Wuthering Heights Big RRS
Title: Wuthering Heights
Publication Date: 1847
Author: Emily Bronte
Nationality: English
Author's Birth/Death Dates: 1818-1848
Distinguishing Traits of the Author:
Emily Bronte was born in 1818 in Yorkshire England. Her father was Patrick Bronte and her mother was Maria
Branwell. When Bronte was six, she started her education in Clergy Daughter's School. Her mother and sister
soon died of tuberculosis along with the lack of fatherly love led to Emily reading a lot of literary works that
included William Shakepseare. These literary works along with family troubles influenced Bronte's works
which included Wuthering Heights.
Setting:
Wuthering Heights takes place in the moors of Northern England. This is assumed from the weathers and
description of the Heights surroundings. The novel takes place in the literal Wuthering Heights, the estate called
Thrushcross Grange, and the road between the two. The closest town is Gimmerton, where the lawyer Mr.
Green and the doctor Mr. Kenneth reside, and the most prominent city is Liverpool, which is “sixty miles each
way” (Chapter IV) if walking. The Heights and the Grange contrast each other aesthetically and therefore have
opposite tones and inhabitant personalities. The name Wuthering Heights itself portrays the land it sits on.
“Wuthering being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is
exposed in stormy weather…The architect had foresight to build it strong; the narrow windows are deeply set in
the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones” (Chapter I). The Heights were owned by the
Earnshaw family, assumed to be of the middle class. In this, it was noticeably more comfortable and preferable.
Brief Plot Summary:
The novel begins by introducing Lockwood's character, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange. He rents the
estate from Mr. Heathcliff the owner of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. After a rough night
where Lockwood decided to visit Wuthering Heights regarding his stay. During his journey, he lost his way, but
eventually made it to the estate after a harsh traveling experience. After his stay in Wuthering Heights and
spending a night there, he finally returns to Thrushcross Grange at midnight. There curious about the history of
the two estates, he asks Ms. Dean to accompany him and tell him the about the estate's past. It was there it
switched perspectives and Ms. Dean or Nelly began to tell the tale. It all began in Wuthering Heights where Mr.
Earnshaw adopted Heathcliff into the family after finding him in a rugged state in Liverpool during his trip.
Heathcliff became an influential factor in the family. Hindley hated him for his cruel nature, while Catherine
developed a liking towards him. It was then where Heathcliff's love for Catherine originated. Their relationship
grew and grew as they continued to play together. When Mr. Earnshaw died, Hindley and his new wife Frances
took ownership of Wuthering Heights. Hindley with his new powers made Heathcliff miserable, making him
into a slave of the estate. One day Catherine gets injured during one of their adventures and ends up staying at
Thrushcross Grange with the Lintons, who nursed her. Their separation created a gap in their relationship which
Edgar, the son of Mr. Linton widened even more. Catherine ended up marrying Edgar and lives at Thrushcross
Grange. Her action fueled Heathcliff's revenge and he disappears. When he returned, with his new status and
newly acquired fortune, he intends to claim both estates and Catherine. He abuses Hidley's alcohol problems
and slowly takes away his fortune from gambling. While acquiring Wuthering Heights, he also treats Hareton,
Hindley's son as a slave, the same way he was treated. Furthermore, he married Edgar's sister Isabella for his
revenge plans. His plan was going well, until Catherine dies of giving birth to her child, which she named
Catherine. Filled with grief and agony, he begs Catherine to haunt him for the rest of his life. Soon, Isabella
leaves for London and gives birth to Heathcliff's son named Linton. When she died, Edgar took Linton in to
Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff filled with desires for revenge, decides to claim Linton in hopes of obtaining
Thrushcross Grange, since Linton is the only heir. After constant manipulation and abusing Edgar's sickly state,
Heathcliff was able to force Linton and Catherine to marry each other. Soon Edgar died, which led to Linton
inheriting Thrushcross Grange. A short time later, Linton died and Heathcliff obtained Thrushcross Grange,
completing his plans for revenge. Then the story returns to Lockwood's perspective and he decides to leave the
estate after feeling disturbed by the story. After six months, he returns and the situation has changed in the two
estates. Nelly informs him that Heathcliff passed away recently and now Catherine and Hareton are together
and plans to get married New Years day, inheriting both of the estates.
