Wuthering Heights

Characters and the relationships between them

恩萧（欧肖）先生 Mr.Earnshaw ———— 呼啸山庄主人

辛德雷·恩萧 Hindley Earnshaw —— 其 子

凯瑟琳·恩萧Catherine Earnshaw—其女，小名凯蒂Cathy

希斯克厉夫 Heathcliff ——— 恩萧抚养的孤儿

弗兰西斯 Frances ———— 辛德雷之妻

哈里顿·恩萧Hareton Earnshaw —— 辛德雷之子

丁耐莉 Nelly Dean ————— 女管家，又名艾伦Ellen

保姆 Nanny

约瑟夫 Joseph ————— 呼啸山庄的老仆人

林敦先生 Mr。Linton ———— 画眉田庄主人

埃德加·林敦敦Edgar Linton —— 其子，后娶凯瑟琳·恩萧

伊莎贝拉·林敦 —Isabella Linton其女，后嫁希刺克厉夫

凯瑟琳·林敦——Catherine Linton 埃德加与凯瑟琳之女，亦名凯蒂林·希刺克厉夫

洛克乌德先生 Mr Lockwood —— 房 客

肯尼兹医生Dr. Kenneth ——— 当地医生

齐 拉 Zillah ————— 呼啸山庄的女仆

画眉山庄 Hwamei Villa

In Gothic novels, the shaping of the characters is a commonly used vehicle for giving expression to the gothic ingredient. This is particularly true of Emily’s Wuthering Heights. When we open this book, we can see various terrifying characters. The first character is the hero Heathcliff. He seems to be an inhuman monster. Being a son of the storm, his behavior is flooded with Gothic color: cruel, imperious, and he stoops to anything to get what he wants. What’s more, the love between Catherine and him goes beyond the common limit and is quite abnormal compared with love in other works of her age. The entire action of the story takes place within the two houses-Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange and on the moors lie between. The principal character, Heathcliff, around whom all the action revolves, emerges as starkly as Wuthering Heights. He may be thought of as the personification of the house. There is an analogy between his appearance and his character and that of the Heights itself.

When Mr. Lockwood, the tenant of Thrushcross Grange, pays his visit to Wuthering Heights, curious about the brooding quality and crumbing, menacing appearance of the Heights and the inscription over the door- the date ‘1500’and the name ‘Hareton Earnshaw’, Mr. Lockwood would like to ask his landlord about this, but Heathcliff proves to be unsociable, inhospitable, and brusque.

“The ‘walk in’ was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment, ‘Go to the deuce’: even the gate over which he leant manifested no sympathizing movement to the words; and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation: I felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself.”[18]

This is the first appearance that Emily displayed to us. And the first impression of the hero Heathcliff adds the color of mystery and implies to the readers that the man is bound to have a long story. By the brief portrayal of the hero, she creates suspense for the whole story, which embodies the Gothic tradition.

During Mr. Lockwood’s staying at the Heights, he found a diary. The entry regarding the degrading life Heathcliff was forced to lead by Hindley throws some light on the character of Heathcliff as Mr. Lockwood now finds him. For the first time we sympathize with Heathcliff in his anguish, although we are still ignorant as to its cause. Heathcliff has been revealed as a man capable of great emotion, as well as cruelty. The scene still is in the Heights. Declaring that the room is haunted, Mr. Lockwood decides to spend the rest of the night elsewhere. As he is about to leave the room, the odd and horrible thing happens:

“I obeyed, so far as to quit the chamber; when ignorant where the narrow lobbies led, I stood still, and was witness, involuntarily, to a piece of superstition on the part of my landlord which belied, oddly, his apparent sense. He got on to the bed and wrenched open the lattice, bursting, as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears. ‘Come in! Come in!’ he sobbed. ‘Cathy, do come. Oh, do-once more! Oh! My heart’s darling! Hear me this time, Catherine, at last!’ The specter showed a specter’s ordinary caprice: it gave no sign of being; but the snow and wind whirled wilding through, even reaching my station, and blowing out the light.”[19] Heathcliff is alarmed when he hears that Catherine has appeared to Mr. Lockwood; obviously, he believes that her spirit haunts Wuthering Heights and is trying to come to him from beyond the grave. This element arouses the interest and curiosity of the reader and embodies Gothic color a step forward.

