Windward Heights Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

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Hubert Gagneur (Symbol of love)

The author depicts Hubert Gagneur as a symbol of true love. Gagneur adopts a black orphan called Razye and loves him as his biological child. Gagneur gives Razye all the privileges that his children enjoy. Therefore, Gagneur represents true affection to humanity regardless of race, ethnicity and culture.

Razye (symbol of hidden fortune)

At first, the author presents Razye as a suffering boy who is orphaned. Gagneur brings the boy to his home and gives him a good life. Unfortunately, things take a drastic turn when Gagneur dies. After the death of Gagneur, the eldest son, Justin, inherits the estate and deprives Razye of all the privileges he enjoyed before. Sadly, Catherine's love for Razye dies when he becomes a poor person again, and she opts to marry a rich white man. Razye decides to leave and go to Cuba for a period of three. While in Cuba, Razye lands an opportunity and becomes very rich. After returning to I'Engoulvent estate, he takes it after defeating Justin in a game of cards. Lastly, the boy initially presented as a poor child without parents emerges as the richest man in the entire neighborhood.

The marriage between Catherine and the Rich Planter

The marriage between Catherine and the rich planter symbolizes lust for wealth. The love between Catherine and the planter is not based on true love but materialism. Catherine's true love is Razye, but she dumps him because he is reduced to a servant. The author is categorical and demonstrates that marriage based on materialism ends up in misery and suffering.

I’Engoulvent estate

I'Engoulvent estate symbolizes a battlefield for supremacy between Justin and Razye. Justin waited patiently for an opportunity to take everything away from Razye. Before the death of Gagneur, Razye enjoyed all the privileges in I'Engoulvent estate. Unfortunately, Razye lost everything after his adoptive father died. Justin took everything and reduced Razye to a beggar. Razye decided to leave after losing everything, but he promised himself that he would regain his rightful place in the estate. After three years, Razye returned from Cuba and engaged Justin in the game of cards, where Justin lost the entire estate to him. Consequently, the estate stands out like a battlefield for supremacy between Razye and Justin.

Catherine’s death

Catherine's death epitomizes a bad ending for Razye. Razye deeply loved Catherine even if she got married to a rich planter. However, Razye married Catherine's sister-in-law to make Cathy jealousy. Unfortunately, Catherine could not put up with the humiliation, and she suffered an illness that killed her within a short time. Upon realizing that Catherine is dead, Razye felt empty despite all the riches he had accumulated. Razye commanded the spirit of Catherine to haunt him till death. Therefore, Razye never lived happily after the death of Catherine.

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