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Heathcliff's complex personality essay
Theme of cruelty in wuthering heights
Heathcliff's complex personality essay
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Throughout the frist volume Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, one of the main characters, Heathcliff is portrayed as someone filled with abhorrence. This idea is presented to the reader through different passages throughout the story. Isabella describes Heathcliff and the uses abhorrence as a key word in his rendition as a character. Isabella , “The adjective our gave mortal offence. He swore it was not, nor ever should be mine; and he’d – but I’ll not repeat his language, nor describe his habitual conduct; he is ingenious and unresting in seeking to gain my abhorrence! I sometimes wonder at him with an intensity that deadens my fear; yet, I assure you, a tiger, or a venomous serpent could not rouse terror in me equal to that which he wakens. He told me of Catherine’s illness, and accused my brother of causing it; promising that I should be Edgar’s proxy in suffering, till he could get a hold of him” (144). Equally important is when Isabella questions his personality, and if he even is a man, earlier in her letter. Another example is when Heathcliff expresses his opinion on his wife and how he despises her. The reason that Heatcliff detests Isabella is because her brother is married to Catherine and she is ill, but since he cannot get his hands on her brother she will be culpable for the time being. In the duration of the novel Heathcliff acts, and is described as having abhorrence along with vast hatred towards other characters.
Erstwhile where this is illustrated in the novel is when Heathcliff’s wife, Isabella writes about him in her letter. She questions why she even married him and why he holds such abhorrence towards her. In the message Isabella writes, “Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a ...
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...akes clear his opinions on his feelings for Isabella, the feelings being that he not only does not love her, but he actually hates her. Not only that, but he is rejoicing that he has been successful in making her detest him. The noteworthiness of this dialogue from Heathcliff is that it is proves to the reader how Heathcliff views his wife. Hence, an exemplification of the character’s sentiment towards Isabella, are evident to the reader.
Therefore, in the span of the novel the main character Heathcliff is shown as a character, who has much abhorrence, and hatred towards other characters, like Isabella. Many different passages convey this throughout the novel. Heathcliff’s dialogue and his description depict him as a character that holds a great amount of abhorrence and hatred towards other characters in the plot of the story.
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Wuthering Heights
As a child and adolescent, both Heathcliff’s sullen manner and unpleasant appearance fail to comply with the so called heroic characteristics that are often encompassed by the genuine romance hero. He does however pursue many similar traits to that of the Byronic hero including his arrogant and selfish morality. “Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? I sha'n't tell my reasons for making this inquiry; but I beseech you to explain, if you can, what I have married”. Bronte commonly uses other characters prejudice outlooks to emphasise Heathcliff’s unruly behaviour and appearance. One character ...
The complicated nature surrounding Heathcliff’s motives again adds an additional degree of ambiguity to his character. This motivation is primarily driven by Catherine’s marriage to Edgar and past rejection of Heathcliff, since he was a servant whom Hindley disapproved of. Prior to storming out of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff overhears Catherine say, “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now…” (Brontë 87). The obstacles that ultimately prevent Heathcliff from marrying Catherine provide insight into Heathcliff’s desire to bring harm to Edgar and Hindley. The two men play prominent roles in the debacle, Edgar as the new husband and Hindley as the head figure who refused Heathcliff access to Catherine. Following this incident, Catherine says, “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same…” (Brontë 87). Catherine’s sentiment indicates she truly would rather be with Heathcliff, but the actions of others have influenced her monumental decision to marry Edgar. Furthermore, Heathcliff is motivated to not only ruin Edgar’s livelihood, but also gain ownership of his estate, Thrushcross Grange. This becomes clear when Heathcliff attempts to use Isabella
Heathcliff is a character who was abused in his childhood by Catherine’s brother, Hindley, because of his heritage as a “gypsy”, and Hindley was jealous of the love that Heathcliff got from Mr. Earnshaw, Hindley’s father. This is also selfishness upon Hindley’s part since he only wanted his father’s love for his sister and himself. So to reprimand Heathcl...
Primarily, Heathcliff's hunger for revenge blindsides the character’s, Hindley, Catherine, Hareton, and young Catherine. Revenge is what Heathcliff wishes to
Heathcliff is a character defined by his sympathetic past. Growing up as an orphan from a tender age, deprived of a structured family and family support system, exposed to the negative influences life offered, it is almost a certainty that his behaviour will not be that of an ideal gentleman.
From the beginning of the novel and most likely from the beginning of Heathcliff's life, he has suffered pain and rejection. When Mr. Earnshaw brings him to Wuthering Heights, he is viewed as a thing rather than a child. Mrs. Earnshaw was ready to fling it out the doors, while Nelly put it on the landing of the stairs hoping that it would be gone the next day. Without having done anything to deserve rejection, Heathcliff is made to feel like an outsider. Following the death of Mr. Earnshaw, Heathcliff suffers cruel mistreatment at the hands of Hindley. In these tender years, he is deprived of love, friendship, and education, while the treatment from jealous Hindley is barbaric and disrupts his mental balance. He is separated from the family, reduced to the status of a servant, undergoes regular beatings and forcibly separated from his soul mate, Catherine. The personality that Heathcliff develops in his adulthood has been formed in response to these hardships of his childhood.