Brief Description of Charaters:
Mr. Lockwood: Mr. Lockwood is the new tenant of Thurshcross Grange. He is from the city, a place where the
mannerisms are different than that of the countryside. In this, he does not know how to handle Heathcliff and
the other occupants of Wuthering Heights. “I asked Mrs. Dean why Heathcliff let Thrushcross Grange and
preferred living in a situation and residence so much inferior” (Chapter IV). His character allows a sort of
mediator between the reader and Nelly Dean as he is clueless about the events of the novel.
Ellen “Nelly” Dean: Nelly was the nurse and caretaker for Catherine Earnshaw Linton, Hindley Earnshaw,
Heathcliff, Cathy Linton Heathcliff, and for a short time, Hareton Earnshaw. She is the main narrator of the
novel as she was a participant throughout both generations of the family. Although she is a more trustworthy
narrator than Lockwood, she is still biased in her distaste for Heathcliff and the way he treats others.
“[Heathcliff] approached once more, and made as if he would seize [Linton]…What was filling [Linton] with
dread we had no means of discerning” (Chapter XXVIII). Having such a view of Heathcliff begs to wonder
whether she wholly truthful in his true intentions. She additionally has moments of self-pity in which she
ejaculates that she has no say in the way things panned out with the children she raised.
Catherine Earnshaw Linton: Catherine was a stubborn yet beautiful woman. She easily captured the hearts of
both Heathcliff and Edgar Linton. Even as a grown woman, Catherine has childish temper fits up until her
death. It is debatable whether or not Catherine is selfish as she loves both men and does not try to choose
between them. “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that,
not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am…Linton’s [soul] is as different as a
moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire” (Chapter VIV). Although she marries Edgar for his wealth, her
intention was to use this status to raise Heathcliff’s because she truly loves him.
Heathcliff: Heathcliff was an orphan brought home to the Heights by Mr. Earnshaw Sr., the father of Catherine
Earnshaw Linton and Hindley Earnshaw. He was treated fairly well while Earnshaw Sr. was alive but after his
death, his status in the family was significantly lowered by Hindley. After leaving for three years, Heathcliff’s
want for revenge snowballs as he takes over Hindley’s wealth, Isabella Linton’s, and then Edgar Linton’s. He
has a hardened exterior throughout the novel up until his encounter with Mr. Lockwood. However, there are
several instances of his weakness: Catherine Earnshaw Linton. “[Heathcliff] got on to the bed, and wrenched
open the lattice, bursting as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears. ‘Come in! come in!’ he
sobbed. ‘Cathy, do come. Oh do – once more!’” (Chapter III). In his last years, Heathcliff constantly calls upon
and sees her ghost, wishing her to haunt him until his own death. He goes as far as to dig up her grave to see her
and eventually being buried next to her.
Hareton Earnshaw: Hareton Earnshaw is the son of Hindley Earnshaw. Since his father was a drunkard,
Hareton was raised primarily by Heathcliff. As further revenge, Heathcliff raises Hareton to be uneducated,
subservient, and ignorant of his true status at the Heights. Hareton plays a background role in the novel
compared to other characters but towards the end, he shows affection for Cathy Linton and attempts to learn
how to read to impress her. “Yes I hear [Hareton] trying to spell and read to himself, and pretty blunders he
makes!” (Chapter XXXI). Although Cathy ridicules him for this at first, she later gains feelings for him as well
and teaches him how to read.
