The story of Wuthering Heights is a passion filled love affair bound in the cyclic nature of two families. Heathcliff Earnshaw and Catherine Earnshaw begin their friendship at an early age which later turns into a mutual love for one another, though tainted and abused it may be, in their formative years. Through Heathcliff’s tumultuous relationship with Catherine, it becomes evident both characters are self-destructive, self-indulgent, and incapable of realizing how their behavior affects the lives of those around them. Ellen “Nelly” Dean, who spent the majority of her life in service to both Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, serves as a non-detached first-person narrator and recounts the tragic events of the lives at Wuthering Heights through
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Lockwood’s point of view prior to Nelly’s retelling of past events which takes readers, much like the fictional characters, on an emotionally exhausting effort throughout the novel in attempting to understand the reasoning behind Heathcliff’s actions; the motive in all he does. His resemblance to a Byronic hero breeds the slightest hope that this man will reveal a more promising personality trait and showcase what is surmised to be a good soul hidden behind years of torment and abuse from Hindley, the man who took Heathcliff in as his own from a young age; however, this display of such a trait fails to ever ultimately come. Again, there is sympathy to be had for Heathcliff as he is not a heartless monster, but so severely scarred from past events, it disables him from expressing his emotions in a healthy way and leads to the manipulation and torment of others, typically through violence and yet he never hurts Catherine; possibly the only person he has ever felt sympathy for. The complex and frustrating character of Heathcliff serves as a metaphorical representation and physical manifestation of the turmoil and troubles constantly surrounding the estate whilst simultaneously beginning and ending the story of Wuthering Heights, much like his life truly begins and ends
Lockwood’s point of view prior to Nelly’s retelling of past events which takes readers, much like the fictional characters, on an emotionally exhausting effort throughout the novel in attempting to understand the reasoning behind Heathcliff’s actions; the motive in all he does. His resemblance to a Byronic hero breeds the slightest hope that this man will reveal a more promising personality trait and showcase what is surmised to be a good soul hidden behind years of torment and abuse from Hindley, the man who took Heathcliff in as his own from a young age; however, this display of such a trait fails to ever ultimately come. Again, there is sympathy to be had for Heathcliff as he is not a heartless monster, but so severely scarred from past events, it disables him from expressing his emotions in a healthy way and leads to the manipulation and torment of others, typically through violence and yet he never hurts Catherine; possibly the only person he has ever felt sympathy for. The complex and frustrating character of Heathcliff serves as a metaphorical representation and physical manifestation of the turmoil and troubles constantly surrounding the estate whilst simultaneously beginning and ending the story of Wuthering Heights, much like his life truly begins and ends