One of the themes of Wuthering Heights is cruelty and it’s circular nature. Throughout the novel, cruelty is inflicted by many characters, and experienced by many more. Oftentimes, the dynamic shifts, and a character who once acted cruelly in the first half of the novel finds themselves being subjected to that very same cruelty at their lowest moments. At times, it seems that even the moors where the novel takes place exude a hostile and unwelcoming attitude. At the center of all the cruelty lies the novel’s central character; Heathcliff.
In the beginning of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is brought to the titular Heights by the master of the house, Mr. Earnshaw. He quickly acquaints himself with the Earnshaw family, growing especially …show more content…
Immediately, Heathcliff’s return ignites old passion in Catherine, who loves him more than she ever loved Edgar. Heathcliff marries Catherine’s sister-in-law, Isabella Linton, within a few months of his return. He does this not out of a desire to spite Catherine, but to use her as a tool for an ulterior motive. He aims for control of Thrushcross Grange, where Catherine, Edgar, and Isabella live, and marrying Isabella gives him the right to inherit the estate. From there, all Heathcliff has to do is bribe Edgar’s lawyer, Mr. Green, to ensure that he is the only one with any claim to the Grange. He has almost won.
Isabella manages to escape from Heathcliff, and later gives birth to his son, Linton. Linton moves in with Heathcliff 13 years later, where his sickly nature reminds him of the Edgar he so hated. The novel implies that he beats Linton, until Heathcliff finds another purpose for the boy. He has Linton and Cathy, Catherine and Edgar’s daughter, married so that he can retain his control over Thrushcross Grange. Edgar dies just before he can see that the marriage is bound to fail, as Linton dies a month info their marriage. All rights to the Grange go to Heathcliff, and he is now in control of both …show more content…
Much like Linton’s resemblance to Edgar, Hareton resembles a figure from Heathcliff’s past - in his case, he looks like his aunt Catherine. This evokes a passionate anger within Heathcliff, and Hareton finds that one abusive father left and another abusive father figure took his place. Hareton’s treatment shares similarities with Heathcliff’s treatment by Hindley, as he is reduced to the level of a mere servant with no hope of becoming anything more. The similarities between the two’s upbringing becomes more pronounced when Hareton’s attraction to Cathy is spurned when she marries Linton. Heathcliff, ultimately, does not hate Hareton, but that does not stop him from using the boy as a tool to enact his final revenge - to treat the last legacy of Hindley Earnshaw in the same way Hindley treated him. Yet, despite all the abuse, Hareton still cares about Heathcliff, showing that he has one thing Heathcliff never had; a kind and gentle
In the beginning of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is brought to the titular Heights by the master of the house, Mr. Earnshaw. He quickly acquaints himself with the Earnshaw family, growing especially …show more content…
Immediately, Heathcliff’s return ignites old passion in Catherine, who loves him more than she ever loved Edgar. Heathcliff marries Catherine’s sister-in-law, Isabella Linton, within a few months of his return. He does this not out of a desire to spite Catherine, but to use her as a tool for an ulterior motive. He aims for control of Thrushcross Grange, where Catherine, Edgar, and Isabella live, and marrying Isabella gives him the right to inherit the estate. From there, all Heathcliff has to do is bribe Edgar’s lawyer, Mr. Green, to ensure that he is the only one with any claim to the Grange. He has almost won.
Isabella manages to escape from Heathcliff, and later gives birth to his son, Linton. Linton moves in with Heathcliff 13 years later, where his sickly nature reminds him of the Edgar he so hated. The novel implies that he beats Linton, until Heathcliff finds another purpose for the boy. He has Linton and Cathy, Catherine and Edgar’s daughter, married so that he can retain his control over Thrushcross Grange. Edgar dies just before he can see that the marriage is bound to fail, as Linton dies a month info their marriage. All rights to the Grange go to Heathcliff, and he is now in control of both …show more content…
Much like Linton’s resemblance to Edgar, Hareton resembles a figure from Heathcliff’s past - in his case, he looks like his aunt Catherine. This evokes a passionate anger within Heathcliff, and Hareton finds that one abusive father left and another abusive father figure took his place. Hareton’s treatment shares similarities with Heathcliff’s treatment by Hindley, as he is reduced to the level of a mere servant with no hope of becoming anything more. The similarities between the two’s upbringing becomes more pronounced when Hareton’s attraction to Cathy is spurned when she marries Linton. Heathcliff, ultimately, does not hate Hareton, but that does not stop him from using the boy as a tool to enact his final revenge - to treat the last legacy of Hindley Earnshaw in the same way Hindley treated him. Yet, despite all the abuse, Hareton still cares about Heathcliff, showing that he has one thing Heathcliff never had; a kind and gentle