Similarities Between Raskolnikov And Wuthering Heights

The Bitter Men: Raskolnikov and Heathcliff
Both Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights are unlikeable characters in their respective novels. They both have questionable morals along with personalities that are not relatable. Their lives have had hardships with poverty and bad luck from the start. These challenges did not have to define their lives, but they let their bitterness get the better of themselves. The evil side of Raskolnikov and Heathcliff is evident from the moment Raskolnikov kills Alonya and Lizaveta and the second Catherine dies. Both of them are stricken with difficult choices, but their emotions get in the way of rational thinking. Years of mistreatment led Heathcliff to revenge and Raskolnikov’s
Without a surname, Heathcliff was not given inheritance, a full education (partially Hindley’s fault), and status. These were all the items a life with Catherine would have required. “My son is prospective owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being his successor. Besides he's mine, and I want the triumph of seeing my descendant fairly lord of their estates: my child hiring their children to till their father's land for wages.” Heathcliff destroyed sickly Linton’s life when Isabella died. Heathcliff made his mission to have what he couldn’t when he was a boy: success. He desired to have others bow down before him because he was cheated out of a real chance at life like Catherine and Hindley had. “My old enemies have not beaten me; now would be the precise time to revenge myself on their representatives: I could do it; and none could hinder me.” He felt that he could vicariously live his life through Linton if he planned every aspect. Heathcliff’s motives for revenge are justifiable because of his traumatic childhood. He went from everything to nothing when Mr. Earnshaw died. Hindley felt replaced when his father came home with Heathcliff. Although Heathcliff had an upsetting life, it did not give him a right to destroy his child’s life in pursuit of a higher level of
Without money to finish law school, his life had no purpose. He felt that by killing Alyona he could do good in the world. He first hears of killing the pawnbroker when he is in a bar and the idea sticks with him. “A hundred thousand good deeds could be done and helped on that old woman’s money.” Is the thought that stays with him until guilt consumes his conscience. He strives to do better in the world because he feels he is a waste of space, but his warped mind tells him to kill to be a better person. “Nonsense! I simply killed—killed for myself, for myself alone . . . and it was not money above all that I wanted when I killed…” Raskolnikov says this in justification of his actions knowing his plan did not go accordingly. Alyona’s money never ended up donated, he killed an extra person, and his class status did not rise in the slightest. Raskolnikov is the epitome of plans going wrong. He did not make smart decisions and in the end that was his