Heathcliff's Motivation In Wuthering Heights

The past of Heathcliff is practically his sole motivation. His past was full of abuse, and he simply reiterates this abuse onto his own victims. Heathcliff allows his resentment for the past to drive his future, which negatively affects his characters and the activities which he does in the novel. Before Heathcliff became apart of the Earnshaw family, he was an orphan likely of gypsy origins. When Mr. Earnshaw brings him home, just having darker skin causes resentment from others. Catherine and Hindley are especially resentful of this new child, as one usually is when a new “baby” is brought home. Catherine fortunately become less resentful, and Mr. Earnshaw has a natural love for the boy as he brought him home. Mrs. Earnshaw and Hindley …show more content…
Heathcliff only inflict his revenge on the people who hurt him in the past be it direct or indirect pain he will cause them. One of the first people he attacks is Hindley. Hindley has become a drunkard from the loss of his wife, but he still has a young toddler from the marriage. Whilst directly encouraging Hindley to drink, he uses the neglect to Hareton as an opportunity to teach Hareton to be as cruel and bitter to his father as possible. He insists that Hareton ought to give back what his father gives him. This turns Hindley to alcohol more. With his deep dependence on alcohol, Hindley can no longer pay his debts. Heathcliff casually loans him the money, which pushes Hindley further into drunkenness. Fortunately for Heathcliff, this makes him to master of Wuthering Heights. He was able to destroy Hindley’s reputation, and therefore return the same punishment Hindley gave to Heathcliff years ago. However, this revenge does not stop in just Hindley’s life. Even in his death, Heathcliff continues to neglect and abuse Hareton for the actions his father did. Heathcliff takes the house from Hareton as well, due to the extreme debts. All semblance of the power Hindley once had is