Among the social issues discussed in Wuthering Heights, one of the most prevalent is the treatment of women. This is especially highlighted with Heathcliff, who interacts with three women throughout story. Each woman sees a different man based on his motivation. Catherine sees a loving, beautiful person; Isabella sees an evil, spiteful creature; and Catherine sees an abuser. Heathcliff’s treatment of each woman is motivated by love, anger, and vengeance.
The presentation of childhood is a theme that runs through two generations with the novel beginning to reveal the childhood of Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw, and with the arrival of the young Liverpudlian orphan, Heathcliff. In chapter four, Brontë presents Heathcliff’s bulling and abuse at the hands of Hindley as he grows increasingly jealous of Heathcliff for Mr. Earnshaw, his father, has favoured Heathcliff over his own son, “my arm, which is black to the shoulder” the pejorative modifier ‘black’ portrays dark and gothic associations but also shows the extent of the abuse that Heathcliff as a child suffered from his adopted brother. It is this abuse in childhood that shapes Heathcliff’s attitudes towards Hindley and his sadistic nature, as seen in chapter 17, “in rousing his rage a pitch above his malignity” there is hyperbole and melodrama as the cruelty that stemmed from his abuse in childhood has been passed onto Isabella in adulthood.
“I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women- my own features- mock me with a resemblance that she did exist, and that I have lost her!” (324) this quote is said by Heathcliff to Nelly Dean. The language used by Emily Brontë allows for the reader to visualize the faces that Heathcliff must see. The word “image” describes Catherine, Heathcliff can visualize Catherine everywhere, he sees her in all that he does and everywhere he goes there is no escaping that which embodies her true identity, her face. The “faces”, which represents ones identity, the identity shown to society, it’s the first thing that a stranger meets and the last thing a friend says goodbye to. The community and the people of Wuthering Height resemble and embody the woman that Heathcliff has lost. Heathcliff associates his own identity with that of Catherine’s and so when Catherine dies he ...
Heathcliff and Catherine have loved each other since their childhood. Initially, Catherine scorned the little gypsy boy; she showed her distaste by “spitting” at him (Brontë 27). However, it was not long before Heathcliff and Catherine became “very think” (Brontë 27). They became very close friends; they were practically brother and sister (Mitchell 122). Heathcliff is intent upon pleasing Catherine. He would “do her bidding in anything” (Brontë 30). He is afraid of “grieving” her (Brontë 40). Heathcliff finds solace and comfort in Catherine’s company. When Catherine is compelled to stay at Thrushcross Grange to recover from her injury, she returns as “a very dignified person” (Brontë 37). Her association with the gente...
(4) Wuthering Heights’s mood is melancholy and tumultuous. As a result, the book gives off a feeling of sorrow and chaos. For example, Catherine’s marriage with Edgar Linton made Heathcliff jealous and angry. In retaliation, Heathcliff married Edgar’s sister, Isabella, to provoke Catherine and Edgar. Heathcliff and Isabella’s marriage ignited a chaotic uproar with Edgar and Catherine because Linton disapproved of Heathcliff’s character, and Catherine loved Heathcliff in spite of being married to Edgar. Inside, Catherine wanted to selfishly keep Heathcliff to herself. Their relationships all had tragic endings because Catherine died giving birth to Edgar’s child. Isabella also died, leaving behind her young son. Heathcliff and Edgar resented each other because of misery they experienced together. The transition of the mood in the story is from chaotic to somber.
Isabella Linton (Edgar’s sister, Heathcliff’s wife) vented to Nelly Dean (servant/housekeeper of Wuthering Heights) that there was a problem of her marrying Heathcliff just so she could gain power over her brother. This quote proves that in Wuthering Heights the characters reflect in their daily life, problems, and interests. This is how the novel links to the Victorian
I, Heathcliff, feel as though my actions are not reasoned correctly by the narrator's nelly, Mr lockwood and Isabella. So you have heard about my low points in the book, and some of you are probably thinking, “wow what a bad guy he is”. But i assure you none of the reasons for condemning my actions are just. You have heard their side of the story. Here’s mine.
Heathcliff is characterized “as dark almost as if it [Heathcliff] came from the devil.” (45) Throughout Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is treated poorly and is mainly a product of a troubled childhood. This man then manifests into a person that is hardly capable of holding back his impetuous actions, and, therefore, exemplifies the capacity of the most powerful emotions. Although he may not be the ideal protagonist, it is ultimately not his fault and in the end is defined by the events in the story. Due to the extreme emotional and physical pain endured throughout his life, Heathcliff exhibits the strongest love and hate towards others through passion and revenge.
Not only does revenge highlights important events, but also highlights personality flaws. Heathcliff is convinced that Hindley and Catherine are the reason for his loneliness and how he...