Heathcliff Forgiveness

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In order to truly forgive it could be said that an understanding much first be reached. An understanding of the feelings surrounding the need for forgiveness; the hurt, the heartache, the confusion, the feeling of being wronged or cheated out of something or in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, someone in life. For the Wuthering Heights character Heathcliff, reaching such an understanding takes a lifetime to achieve and not until that understanding is reached, can forgiveness and therefore peace be found. Heathcliff reaches this understanding of forgiveness and experiences a change both of character and of heart at the end of this novel which allows the mood of the entire story to shift to a much happier ending.
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Catherine forgives Heathcliff in time for her death telling him "You left me too; but I would upbraid you! I forgive you. Forgive me!"5 And while Heathcliff tells her "It is hard to forgive you" he says at least "I forgive what you have done to me."6 But it is clear throughout the rest of the story that he holds far too much resentment and hatred towards Hindley and Linton to have actually understood enough to have truly forgiven. It is not until many years later that he actually understands and is able to accept the power of forgiveness. Towards Heathcliff's end he tells Nelly he has "lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction"7 referring to Cathy and Hindley and the Lintons' and he speaks of "a strange change approaching"8 which I believe is his final understanding that living his life in anger and resentment has not brought Catherine back to him. He tells Nelly, Catherine "did exist, and that I have lost her!"9 and his "single wish" that she may return "has devoured my existence."10 Heathcliff's approaching change is understanding the importance of forgiveness and being at peace instead of constant battles to defeat his enemies. Once Heathcliff reaches this understanding he seems happy and dies peacefully. When Nelly finds him dead she remarks his face held a "life-like gaze of exultation"11 which was frightening and foreign on his

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