3.1.1.2 Crazy revenge on his enemies

With the birth of his son Hareton and the death of his wife Frances Hindley’s final disintegration commerces. This is consistent with the moral weakness he has shown previously. He concentrates his venom on Heathcliff, whom he brutalizes and in whom he tries to stamp out the feeling of worthiness that old Mr. Earnshaw had engendered. Heathcliff, in turn, delights in seeing his enemy destroy himself. It is consistent with Heathcliff’s nature that he encourages his enemies to destroy themselves by their won inner flaws. And readers anticipate conflicts and trouble in the future. From this point of view, he behaves quite cruel and revengeful. To fulfill his revenge on Hindley, he turns little Hareton into a brute with no love or respect for his father, and he has ended his education – just as Hindley did to him. When Heathcliff reappears after Catherine’s marriage, thinking she might show him where his evil ways are leading him, Nelly pays a visit to the Heights. Seeing little Hareton outside the gates, she identifies herself and says she has called to see his father, Hindley. Hareton does not recognize her as his former nurse and greets her with a hail of stones and curses. Nelly asks him who taught him such things and he answers “Devil daddy.”[20] He says his father cannot abide him because he swears at him. He says the curate no longer comes to teach him and it is Heathcliff, whom he loves, who has taught him to swear. Furthermore, he is determined to brutalize Hareton as himself was brutalized. This is evidented by the incident of Hareton’s hanging the puppies. So far, Heathcliff has succeeded in revenging Hindley’s insult on the next generation. His cruelty is easy to feel.

What’s more, his attitude towards Isabella is not only very cruel but also very imperious. Edgar is his enemy, too. Once he declares he will “crush his ribs in like a rotten-hazel-nut”.[21] Because of his hatred for Edgar, he takes advantage of Edgar’s sister, Isabella. When he finds Isabella has fallen in love with him, he encourages her to run off with him even though he does not love her at all. He does so only for the Linton property and the revenge on Edgar. But after her marriage to him, she receives no love or pity from him, but indifference and distain. The desperately unhappy Isabella sends a letter to Nelly saying “Is Mr. Heathc

Heathcliff：1.The main character ，Orphaned as a child, he is constantly on the outside, constantly losing people. Although he and Catherine Earnshaw profess that they complete each other, her decision to marry Edgar Linton almost destroys their relationship. He spends most of his life contemplating and acting out revenge. He is abusive, brutal, and cruel. 2. Most people thought that Heathcliff was devil or at least he should not do too many things wrongly. However, I thought him a victim.

As an orphan Heathcliff did not know where he was from and who he was. When he was young, he was always abused and laughed at by Hindly. Only two people loved him, one was Mr. Earnshaw, who died when he was young, the other one was Cathy, who loved him but suffered from great pain. To him, Cathy was everything, after Mr. Earnshaw’s death. Unfortunately, Cathy’s childish choice made them unhappy all their life span. Heathcliff not only lost Cathy, but also lost everything.

He can forgive the one who did harm to him, but cannot forgive the ones who did harm to Cathy. He loved Cathy so much that when Cathy left him, no one can bring him happiness. He became crazy, and lost himself in unbearable pain. To a desperate man, what he could do for her was to take revenge. What he did further was for Cathy.

At last, he found little Cathy and Hareton were just like Cathy and him when they were young; he came to himself and realized that it was a bad ending. Though few happiness he had had all his life, he stopped bringing pain for the young, and left the broken-hearted world to be with Cathy, the woman who was the fountainhead of his suffering but was the only who could give him happiness. I see, although he had done too many wrong things, he was a kind man by nature.

