would actually find it difficult not to feel influenced, while reading Emily Brontë's novel.
Thanks for the interesting thought. :)

[Sarah's_Chanson]

Yeah I was thinking similarily about being influenced. I know that I've been influenced in some of my own stories after reading Wuthering Heights. It takes you to the extremes of human feeling and I personally understood a lot more about love, suffering, grief and passion after reading Wuthering Heights. It wouldn't suprise me that such creative genius' could be inspired by it, if myself as an ignorant, dreamy 14-year old can be!

[Sarah's_Chanson]

Another comparison I've noticed is between Joseph and Malvolio from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. They are both deeply religious people who force their morals on other people. Both of them have a position of authority as a steard/butler and use that position of medium authority to instrict rules and orders on those whom they should view as their superiors.

[mono]

Another comparison I've noticed is between Joseph and Malvolio from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. They are both deeply religious people who force their morals on other people. Both of them have a position of authority as a steard/butler and use that position of medium authority to instrict rules and orders on those whom they should view as their superiors.
Hmmm, another interesting comparison worth considering.
I see the truth in comparing Joseph with Malvolio, as both tend to have very dominating mannerisms in character, but, I think, out of nearly every fiction work, someone must have dominance over others - sometimes aggressively (like Heathcliff, for example), sometimes assertively (Beatrice from Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy comes to mind), and sometimes passively (choose any main character from a D.H. Lawrence novel).
This may seem my theory, which does not disagree with you, Sarah's Chanson, but I think the positions of authority over others appears relative in many works through different means. Joseph and Malvolio, I agree, have very similar means of their authority.

[Sarah's_Chanson]

You're right, positions of authority are evident in many books. The main thing I found interesting in this particular situation is the way that both Joseph and Malvolio are suffering really from dillusions of grandeur!

As servants their place would be beneath the members of the household. Though in WH, Joseph feels it is his right to place himself above Heathcliff and Catherine as children, even though they are part of the household and as such should be their servant.

Malvolio also does similar by placing himself in a position above Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, who as kinsman to his mistress and a guest in the house, both should of been respected by Malvolio.

It's a case really of class, and the way that these two place themselves above those they class as morally beneath them.