“(Wo)Man in the Mirror”:
Psychoanalysis of Catherine Earnshaw Character is defined as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual” (“Character”). Emily Brontë’s classic gothic novel Wuthering Heights, has numerous individuals with memorable characteristics and qualities. Catherine Earnshaw is an exemplary individual with unforgettable qualities that make her Catherine Earnshaw. Throughout the novel, Catherine shows her different character traits. Catherine Earnshaw’s character is intricate; she’s narcissistic, melodramatic, and duplicitous. Despite all the attention she already receives, Catherine Earnshaw craves more. Catherine’s love for attention is pathetic because she loves all kinds: positive and negative. Catherine …show more content…
I’ve marked everyday,” said Heathcliff.
“Yes—very foolish: as if I took notice!” replied Catherine (Brontë 64). Catherine assumes that Heathcliff does not care about how many times she is with the Lintons. Catherine’s narcissistic tendency of craving attention is her most prominent narcissistic character trait. Pairing with her narcissistic qualities and actions, Catherine exhibits her melodramatic trait to gain more attention and care. Catherine physically attacked Nelly Dean and Edgar Linton; she pinched and slapped Nelly and slapped Edgar. Catherine slaps Edgar because she is upset at everyone: “…and Edgar thoughtlessly laid hold of her hands to deliver him. In an instant one was wrung free, and the astonished young man felt it applied over his own ear in a way that could not be mistaken for jest” (Brontë 66). Catherine’s physical abuse is an example of how melodramatic she is. Another example of her being over-dramatic is when she starves herself because she is trying to frighten Edgar back into her control. She locks herself in a room and denies food and drink for three days: “The master directed me to follow; I did, to her chamber door: she hindered me from going farther by securing it against me” (Brontë 112). Catherine only had water from a pitcher that Nelly kept refilling. Both of these instances, among the many, are quality examples of Catherine’s melodramatic character …show more content…
When Catherine and Heathcliff are together, they act like themselves and are not acting like someone they are not. When Catherine and Heathcliff were younger, they would run out on the moors together and act like normal children. Heathcliff and Catherine were constantly running from Wuthering Heights to play in the moors: “But it was one of their chief amusements to run to the moors in the morning and remain there all day, and the after punishment grew a mere thing to laugh at. (Brontë 42). Catherine and Heathcliff stopped caring about getting in trouble running to the moors everyday because they loved the moors so much. An example of how Catherine has a duplicitous, or double, character is the way she speaks to Heathcliff when she comes back from a 5 week sojourn at Thrushcross Grange, owned by the Linton family. Edgar and Isabella Linton are very pretentious and rich children. Catherine gets used to the way that family lives, and she explains this when she is talking to Heathcliff: “Why, how very black and cross you look! and how—how funny and grim! But that’s because I’m used to Edgar and Isabella Linton” (Brontë 49). It is also evident that Catherine has this duplicitous character when Nelly says that Catherine “had no temptation to show her rough side” when she was with the Linton family. (Brontë 61).
Psychoanalysis of Catherine Earnshaw Character is defined as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual” (“Character”). Emily Brontë’s classic gothic novel Wuthering Heights, has numerous individuals with memorable characteristics and qualities. Catherine Earnshaw is an exemplary individual with unforgettable qualities that make her Catherine Earnshaw. Throughout the novel, Catherine shows her different character traits. Catherine Earnshaw’s character is intricate; she’s narcissistic, melodramatic, and duplicitous. Despite all the attention she already receives, Catherine Earnshaw craves more. Catherine’s love for attention is pathetic because she loves all kinds: positive and negative. Catherine …show more content…
I’ve marked everyday,” said Heathcliff.
“Yes—very foolish: as if I took notice!” replied Catherine (Brontë 64). Catherine assumes that Heathcliff does not care about how many times she is with the Lintons. Catherine’s narcissistic tendency of craving attention is her most prominent narcissistic character trait. Pairing with her narcissistic qualities and actions, Catherine exhibits her melodramatic trait to gain more attention and care. Catherine physically attacked Nelly Dean and Edgar Linton; she pinched and slapped Nelly and slapped Edgar. Catherine slaps Edgar because she is upset at everyone: “…and Edgar thoughtlessly laid hold of her hands to deliver him. In an instant one was wrung free, and the astonished young man felt it applied over his own ear in a way that could not be mistaken for jest” (Brontë 66). Catherine’s physical abuse is an example of how melodramatic she is. Another example of her being over-dramatic is when she starves herself because she is trying to frighten Edgar back into her control. She locks herself in a room and denies food and drink for three days: “The master directed me to follow; I did, to her chamber door: she hindered me from going farther by securing it against me” (Brontë 112). Catherine only had water from a pitcher that Nelly kept refilling. Both of these instances, among the many, are quality examples of Catherine’s melodramatic character …show more content…
When Catherine and Heathcliff are together, they act like themselves and are not acting like someone they are not. When Catherine and Heathcliff were younger, they would run out on the moors together and act like normal children. Heathcliff and Catherine were constantly running from Wuthering Heights to play in the moors: “But it was one of their chief amusements to run to the moors in the morning and remain there all day, and the after punishment grew a mere thing to laugh at. (Brontë 42). Catherine and Heathcliff stopped caring about getting in trouble running to the moors everyday because they loved the moors so much. An example of how Catherine has a duplicitous, or double, character is the way she speaks to Heathcliff when she comes back from a 5 week sojourn at Thrushcross Grange, owned by the Linton family. Edgar and Isabella Linton are very pretentious and rich children. Catherine gets used to the way that family lives, and she explains this when she is talking to Heathcliff: “Why, how very black and cross you look! and how—how funny and grim! But that’s because I’m used to Edgar and Isabella Linton” (Brontë 49). It is also evident that Catherine has this duplicitous character when Nelly says that Catherine “had no temptation to show her rough side” when she was with the Linton family. (Brontë 61).