Wuthering Heights is a love novel. It has praised human’s moral excellence, has attracted the will of the people’s darkness, unfolding the human with the common custom life and pursueing the fine mind.

3. To everyone but Catherine and Hareton, Heathcliff seems to be an inhuman monster — or even incarnate evil. From a literary perspective, he is more the embodiment of the Byronic hero (attributed to the writer George Gordon, Lord Byron), a man of stormy emotions who shuns humanity because he himself has been ostracized; a rebellious hero who functions as a law unto himself. Heathcliff is both despicable and pitiable. His one sole passion is Catherine, yet his commitment to his notion of a higher love does notReaders need to determine if his revenge is focused on his lost position at Wuthering Heights, his loss of Catherine to Edgar, or if it his assertion of dignity as a human being. The difficulty most readers have relating to and understanding Heathcliff is the fact that he hates as deeply as he loves; therefore, he is despised as much as he is pitied.

Heathcliff's Obsession in Wuthering Heights

Throughout Wuthering Heights two distinct yet related obsessions drive Heathcliff's character: his desire for Catherine's love and his need for revenge. Catherine, the object of his obsession, becomes the essence of his life, yet, in a sense, he ends up murdering his love. Ironically, after her death, Heathcliff's obsession only intensifies. Heathcliff's love for Catherine enables him to endure Hindley's maltreatment after Mr. Earnshaw's death. But after overhearing Catherine admit that she could not marry him, Heathcliff leaves. Nothing is known of his life away from her, but he returns with money. Heathcliff makes an attempt to join the society to which Catherine is drawn. Upon his return, she favors him to Edgar but still he cannot have her. He is constantly present, lurking around Thrushcross Grange, visiting after hours, and longing to be buried in a connected grave with her so their bodies would disintegrate into one. Ironically, his obsession with revenge seemingly outweighs his obsession with his love, and that is why he does not fully forgive Catherine for marrying Edgar.

After Catherine's death, he must continue his revenge — a revenge that starts as Heathcliff assumes control of Hindley's house and his son — and continues with Heathcliff taking everything that is Edgar's. Although Heathcliff constantly professes his love for Catherine, he has no problem attempting to ruin the life of her daughter. He views an ambiguous world as black and white: a world of haves and have-nots. And for too long, he has been the outsider. That is why he is determined to take everything away from those at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange who did not accept him. For Heathcliff, revenge is a more powerful emotion than love.

Catherine Earnshaw The love of Heathcliff's life. Wild, impetuous, and arrogant as a child, she grows up getting everything she wants. When two men fall in love with her, she torments both of them. Ultimately, Catherine's selfishness ends up hurting everyone she loves, including herself. Often viewed as the epitome of the free spirit, Catherine is torn between two worlds. On one hand, she longs to be with Heathcliff, her soul mate: their life together, growing up and playing on the moors, represents the freedom and innocence of childhood. On the other, she recognizes what a marriage to Edgar can do for her socially, and she enjoys those things that Edgar can provide for her. Ultimately, she is self-absorbed and self-centered, and although she claims to love both Heathcliff and Edgar, she loves herself more, and this selfish love ends up hurting everyone who cares for her. Not until she nears death does Catherine turn exclusively towards Heathcliff, abandoning Edgar. Ironically, Heathcliff does not fully forgive her, and because of this, Edgar is the man who gives every appearance of loving Catherine unconditionally.

Edgar Linton Catherine's husband and Heathcliff's rival. Well-mannered and well-to-do, he falls in love with and marries Catherine. His love for her enables him to overlook their incompatible natures. Edgar represents the typical Victorian hero, possessing qualities of constancy and tenderness; however, a non-emotional intellectual is not the type of person who can make Catherine happy in the long run. Edgar loves and understands Catherine more than anyone realizes, but love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship. He ends up losing everything — his wife, his sister, his daughter, and his home — to Heathcliff because good does not always overcome evil. He is a foil for Heathcliff.