Linton Heathcliff: Linton is the sickly son of Heathcliff and Isabella Linton. Since his parents had separated
before his birth, Linton did not know his father as an infant. After his mother’s death, Linton is taken back to
the Grange by Edgar Linton, where he is fawned over by Cathy. However, after learning of his existence,
Heathcliff takes Linton to the Heights and abuses him despite his sickly nature. He grows in fear of his father
and uses Cathy as an outlet and holds to her as his savior. Much like his father, however, after finally marrying
Cathy, Linton becomes cold and treats her poorly as if she is only another instrument of his father’s torture.
“[Heathcliff] says I’m not to be soft with Catherine – she’s my wife, and it’s shameful that she should wish to
leave me! He says, she hates me, and wants me to die, and that she may have my money; but she shan’t have it
– and she shan’t go home! She never will! – she may cry, and be sick as much as she pleases!” (Chapter
XXVIII). He dies soon after.
Catherine “Cathy” Linton Heathcliff: Catherine is the daughter of Edgar Linton and Catherine Earnshaw
Linton. She was more beautiful than her mother as she has the more favorable features from the Linton
bloodline. She is also stubborn but is more passionate towards others than her mother was and does not throw
fits as often as Catherine. She is endlessly caring for her father but his warnings to stay away from the Heights
only increases her curiosity. “She was a perfect recluse, and, apparently, perfectly contented. Sometimes,
indeed, while surveying the country from her nursery window, she would observe – ‘Ellen, how long will it be
before I can walk to the top of those hills?” (Chapter XVIII). She soon falls in love with Linton and sneaks love
letters and visits to him. But after being forcibly married to him and learning of his true nature, she becomes
depressed at the Heights. After Linton’s death, she continued to live with Heathcliff as she is still “his
property.” After Heathcliff’s death, she gains feelings for Hareton and comes to love him.
Edgar Linton: The man that Catherine married instead of Heathcliff. He is a loving man who truly loved
Catherine for who she is. His passion for Catherine is sincere and pure. Although he held a particular dislike for
Heathcliff, "illiterate filth"(59). In the end, Edgar was an honest man who loved Catherine despite her mixed
feelings for both him and Heathcliff.
Hindley: The brother of Catherine who despised Heathcliff and hated him passionately. He wanted to make
him a "servant"(47). His pure intentions was to bring Heathcliff to the lowest status a person can have. The
grudges he kept showed his true character as a despicable man who wouldn't give a man a second chance. In the
end, Hindley's horrible attitude left him to become an alcoholic losing everything to Heathcliff.
Symbols:
 The weather is a very important symbol in the novel. The weather symbolizes the feelings and emotions
of the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. The constant stormy weather shows how the inhabitants are
always troubled by different situations and events that arise. Stormy weather(4), shows the troubled
feelings of the people in Wuthering Heights and the constant changes in their feelings. In the end, the
stormy weather presents the troublesome fact that the inhabitants are having mixed and confused
feelings throughout the story.
 Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange: Throughout the novel, the Heights are avoided by the
“good” characters and are associated with evil. On the contrary, Thrushcross Grange is associated with
all things good and happy. It is the stark contrast to the Heights as it is, in the beginning, owned by a
richer and better-off family. The Grange was owned by the Lintons, who were more of the upper
middle/upper class and therefore able to have a more comfortable lifestyle. “Edgar and his sister had
[the room] entirely to themselves. Shouldn’t they have been happy?” (Chapter VI). The contrast between
the two estates sparks the animosity between the two families, but mainly in Heathcliff. The setting in
itself introduces the recurring motif of the importance of social standing in the novel.
Motifs: Ghosts are a motif in the story that presents the supernatural aspects of Wuthering Heights. In the
beginning, Lockwood was visited by Catherine's ghost(20), during his overnight stay in Wuthering Heights.
Also when Catherine died, Heathcliff's desire to be haunted by her ghost shows a reoccurring motif of ghosts.
The use of ghosts adds the supernatural in the story and emphasizes the strong passionate love between
Heathcliff and Catherine.
