Final Answer:
In chapter 4 of Wuthering Heights, the Earnshaws choose to name their new adopted son Heathcliff. Heathcliff's lack of a surname highlights social ambiguity might exist in this name and the fact that Heathcliff does not have a proper surname. Thus the correct option is (d).
Step-by-step explanation:
Heathcliff's name and the absence of a proper surname in Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" serve as powerful symbols that contribute to the exploration of social themes in the novel. The name Heathcliff, associated with the untamed nature of the moors (option a) or the orphan's journey to find identity (option b), does capture certain aspects of his character but falls short of encompassing the broader social commentary embedded in the narrative. Instead, Heathcliff's lack of a surname becomes a poignant symbol of social ambiguity (option d).
In the early 19th-century English society depicted in the novel, one's surname often carried significant weight, indicating lineage, social standing, and legitimacy. Heathcliff's mysterious arrival, lacking a surname, places him outside the established social hierarchy. This absence of a conventional surname underscores his enigmatic origins and raises questions about his social status and legitimacy. Brontë skillfully uses Heathcliff's name, or rather the lack thereof, to emphasize the societal challenges and prejudices faced by individuals whose identities exist on the fringes of accepted norms.
Moreover, Heathcliff's ambiguous social standing becomes a driving force behind the conflicts in "Wuthering Heights." His tumultuous relationships with other characters, such as the Earnshaws and the Lintons, are intricately tied to his undefined social identity. In this way, Brontë employs Heathcliff's name and lack of a surname not merely as literary devices but as profound symbols reflecting the broader societal issues and prejudices prevalent in the world of "Wuthering Heights."