Due to Heathcliff and Catherine's love relationship,
Wuthering Heights is considered a romantic novel
Throughout Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff's personality can be defined as dark,
menacing, and brooding. He is a dangerous character, with rapidly changing moods,
capable of hatred, and incapable, it seems, of any kind of forgiveness or compromise.
Heathcliff's life is marked by wickedness, love, and strength. His dark actions are
produced by the distortion of his natural personality. The depiction of him at Wuthering
Heights is described as a "dirty, ragged, black-haired child" (45). Already he was exposed
to hardship and uncomplainingly accepted suffering. He displays his strength and
steadfastness when Hindley treats him cruelly. Not only does he show his strength
through Hindley, but also by following his personal goal of a life with Catherine. From the
very beginning he showed great courage, resoluteness, and love. Few have the capability
to be victimized and find secret delight in his persecutor sinking into a life of intemperance
which will undoubtedly cause his own death.
Heathcliff's hatred erupts when Catherine marries Edgar. She betrays him and now
he wants revenge on Edgar and Hindley. His wickedness is entirely inappropriate and
unusual. Without a question he is brutal and the universal darkness in Heathcliff must not
be excused. The vicious manner in which he helps to destroy Hindley, kidnaps Cathy and
Nelly, and brutalizes Isabella and Hareton, suggests that he is disturbed. Heathcliff's dark
instincts are evident because of his passion and undying love for Cathy. He vanishes for
three years to win Cathy over with his successes and choses to fight a battle that most
would never attempt to begin. When Heathcliff returns a wealthy gentleman, suddenly
able to rival Edgar's wealth, Catherine does not react like a wife in a loveless marriage...