Wuthering Heights Reaction

      Although Wuthering Heights has a unique structure with multiple narratives each having a limit on their point of view, the overall plot of the novel essentially repeats itself. Once Mr. Earnshaw dies and leaves Wuthering Heights under his son’s control, Hindley immediately forces his own rules upon Catherine and Heathcliff. However, after Hindley dies, Heathcliff uses his newfound power to terrorize Hareton, Cathy II, and Linton as a form of revenge. As a result, once Heathcliff becomes in charge of Wuthering Heights, the plot repeats itself as Heathcliff takes actions against Hareton, Cathy II, and Linton in a similar manner that Hindley placed punishments on Catherine and Heathcliff.

      When Hindley returns from college due to his father’s death, Hindley quickly begins to enforce his power on Heathcliff. If his wife Frances made a comment about how she dislikes Heathcliff, Hindley would place more restrictions and punishments upon his brother. For example, Hindley went so far as to stop Heathcliff from having an education and even “…drove him from their company to the servants…” where he was put to work on the farm if he wished to continue living at Wuthering Heights (Brontë 28). Hindley continued to terrorize his siblings by making them go to church on Sundays despite the clear negative response to his actions. If Heathcliff and Catherine decided to skip church, Heathcliff was flogged as soon as he returned from playing and Catherine was not given any dinner or supper. After having such an intense hatred for Heathcliff for many years, Hindley was prone to making his brother’s life miserable as revenge for changing the Earnshaw family and for becoming the favorite son.

      Heathcliff eventually devises his own plan of revenge once Wuthering Heights comes under his own authority. Once Heathcliff was introduced to the Earnshaw family, he initially was hated by all members. Despite the initial feelings toward Heathcliff, over time Catherine and Heathcliff bonded to the point it was rare for the two of them to be separated from one another. Having this intense love for one another helped Heathcliff move forward despite having Hindley make his life difficult. However, when Catherine married Edgar Linton, Heathcliff was so hurt by her actions he left Wuthering Heights for three years without saying a word about his whereabouts. After returning with a vast amount of wealth and now owning Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff began to set his plan of revenge in motion.

      In order to get revenge on Catherine, Edgar, and Hindley for making his life miserable or hurting his feelings, Heathcliff began to terrorize their children. When Cathy and Nelly visit Linton at Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff invites them into the house and locks them inside. Despite her efforts, Cathy is unable to seize the key to the door from Heathcliff. Heathcliff then continues to terrorize her by forcing Cathy to marry his son Linton. After the two are married, Heathcliff not only took his revenge on Edgar by forcing Cathy to marry Linton, but the marriage also ensures his ownership of Thrushcross Grange once Edgar dies. Heathcliff also terrorizes Hareton by placing the same restrictions on him that Hindley placed upon Heathcliff. As a result, Hareton is forced to do Heathcliff’s biding, is uneducated, and is treated at a similar level to that of a servant.

      Even though the ownership of Wuthering Heights changes from Hindley to Heathcliff, the actions both men take upon those around them are the exact same; Hindley terrorizes his siblings while in charge of Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff does the same to Cathy, Hareton, and Linton.

Works Cited

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Dover, 1996. PDF file.