Preview

How Does Heathcliff's Relationship Develop Throughout The Novel

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
460 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Heathcliff's Relationship Develop Throughout The Novel
The classic Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, is a story about two lovers, Catherine and Heathcliff. Emily Brontë, the author, portrays the relationship of these two as a conflict that will develop throughout the whole story. Step by step we see how their relationship develops in a positive or maybe a negative way. Heathcliff is an adopted child and the protagonist of the story as well. On the other hand, Catherine is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw and the stepsister of Heathcliff. These two characters deal with each other in the passage taken from chapter 7 of the story. We can infer that Heathcliff is younger than Catherine and that his matureness hasn't been well developed.Additionally, he is an adopted kid and he is not carnally …show more content…
Maybe her pureness repulses him. When Catherine says that he is “so dirty,” we see that Catherine is picky when it comes to hygiene, and this is something that Heathcliff dislikes about her. The fact that Catherine is laughing at him, telling him what to do, comparing him to Edgar will make him fight more against her and her principles. Moreover, them living in the same dwelling causes more problems between them two. Just like in any other family with opposite sex siblings. Throughout the passage we see that Heathcliff is a rebel and he rebels against his sister Catherine who will later become his lover. The dictation in between Catherine and Heathcliff also reveals a lot of information, specially the age. The way that Catherine speaks is more advanced and mannered and that of Heathcliff. In lines 95-96, “I shall be as dirty as I please, and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty,” we see that Heathcliff is talking like a little kid. He is not mature enough to realize that his sister is right about his condition, but that is something that every kid goes through. Every little kid loves to get dirty and have a little bit of fun. But this is something that was take away from

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Module two lab questions

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Cloth frames that matched a pair of Crippen’s pajamas the remains have a rare poison which Crippen was known to have in his possession.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Wuthering Heights contained many themes throughout the book. However, there are some that were more prominent. Revenge and social classes surround the novel. It shows how the two main characters, Heathcliff and Catherine, were brought together and had this strong connection between them, but the division of society separated them from happiness. Revenge acts like a stimulus for Heathcliff throughout the plotline and builds up the story so it is not some let down love story.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Heathcliff is a prime example of a character with a “diseased mind” that causes him suffering. He spends the majority of his life contemplating and acting out revenge towards Hindley and the Lintons because he believes it was their fault Catherine thought it would “degrade” her to marry Heathcliff, even though she loved him; this is one example of his unstable mind set. In chapter 9 Nelly foreshadows the suffering of Heathcliff by saying “if you [Catherine] are his choice, he’ll be the most unfortunate creature,” this is because Nelly understands that society wouldn’t accept the pair to marry, therefore Heathcliff will be unfortunately heartbroken. Heathcliff believes that Catherine is a part of him: “I cannot live without my soul,” he says which highlights that he is suffering without her. It is from this heartbreak and suffering that his “diseased mind” commenced. Heathcliff’s “diseased mind” heightens when he asks for Catherine to “haunt” him when she is dead; haunting is an element of the Gothic genre but the madness of Heathcliff is enhanced when he requests that Catherine drives him “mad.” The word “mad” is ambiguous in this quotation because it could be viewed that Heathcliff wants to be haunted until he is angry with Catherine so he can destroy his love for her. An alternative view is that Heathcliff wants to be haunted until he is insane and suffering since he is desperate to see Catherine, this becomes true because after Catherine’s death Heathcliff’s mind is haunted by his love for her. Jerold E. Hogle explains this is accurate because characters in Gothic novels are “haunted psychologically” and this is accurately shown through the…

    • 646 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    'The theme of childhood, voiced by the elder Cathy on her deathbed, is continued in the main action of the second half of the book [.. .] in one way or another childhood is in fact the central theme of Emily Bronte's writing'.' This time in Catherine's life, which is unquestionably associated with Heathcliff's appearance in her house and the strong feelings the boy then arouses in her, is, indeed, described at length by the narrator Nelly, as it will determine the following events in the novel. Catherine's dreams of happiness are associated with childhood all through her life, and even on her death-bed she still looks like a child in Nelly's eyes: 'She drew a sigh, and stretched herself, like a child reviving, and sinking again to sleep and five minutes after I felt one little pulse at her heart, and nothing more!''.Finally it is the ghost of a child that visits Lockwood, the newcomer and second narrator in the novel. Until she dies at the age of nineteen, Catherine clings in a passionate way to her childhood memories. The most revealing passage is the scene which takes place after Heathcliff has returned from a long absence and has just quarrelled with Catherine's husband, Edgar Linton. This scene, in which she raves, is significant as it echoes the childhood scenes in which she suffered from being separated from Heathcliff. Her memories have actually never stopped cropping up in an insistent way and she now…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the opening three chapters of Emily Bronte's novel 'Wuthering Heights' the reader is given contrasting views and opinions on Heathcliffe with his description and personality. Bronte reflects Wuthering Heights off Heathcliffes personality making them seem very similar in the first few chapters.…

