Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Nineteenth-century British author Emily Bronte makes nearly fifty references to the number three in her only novel, “Wuthering Heights.” With such an overwhelming use of this specific number, it seems unlikely that Bronte used it merely by coincidence. Forty-seven instances where the number three is used are in reference to lengths of time, while other references indicate numbers of particular items or characters. It is of interest that the number three is a highly significant religious number. Since Emily Bronte was raised in a religious household, by a father who was a pastor and by an extremely religious aunt, the spiritual significance of three is the best answer to the question of why Bronte would have reflected upon and chosen to use this one number almost exclusively in “Wuthering Heights.” This research offers a brief look at some of the meanings, spiritual and otherwise, upon which Emily Bronte may have reflected as she wrote and how these are apparent in her abundant use of the number three.