Wuthering Heights essay
Heathcliff treats the other characters in the novel the way in which they treated him as a young child. This therefore shows that the ill treatment he received as a child has psychologically affected the way he behaves as an adult. Heathcliff's silence in Hindley's bullying shows that he is in control of the situation; "he would stand Hindley's blows without winking or shedding a tear"(pg 46). In Hindley's lashing out it shows that Heathcliff behaviour has angered Hindley into thinking he has been replaced in the family. Catherine inability to love another person with the same passion as she exhibited with Heathcliff's, who was showed kindness by her as a youngster; "I am Heathcliff"(pg 81)! However his perception Catherine changes when she betrays him and marries another man of a higher status. The first revenge that Heathcliff takes is to punish his first abuser. From the moment that Heathcliff arrives Hindley takes an instant dislike to him, Ellen says; "Hindley hated him"(pg46). This may be due to his sister being able to connect with Heathcliff better than himself. It could also by due to his father, Mr Earnshaw, giving Heathcliff the horse that he wanted and giving the impression that Heathcliff is the favourite son. He
His fight for revenge upon the two households is lost when the younger generation, Cathy and Hareton, form an alliance between the two families; "They are afraid of nothing" (pg 279 ) I have found that Heathcliff's treatment of Hareton is unnecessary as what has the child done to him? This shows his real brutality as he saves the child from certain death but then uses him against his father as a weapon. There is also another subtle reason of Edgar's family introducing Catherine to a more refined way of living and her being unable to lower herself to Heathcliff's level of status; "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now"(pg 80). Although Catherine warns Isabella off Heathcliff by describing him as "an arid wilderness of furze and whinstone"; which is spiny shrubs and hard rock, she still falls for the charms he displays to encourage her decision. She also says that he is not "a pearl-containing oyster," but his personality is "wolfish" and he would crush her like "a sparrow's egg" (pg 97-98). also believed that Heathcliff would take all his inheritance; "wheedle my father out of all he has"(pg47). The obvious reason is the he is able to steal Catherine away from Heathcliff. Although she makes the mistake of marrying Edgar she still believes that she is able to help Heathcliff's status in life with her husband's money; "if I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise" (pg81). This may give him satisfaction but it has not really fixed the problem that he really faces, which is the loss of his true love. In accomplishing this He has spited Hindley and treated someone the way he was treated like as a child. Even after Hindley dies, Hareton is still treated as a servant in his own estate that was tricked away from him by Heat. The revenge against Hindley is increased by Heathcliff setting up the meeting with Cathy and Linton. This is due to Cathy giving all her property to her husband, but when he dies it reverts back to her husband's father, not her. Linton, Heathcliff's son, is forced by Heathcliff to return to Wuthering Heights after his mother dies against the will of Edgar and his daughter, Cathy. Heathcliff is able to take all of Hareton's (Hindley's son) inheritance away due to Hindley's gambling and being in a constant drunken state after his wife dies of consumption.
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