Archetypes:
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The irresponsible dad is an archetype presented in the novel. Hindley, was an irresponsible father
towards his son Hareton. His constant alcohol and gambling problems led to the inappropriate raising of
Hareton. He, "cursed and threw and spat"(150). His father's inability to raise him with proper morals in a
normal environment in the story, leads to the typical irresponsible dad with a child that is not properly
raised.
The Hero: Heathcliff plays a more unorthodox or Byronic hero. Although he is dark, rebellious, and
seen as evil by several characters in the novel, the readers still roots him on in his endeavors to be with
Catherine. Such unorthodoxy is seen in the odd little things he does to be close to Catherine. “Heathcliff
had opened the trinket and cast out its contents, replacing them by a black lock of his own” (XVI). As
Heathcliff is mirrored in Hareton, Hareton is also a type of hero as he is the “underdog” who ultimately
wins the heart of the beautiful girl who was out of his league. Both characters are heroes in the eyes of
the reader, who only wish to see them succeed.
The Innocent: Catherine Linton Heathcliff is seen as the innocent one of the characters in the novel.
Throughout, despite her own problems, only seeks to help others such as her father and Linton. “Linton
clung to his cousin, and implored her to accompany him… How could she have refused him herself?”
(Chapter XXVII). Even through her brief and isolated engagement and marriage to Linton, she still
sought to care for him when on his deathbed. This only proves how her care and love for others trumps
her own wants and needs.
The Caregiver: Nelly serves as an unorthodox caregiver to many characters in the novel. Not only did
she care for several of the children from infancy to adulthood by feeding them, cleaning, and watching
after them, she additionally faced their troubles as well. “I seated myself in a chair, and rocked to and
fro, passing harsh judgment on my many derelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the
misfortunates of my employers sprang” (Chapter XXVII). Despite the problems she faced due to her
work with the Earnshaws, Lintons, and Heathcliffs, Nelly still stayed with them and took pride in their
achievements and felt grief in their downfalls.
The Lovers: The archetype of the lovers shows those so enveloped in each other that they do not take
notice of their surroundings. This is shown in Heathcliff and Catherine, who do not let the separation in
class standing truly separate them. “I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because
he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same” (Chapter XIX).
Although they are unorthodox in that they do not live “happily ever after,” Catherine and Heathcliff
show themselves as undying and eternal as they wait even until both are dead to finally be together in
the afterlife.
Allusions:
 Wuthering Heights alludes to a biblical sense connection Heathcliff with the fallen angel. His actions of
revenge and his intense passion for evil intent refers to pure evil intent of his character. Heathcliff's
character embodies pure evil when he decides to degrade Hareton to a "servant"(49). In the end,
Heathcliff's ill intent makes an allusion to the actions of the fallen angel.
 The Pharisees: The Pharisees are biblically known to be self-righteous hypocrites. This is seen in
Matthew 23. "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they
tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to
bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.” An
example of a “modern” Pharisee is Catherine Earnshaw Linton, who believes she is doing the right thing
in marrying Edgar in order to express her love for Heathcliff. However, it is apparent that she is
marrying Edgar not for him or for Heathcliff, but for herself. “He will be rich, and I shall like to be the
greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband” (Chapter XIX).
For Catherine to say this is a parallel to the Pharisees, both of which do not “practice what they preach.”
Although the reader cheers for Heathcliff and Catherine to be together and glorify them as the destined
couple, there is a mounting annoyance for Catherine when she puts herself out to be the damsel in
distress in every situation.
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Judas: Much like Catherine, Heathcliff shows several examples of his relation to the devil and all things
evil in general. Despite his many successful plots for revenge, one of the most astonishing and
prominent is his marriage to Isabella Linton just to get back at Edgar. Judas was one of Jesus’ apostles
who betrayed Him and deliberately turned Jesus in to Pontius Pilate in exchange for money. Heathcliff
does the same; as Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, Heathcliff betrays Isabella with a hug. “I [Nelly]
wonder will [Heathcliff] have the art to find a plausible excuse for making love to Miss [Isabella], when
he told [Catherine] he hated her!” (Chapter XI). Despite Isabella’s genuine love for him, Heathcliff only
saw an opportunity to take advantage of her in exchange for her wealth.