Edgar represents the typical Victorian hero, possessing qualities of constancy and tenderness; however, a non-emotional intellectual is not the type of person who can make Catherine happy in the long run. Edgar loves and understands Catherine more than anyone realizes, but love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship. He ends up losing everything — his wife, his sister, his daughter, and his home — to Heathcliff because good does not always overcome evil. He is a foil for Heathcliff.

Cathy Linton Daughter of Catherine and Edgar. A mild form of her mother, she serves as a reminder of her mother's strengths and weaknesses. (Note: For the purpose of clarity, the younger Catherine is referred to as "Cathy" in this Note, and her mother is referred to as "Catherine." This convention is not used in the original text.) Cathy's nature, a combination of both her parents, is key to revising the past. Her wildness and willfulness lead her to Wuthering Heights and the problems and pitfalls related therein. Her constant loyalty, good nature, and perseverance, however, eventually restore order and love to the farmhouse, thwarting Heathcliff's plans for revenge. Just as Catherine's presence dominates the first half of the text, Cathy's rules the second. Edgar tries to keep her from Wuthering Heights (and from Heathcliff), but her attraction to a man and her independent nature — characteristics that mirror her mother — once again make Edgar's appeals ineffective.

Linton Heathcliff Son of Heathcliff and Isabella. Weak and whiny (both physically and emotionally), he serves as a pawn in Heathcliff's game of revenge. He marries Cathy.

Hareton Earnshaw Catherine's nephew, son of Hindley. Although uneducated and unrefined, Hareton has a staunch sense of pride. He is attracted to Cathy but put off by her attitude. His generous heart enables the two of them to eventually fall in love and marry. Hareton is the only person to mourn Heathcliff's death. More of a son to Heathcliff than Linton, Hareton exhibits a sense of nobility by remaining loyal to the only father he ever really knew. Although he loses his inheritance, he does not bear a grudge toward Heathcliff. For most of the text, he serves as a reminder to Heathcliff of what his father, Hindley, had done. But toward the end of the novel, Hareton begins to remind Heathcliff of Catherine. Hareton even stands up to Heathcliff on Cathy's behalf. Because he has never experienced love himself, readers do not know for sure of Hareton's capacity for it; however, his pairing with Cathy at the end of Wuthering Heights seems to suggest what Heathcliff may have been like under different circumstances.

Ellen (Nelly) Dean The primary narrator and Catherine's servant. Although she is one person capable of relating the majority of the events that occurred, she is not without bias

Nelly serves as both outsider and insider as she narrates the primary story of Wuthering Heights. Although she does not exhibit the extreme lengths of cruelty shown by Heathcliff and Catherine, Nelly often is an instigator who enjoys the conflict around her. Nelly can be seen as a combination of Heathcliff's cruelty and Catherine's self-centeredness.

Lockwood Heathcliff's tenant at Thrushcross Grange and the impetus for Nelly's narration. Although he serves primarily as the catalyst for the story, Lockwood's role is an outsider who happens to gain inside information. His visit to Wuthering Heights and subsequent actions directly affect the plot.

Mr. Earnshaw Catherine's father. He brings Heathcliff into his family and soon favors the orphan over his own son, Hindley.

Mrs. Earnshaw Catherine's mother. Not much is known about her, except that she favors her own son to Heathcliff, whom she does not like.

Hindley Earnshaw Catherine's brother. Jealous of Heathcliff, he takes a bit of revenge on Heathcliff after his father dies. He proves to be no match for Heathcliff, however, eventually losing his son and his family's home.

Frances Earnshaw Hindley's wife. A sickly woman who dies soon after Hareton is born.

Joseph Servant at Wuthering Heights. A hypocritical zealot who possesses a religious fanaticism that most find wearisome.

Mr. and Mrs. Linton Edgar's parents. They welcome Catherine into her home, introducing her to the life in upper society. They die soon after nursing Catherine back to health.

