1996. The British novelist Fay Weldon offers this observation about happy endings. “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from their readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events – a marriage or a last minute rescue from death – but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” Choose a novel or play that has the kind of ending Weldon describes. In a well-written essay, identify the “spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its significance in the work as a whole.

Wuthering Heights depicts the story of a vengeful man who exists solely to make those closest to him suffer. Heathcliff, a dark and evil character, is stripped of his other half, his true love, Catherine, at the young age of 12, and dedicates the rest of his life to seeking revenge on those who hurt him. At Catherine’s death, Heathcliff goes mad and wishes that her spirit will haunt him on earth. Heathcliff’s insanity and cruel nature stem from his preclusion of marrying Catherine, and her eventual death. In Charlotte Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff’s spiritual reassessment comes at the end of his life, when he finally realizes his love for Catherine is more powerful than his need for vengeance. Heathcliff’s love for Catherine was so passionate that it drove him to absurdity at the event of her death. He was brought into the Earnshaw family as an orphan who had nothing, and so grew up with Catherine playing in the Moors together. Then, at age 12, they were separated and were not allowed to play together again. Heathcliff seemed as a normal boy until this moment, which was the first spark of his devilish ways. Catherine was married to a quiet, mild Edgar Linton, whom she married for wealth