Themes:
 The Importance of Social Class: The main conflict of the novel is the result of the conflicting social
classes. Heathcliff and the Earnshaws are of a lower/middle class and are therefore inferior to the upper
class Lintons. This is shown in Hindley’s treatment of Heathcliff as Hindley goes to lengths to lower
Heathcliff’s already low standing in the household. “Hindley became tyrannical. A few words from [his
wife], evincing a dislike for Heathcliff, were enough to rouse in him all his old hatred of the boy”
(Chapter VI). This sparked the revenge Heathcliff took on Hindley when he became capable of doing so.
Catherine also gave in to the importance of social standing in her choice to marry Edgar over Heathcliff.
She would not “degrade” herself by marrying Heathcliff despite her love for him. Finally, this cycle is
broken in the love between Hareton and Cathy, who do not care for the class system and instead focus
on their relationship. This contrasts with Catherine’s unwillingness to lower her on class status in favor
for her happiness.
 Insatiable Revenge: The Byronic hero that is Heathcliff is fueled by an insatiable revenge. This begins
with his abuse from Hindley. Hindley felt betrayed by his father, and felt replaced by Heathcliff as the
son of the family. In this, after his father’s death, Hindley takes all of his anger out on Heathcliff and
after Heathcliff returns and proves that he is superior to Hindley, goes on to abuse his son, Hareton, and
then his own body by giving in to alcohol. This need for revenge is passed on Heathcliff, who goes to
even greater lengths to cause harm to the families who wronged him: the Earnshaws for degrading him
and the Lintons for ultimately being superior to him. “His countenance as much older in expression and
decision of feature than Mr. Linton’s; it looked intelligent, and retained no mark of former degradation.
A half-civilized ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes full of black fire, but it was
subdued; and his manner was even dignified” (Chapter X). Heathcliff’s new and unexplained demeanor
automatically put him of a higher status than Linton who, just three years prior, outranked him. In the
fact that Heathcliff earned his status while Edgar was born into his status only boosted Heathcliff’s pride
and was just the beginning of the driving force to destroy the families who attempted to destroy him. To
go as far as to bribe the lawyer Mr. Green to show Edgar’s will before Edgar died, force his son to marry
Catherine’s daughter, and ask to be buried with Catherine and her husband shows how Heathcliff was
never satisfied in his revenge.
Memorable Quotes:
 "He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."(80).
 "may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you -- Haunt me then."(165).
 " blue sky and bright sun shining steadily and cloudlessly"(239).
 “I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer – but yours! How can I?” (Chapter XV).
 “Earnshaw was not to be civilized with a wish, and my young lady was no philosopher, and no paragon
of patience; but both their minds tending to the same point – one loving and desiring to esteem, and the
other loving and desiring to be esteemed – they contrived in the end to reach it” (Chapter XXXII).
Distinctive Characteristics of the work:
Wuthering Heights was the only individual novel written by Emily Bronte. The novel is of the gothic romance
genre with its dark and stormy setting along with the rather doomed characters. It mirrors many elements of
Emily’s sister, Charlotte Bronte, who wrote Jane Eyre. However, Wuthering Heights received much criticism as
it was not an orthodox love story. Although it does not contain any sex or graphic violence, it was seen as too
intense for a typical romance novel. Currently, Wuthering Heights is on the Barnes & Noble Classics Series as
it is a prominent and important work in learning world literature. The novel was adapted into a movie of the
same name in 1939, which was nominated for eight Oscars, four of which it won (Best Cinematography, Blackand-White, Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Laurence Olivier, and Best Actress in a Supporting
Role for Geraldine Fitzgerald). Additionally, the book H. The Story of Heathcliff’s Journey Back to Wuthering
Heights by Lin Haire-Sargeant was published in 1992. It was written to attempt to tell the story of Heathcliff’s
three-year absence between chapters IX and X.