Isabella Edgar's sister. Her infatuation with Heathcliff causes her to destroy her relationship with her brother. She experiences Heathcliff's brutality first hand. She flees to London where she gives birth to Heathcliff's son, but her attempts to keep her son from his father fail.

Zillah Heathcliff's housekeeper. She saves Lockwood from a pack of dogs and serves as Nelly's source of information at Wuthering Heights.

Relationship ：Love in the novel is manifested in many

respects.

Character Map

Character Genealogy

2.1 Earnshaw's love for Heathcliff

Forty years ago Wuthering Heights was filled with light, warmth and happiness. Mr.Earnshaw, a farmer, lives happily with his boisterous children Catherine and Hindley. However, being a kind and generous fellow, he can’t help rescuing a starving wretch off on the streets of Liverpool, a gypsy child named Heathcliff. In time Heathcliff becomes one member of the family, loved by all except Hindley (who nurtures the feeling of being usurped). Thus it can be concluded that Earnshaw's love for Heathcliff stems from sympathy.

2.2 Catherine' love for Heathcliff

As a child, her father was too ill to reprimand the free spirited child, ‘who was too mischievous and wayward for a favorite. (P46). Therefore, Catherine grew up among nature and lacked the sophistication of high society. Catherine removed herself from society and, "had ways with her such as I never saw a child take up before; she put all of us past our patience fifty times and oftener in a day; from the hour she came downstairs till the hour she went to bed, we had not a minute’s security that she wouldn’t be in mischief. Her spirits were always at high-water mark, her tongue always going--singing, laughing, and plaguing everyone who would not do the same. A wild, wicked slip she was--"(P51). Catherine further disregarded social standards and remained friends with Heathcliff despite his degradation by Hindley, her brother. ‘Miss Cathy and he [Heathcliff] were now very thick; ’(P46) and she found her sole enjoyment in his companionship. Catherine grew up beside Heathcliff, ‘They both promised to grow up as rude as savages; the young master [Hindley] being entirely negligent how they behaved, ’(P57). During her formative years Catherine’s conduct did not reflect that of a young Lady, ‘but it was one of their chief amusements to run away to the moors in the morning and remain there all day, (P57). Thus, Catherine’s behavior developed and rejected the ideals of an oppressive, over-bearing society, which in turn created isolation from the institutionalized world. Therefore, Catherine's love for Heathcliff is pure, and Heathcliff's love for Catherine is tinged with danger and violence.

2.3 Isabella's love for Heathcliff

The first time when Isabella sees Heathcliff, attracted by the charming man, she falls in love with him. No matter how Catherine persuades her, she makes her mind to get married with Heathcliff. Her love for Heathcliff is pure. While, Heathcliff just uses Catherine's sister-in-law Isabella Linton as a weapon, caring not for the poor lass.

2.4 Catherine's love for Edgar

When Catherine and Heathcliff exist their private island unchecked until Catherine suffers an injury from the Linton's bulldog. Forced to remain at Thrushcross Grange----the Linton's home, which isolates Catherine from Heathcliff and her former world of reckless freedom. Living amongst the elegance of the Lintons transforms Catherine from a coarse youth into a delicate lady. Her transformation alienates Heathcliff, her soul mate and the love of her life. Catherine fits into society like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. However, she feels pressure to file her rough edges and marry Edgar Linton. All in all, it is the social pressures and restrictive cultural confines that force Catherine to pretend to fall in love with Edgar. However, Edgar loves Catherine with gracious and transquility.

Introduction of the story

The beginning of the story was Mr. Lockwood’s visiting of Wuthering Heights. His amazement of Heathcliff's surliness and curiosity of beautiful Catherine's rudeness urged him to listen to a very strange and frightening love story from Nelly Dean. In the summer of 1771 Mr. Earnshaw brought home an orphan later called Heathcliff he had found in Liverpool. This waif was persecuted by young Hindley, but deeply loved by his daughter Catherine. So there was contradiction between Hindley and Heathcliff since childhood. After the death of their parents and his own marriage, Hindley treated Heathcliff as a servant, but this was relieved by the pleasant times with Cathy.