    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the time of Heathcliff and Catherine's journey through turmoil many things were said. Often when you are in a fit of rage or a time of passion you say things and some are meant and others are not.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chapters 9 and 10 see Catherine Earnshaw confess her love for Heathcliff but ultimately agree to marry Edgar Linton for the betterment of her social status. Heathcliff is also transformed after three years, and it is obvious that both he and Catherine are still very much in love. Whether Catherine's behaviour in these chapters can be viewed as anything but disgusting is highly subjective, as 'disgust' is perhaps too harsh. In my opinion the better fitted word would be disappointed, however Catherine's demanding behaviour towards Nelly is that of disrespectful and this in turn can be interpreted as a disgusting behaviour.…

    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grief in Wuthering Heights

    • 2736 Words
    • 11 Pages

    For example, no one knows for sure where Heathcliff came from or how he lived before he came to Wuthering Heights as a child. We immediately learn that Heathcliff is different, and may perceive a mysterious persona about him. Which proves correct later in the book, because no other character's sorrow can compare to his, except maybe Catherine's. Heathcliff had an obsession. To him, Catherine was life. He did not want to live without her. Heathcliff came to Wuthering Heights as a child and grew up with Catherine always by his side, until Hindley returned. Therefore, his obsession began as a child. Because he grew used to having Catherine with him, as he grew older he never wanted to be separated from her. Hindley's forcing their separation probably only strengthened his passion for her, because once he couldn't be with her, he could only want it that much more. As I said before, we do not know what life was like for Heathcliff before he came to Wuthering Heights. We can only assume the worst because when old Mr. Earnshaw brought him back he told,…

    • 2736 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What are LEGO's values and corporate identity? How did these develop over time (prior to LEGO Media Int'l)?…

    • 707 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Story of Catherine and Heathcliff began when Catherine's father goes on a trip and instead of bringing back gifts he brings back a gypsy boy with dark skin and even darker hair. While others hated the newcomer, Catherine took a liking to him right away and they became inseparable. But after an injury Catherine or “Cathy” was forced to reside at the Linton’s, a pristine family who re-molded Cathy into a well mannered, well behaved, well spoiled girl. At her stay with the Linton’s Catherine learned about the value for money and social status. She realized that as much as she loved Heathcliff she would never marry him because he had no money or title, so instead she married Edgar Linton. An ill treated Heathcliff was devastated and ran away…

    • 1960 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Heathcliff is treated terribly by all but Catherine, and she becomes his solace; his only friend. Her companionship is likely what kept him sane for longer. When she distanced herself, growing closer to the Lintons after staying there for several weeks (page 52), his attitude changed. Resentment and jealousy begin to form. She was not spending as much time with him, leaving him to endure whatever punishment Hindley forced on him. He was losing the one person he had left who seemed to care about him Therefore, when she announced she was going to marry Edgar Linton, he ran and did not return for years (page 84). While he was away, he probably lost sight of reason, of what he previously thought mattered. He was likely angry that she would leave him for someone he did not like; that she wouldn’t be with him. His madness only worsened when she died, as the thought of life without her was too much for him to bear. He caused her death by running off with Isabella. His madness led to Catherine’s lapse from reality. She lost her mind over his actions, and as a result he lost her. His madness was caused by love, as he didn’t know how to grieve. The message of spiritual love and torment that is present throughout the story is shown throught this aspect of Heathcliff’s madness. He loved Catherine desperately, and her death tormented him for the remainder of his…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Even though she says she loves Heathcliff and believes he is her soul mate, she cannot marry him because he isn't socially prominent or wealthy. The power the women's have over their husbands , Starting with Catherine she Love Mr. Earnshaw's death, Hindley had turned Heathcliff into a common laborer and servant. There is too much of a gap in the couple's social status for Heathcliff to overcome. Their passion for each other cannot be denied, however, and Catherine even admits to Nelly she knows in her heart she shouldn't marry Edgar. This shows Catherine's biggest conflict in the novel, choosing between the passionate love she feels for Heathcliff or the safe, wealthy lifestyle that Edgar can provide…

    • 1422 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Byronic Hero Assignment

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages

    | Heathcliff overheard Catherine say how it would degrade her to marry him and he left…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hindley and Hindley’s wife were of the people to whom Heathcliff looked to effect. However he also felt betrayed by Catherine for not loving him and being with him despite their history and feelings towards each other. Cruelty in Wuthering Heights is not just the cruelty that comes from abuse or mistreatment but also the social cruelty one can evoke on another's heart.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Banned Passion

    • 881 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The main characters of Wuthering Heights are Heathcliff, a gypsy-like man brought to Wuthering Heights as a child and eventually ends up owning it; Catherine Earnshaw, a woman Heathcliff falls in love with but eventually dies in childbirth; Edgar Linton, Heathcliff’s archenemy who marries Catherine; and Ellen Dean, a.k.a. Nelly, who is the narrator of the story. The overall conflict of the story is that Heathcliff has always loved Catherine, who also loves him, but never end up together because Catherine marries Edgar Linton instead to raise her status and wealth, and then dies soon after she confesses her love for Heathcliff. The conflict is resolved when Heathcliff dies and is buried next to Catherine, and each other’s spirits are together for all of eternity (Wuthering Heights). One theme in Wuthering Heights are the clash of elemental forces because the universe is made up of two opposite forces, storm and calm. Wuthering Heights and the Earnshaws express the storm and Thrushcross Grange and the Lintons represent the calm. Catherine and Heathcliff are elemental creatures of the storm.…

    • 881 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays