Often times a person’s own worst enemy is themselves. They can hold the incompetence of others accountable for their misfortunes, yet at the end of the day, the blame always rests squarely on their shoulders. It is a matter of intention. Those that think positively, do positively. Likewise, those that center their thoughts on hate or greed end up disappointed with their outcomes. The main characters in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights are victims of such negative, self indulgent attitudes and their pessimistic natures foreshadow their grim fates. Heathcliff and Cathy’s refusal to overcome their fatal flaws of selfishness and vengeance cause them to live in self-inflicted torment.
Catherine’s selfishness in coveting an elevated rank in …show more content…
After Mr. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley gains custody of Wuthering Heights. His first act as master of the estate is to degrade Heathcliff by “[driving] him from their company, [depriving] him of the instructions of the curate, and [insisting] he labour like a servant” (Bronte 223). Hindley’s refusal to let Heathcliff be educated or treated as an equal starts the lifelong animosity the two share for each other. Heathcliff makes it his personal, unrelenting mission to reduce Hindley to the low level he once was brought to. It is not until many years later, after Heathcliff gains a fortune, that the revenge can be exacted. Just as Hindley makes Heathcliff unintelligible, Heathcliff responds by indulging Hindley’s alcoholism and leaving him a belligerent drunk at all times. In the same way that Hindley lowers Heathcliff’s status to slave in his own home, so does Heathcliff to him after winning the property rights to Wuthering Heights in a poker game. Even after Hindley’s death, Heathcliff’s thirst for vengeance carries over to the next generation as he torments Hareton, Hindley’s son. Heathcliff gloats to Nelly that he has “ outmatched Hindley” by turning Hareton against his father and making him dependent on Heathcliff for survival (Bronte 293). He has no sympathy for the lost youth, nor any warmth in his heart to raise the child in a better image than himself or his father. …show more content…
Heathcliff blames Edgar Linton for marrying Catherine and corralling her wild spirit into boring refinement. In an eye-for-an-eye manner, Heathcliff decides that if Edgar will take a loved one away from him, he shall take one away from Edgar. Thus, Heathcliff coerces Edgar’s sister, Isabella, into a hasty marriage through means of trickery and false sentiment. Edgar hastily disowns Isabella, who now falls under Heathcliff’s sole control. The circle of retaliation is complete; however, exiling his sister from society does not quench Heathcliff’s thirst to deprive Edgar of love. He proceeds to torment the offspring of both Edgar, Catherine, Isabella and himself to see “see if one tree won't grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it” (Bronte 322). Where he could cherish the only daughter of Catherine and rejoice in the love his grandchildren can offer, Heathcliff chooses to scorn such sentimentalities. The children's’ resemblances to their parents only prove to torment him as he remembers the unfairness of their treatment towards him. Heathcliff’s unwillingness to forgive others prevents him from relinquishing the demons from his mind that tell him to fight against the
Catherine’s selfishness in coveting an elevated rank in …show more content…
After Mr. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley gains custody of Wuthering Heights. His first act as master of the estate is to degrade Heathcliff by “[driving] him from their company, [depriving] him of the instructions of the curate, and [insisting] he labour like a servant” (Bronte 223). Hindley’s refusal to let Heathcliff be educated or treated as an equal starts the lifelong animosity the two share for each other. Heathcliff makes it his personal, unrelenting mission to reduce Hindley to the low level he once was brought to. It is not until many years later, after Heathcliff gains a fortune, that the revenge can be exacted. Just as Hindley makes Heathcliff unintelligible, Heathcliff responds by indulging Hindley’s alcoholism and leaving him a belligerent drunk at all times. In the same way that Hindley lowers Heathcliff’s status to slave in his own home, so does Heathcliff to him after winning the property rights to Wuthering Heights in a poker game. Even after Hindley’s death, Heathcliff’s thirst for vengeance carries over to the next generation as he torments Hareton, Hindley’s son. Heathcliff gloats to Nelly that he has “ outmatched Hindley” by turning Hareton against his father and making him dependent on Heathcliff for survival (Bronte 293). He has no sympathy for the lost youth, nor any warmth in his heart to raise the child in a better image than himself or his father. …show more content…
Heathcliff blames Edgar Linton for marrying Catherine and corralling her wild spirit into boring refinement. In an eye-for-an-eye manner, Heathcliff decides that if Edgar will take a loved one away from him, he shall take one away from Edgar. Thus, Heathcliff coerces Edgar’s sister, Isabella, into a hasty marriage through means of trickery and false sentiment. Edgar hastily disowns Isabella, who now falls under Heathcliff’s sole control. The circle of retaliation is complete; however, exiling his sister from society does not quench Heathcliff’s thirst to deprive Edgar of love. He proceeds to torment the offspring of both Edgar, Catherine, Isabella and himself to see “see if one tree won't grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it” (Bronte 322). Where he could cherish the only daughter of Catherine and rejoice in the love his grandchildren can offer, Heathcliff chooses to scorn such sentimentalities. The children's’ resemblances to their parents only prove to torment him as he remembers the unfairness of their treatment towards him. Heathcliff’s unwillingness to forgive others prevents him from relinquishing the demons from his mind that tell him to fight against the