Fire Schiano. Fire Heathcliff.

Wuthering Heights is an epitome of classical ideals and antiheros. With Heathcliff at the forefront of the story, we, as readers, can’t help but natural sympathize with Heathcliff, yet we concurrently condemn him. Why is this? Let us review. Heathcliff has vowed for revenge against Edgar Linton and Hindley. After eloping with Isabella, Heathcliff returns a broken, cruel man: constantly abusing his son Linton, purposefully denying Hareton of a life of privilege and education, and oppressing both Ms. Dean and Catherine. Although we sympathize with Heathcliff’s behavior driven by love and loss, we cannot overlook his staunch revenge: “I’m trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!” (pp. 48).

Coincidentally enough, a feature has appeared in the world of sports that parallels the readers’ attitudes towards Heathcliff at this point in the story.

“Fire Schiano” has become a popular phrase around the Florida region, referring to Tampa Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano. Recently, a local radio station in Tampa even bought a billboard “calling for the coach’s ouster.” In order to connect Schiano with Heathcliff, we must first analyze the origins of this venom towards Coach Schiano. First off, the Bucs are winless in their first six games and have lost almost all of their past 12 games. Like the Heathcliff’s situation in Wuthering Heights, Schiano had gone through a “messy breakup” with the head of the team (or household), quarterback Josh Freeman. An unreasonable coach, Schiano benched this significant figure on the team for three games. Although he later released Freeman, many question Schiano’s decision-making process regarding this matter.

As mentioned before, Schiano benched the head of the team. Likewise, can we not say that Heathcliff essentially “benched” the head of the household? In chapters 27 and 28, we are exposed to the devastation inflictions that Heathcliff imposes on Nelly Dean, the head of the Linton household – even locking (benching) her in a room at Wuthering Heights. These travesties certainly parallel each other, specifically in terms of audience response. After uncovering these events in the story, I felt strong disdain towards Heathcliff. Although before I had condoned his flaws due to his tragedies with Catherine, I simply now cannot stand him. BOOOOOOOOOOO Heathcliff. Recently, Schiano was also booed after leaving the field with a 31-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

I do know one thing’s for sure. I would not want either Heathcliff or Schiano on my team.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9872198/fire-schiano-billboard-appears-tampa-bay-buccaneers-winless