The Daily Aus The ‘Wuthering Heights’ controversies
Feb 19, 2026
A lively unpacking of casting debates over Heathcliff and why his identity sparks heated discussion. A deep dive into a premiere pendant tied to Mughal history and questions about cultural ownership. Connections are drawn between 18th–19th century Liverpool, the transatlantic slave trade, and the Yorkshire moors. The conversation traces how history collides with modern film and fashion moments.
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Historical Setting Shapes Interpretation
- Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 and set on the Yorkshire moors between the 1770s and 1800s.
- That historical setting links the novel to nearby Liverpool and Britain's slave-trading era, shaping scholarly readings of the text.
Textual Clues Suggest Heathcliff's Otherness
- Heathcliff is described with dark skin and ambiguous origins, and he is brought from Liverpool into the Earnshaw household.
- Those textual details support readings that Heathcliff is non-white and that race factors into the novel's social tensions.
Casting Choices And Past Exceptions
- Emerald Fennell cast Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, noting Elordi previously appeared in Saltburn.
- Jacob Elordi is Australian with Basque heritage and is white, like most past Heathcliff actors except James Howson in 2011.
