What Is Heathcliff's Desire For Power

Human nature causes a deep desire for the one thing that proves impossible to possess. This is engraved within the individual from a young age. In Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff demonstrates his desire for power due to his childhood oppression and loss of his loved one. Though, at first, his propensity for success seems in order to gain freedom from his lack of existence, he reveals his necessity to extract revenge with his newly found power, attempts to dictate everything within his power in order to never be exposed to oppression and powerlessness again. From a child, Heathcliff revealed signs of a Byronic hero. He had no true parents and more importantly, the moment Mr. Earnshaw was killed, Heathcliff was powerless by the likes of the
This came at a price however. His hunger for power has resulted into a downward spiral in which “he’s not a human being” (Chapter 17) and all that matters to him is the obtaining of power and its utilization. This is evident through his ill treatment of Hindley and marriage with Isabella. Heathcliff marries Edgar Linton’s sister and reciprocates Hindley’s past abuse on top of obtaining all the land of Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. With this almost infinite power, he thrashes everyone around him and attempts to make everyone’s lives miserable just as his had been. As his plan lingers, Catherine unexpectedly dies. This results in Heathcliff’s withdrawal to his state of powerlessness. Heathcliff, despite all of his wealth, is powerless to be together with Catherine and powerless to her death as well. His whole journey had taken place for sake that he never would have this feeling, however, once again, he is powerless and it “drives [him] mad” (Chapter 16). Heathcliff violates Isabella, Hindley and Hareton to extremes despite the fact that Isabella and Hareton had done nothing wrong and are only targeted due to their lineage. If the two manors were not enough he claims Hareton “is [his] and [he will] see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another with the same wind to twist it” (Chapter 17). He determines that his previous power was