Wuthering Heights

A detailed Summary of Wuthering Heights

In Emily Brontė's Wuthering Heights, Catherine and Heathcliff never enjoy happiness in each other's arms because she refuses to marry a lowly gypsy. Her aristocratic views on marriage would not allow her to wed someone below her social status. Her decision was to marry Edgar Linton who is the ideal husband: the rich, noble, light hair, fair skinned, privileged gentleman. Catherine dies regretting forsaking Heathcliff's passionate love for her. She cannot repent for her sins, but the errors of the first generation are redeemed in the second specifically through her daughter Cathy Linton. The two have very similar traits and are faced with similar obstacles, but the second generation is able to enact the life that should have been Catherine's. Cathy Linton is Catherine Earnshaw reborn, without the tragic flaws that ruined her the first time.

Cathy is a parallel, though toned-down, version of her mother. Both find Penistone Craggs an intriguing place and in their youths, would steal away whenever they get the chance. Cathy was more level-headed that her mother ever was. Cathy is never found soaking wet from the rain nor does she ever throw temper tantrums like Catherine does. Cathy is certainly just as brave and firm in he

Although it is evident that Cathy's decision to marry Hareton is a reflection on Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship and the theme of true love, how much do readers really learn about being true to one's own heart? Catherine does not marry Heathcliff because he is not of noble birth, educated or wealthy. Cathy marries Hareton, but she is not condescending her own status by marrying him since she has no title to degrade. Hareton, though initially dirty and vulgar, becomes the owner of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange before the two even wed. Though Brontė's novel sets up a brilliant attack on aristocratic arrogance, but her desire for a romantic ending mars her argument.

r convictions.. She stands up to Heathcliff's villainy as much as she can and Catherine rebels against anyone who stands in her way since she is the mistress of the household. Cathy has Catherine's strengths, but lacks most of her mother's flaws such as an ungovernable temper and spiteful tendencies. On the other hand, Cathy, lacking her mother's fierceness, is incapable of loving anyone as passionately as Catherine loves Heathcliff.

Catherine's pride and selfishness deal great harm to those who love her. Her affections drift towards those who spoil her most. She confesses that she loves Edgar because he is handsome and has money. Catherine even tells Nelly that she does not marry another handsome gentleman because they are out of her way (78). Her fancy for Edgar is a result of her desire to be spoiled and pampered. She does not care for who Edgar really is, only that he is pleasant to look at and will inherit a fortune. Catherine's self-centered nature drives her to a marriage based on materialism which in turn, breaks Heathcliff's heart.

Cathy is not only a parallel character of Catherine, she is a continuation of her mother's life. There is never a tangible relationship between Catherine and her daughter; one dies while the other is born. The two never interact, but their behavior patterns are so similar imply a continuity in the life of Catherine Earnshaw. Had she survived, Catherine made mistakes with Heathcliff that she could not correct. She bore a child with another man-a man who loves her with all his being. The only way out of that marriage is death, and from that death, a new Catherine Earnshaw is born. It is not coincidence that this child bears the same name. Her birth is Catherine's rebirth, giving her a second chance. Catherine's reincarnate bears little mark of the original's uncontrollable d

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Approximate Word count = 1708
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English