On one of their expeditions they reached Thrushcross Grange where she stayed as the Linton’s guest for several weeks. When she returned to the Wuthering Heights, she was altered a lot: she had been deeply attracted by the dress, luxury of the Lintons, especially the handsome and gentle Edgar Linton. Although she still loved Heathcliff she could not compare Heathcliff’s snobbishness with the gentility of her new friends. Heathcliff was even more badly treated by Hindley after his wife’s death, which increased Heathcliff’s more anger. After overhearing part of Catherine’s conversation with Nelly that she would marry Edgar, Heathcliff could not bear the indignation and degradation and left Wuthering Heights.

Catherine’s conversation with Nelly was that if Heathcliff could remain, even though all else perished, she should still continue to be. She and Heathcliff belonged to the same kind. But Heathcliff didn’t hear it. So after Heathcliff’s leaving, Catherine was desperately ill and recovered by the care of Linton couple. Three years later Catherine was married to Edgar.

Six months later, Heathcliff, a different man, appeared. Catherine was so pleased at the news. But out of her surprise Heathcliff took on his two-fold revenge, first on Hindley who had treated him so badly in the past, secondly he threatened Catherine to marry Linton.

Unfortunately Edgar’s sister Isabella fell in love with Heathcliff and Heathcliff married her out of love, but for the property of Thrush cross Grange. At the same time Catherine locked herself in the room because Edgar refused Heathcliff. The she became delirious from illness and had brain fever. Eventually she recovered but remained delicate. Edgar worried too much about Catherine’s health and emotion.

Then Heathcliff and Catherine met again. There was a terrible scene between them. Both of them showed their anger and love to each other which worsened Catherine’s health. Then two hours after her daughter — Cathy’s birth Catherine died. When Heathcliff got the news he was desperately sad.

After Catherine’s death Isabella returned to Thrushcross Grange after three months with Heathcliff. Hindley died and Heathcliff took Wuthering Heights.Thirteen years later Isabella died, leaving her son Linton to Heathcliff, a weakling boy. Then Edgar Linton and young Linton died and so Heathcliff, Cathy and Hareton, an ill-assorted trio, were left at the Heights; while Thrush Grange was left to Lowood, to whom Nelly told the tale.

The story ended with the death of Heathcliff and the marriage of Hareton and Cathy. This was two generations’ love story. The first generation’s love was transcendental and the second generation’s love was earthy.

经典语句：Are you possessed with a devil to talk in that manner to me when you are dying?Do you reflect（考虑到） that all those words will be branded on my memory,and eating deeper eternally after you have left me?   You know you lie to say I have killed you:and ,Catherine,you know that I   could as soon forget you as my existence!Is it not suffecient for your   infernal   selfishness , that while you are at peace I shall writhe （翻腾）in the torments of hell?凯瑟琳，你知道我只要活着就不会忘掉你！当你得到安息的时候，我却要在地狱的折磨里受煎熬，这还不够使你那狠毒的自私心得到满足吗？

2、You teach me now how cruel you've been-cruel and false.Why did you despise(瞧不起) me?Why did you betray（背叛） your own heart, Cathy?你现在才使我明白你曾经多么残酷——残酷又虚伪。你过去为什么瞧不起我呢？你为什么欺骗你自己的心呢，凯蒂？

3、"...That is not my Heathcliff.I shall love mine yet;and take him with me:he is in my soul.And ",added she ,musingly（沉思地）,"the thing that irks(使苦恼) me most is this shattered（破碎的） prison, after all.I'm tired,tired of being enclosed here. I'm wearying to escape into that glorious world ,and to be always there:not seeing it dimly through   tears,and yearning for（向往） it through the walls of an aching heart;but really with it ,and in it. ..."

4、I know that ghosts have wandered on earth.Be with me always-take any form-drive me mad!Only do not leave me in this abyss（深渊）, where I cannot find you!