Wuthering Heights' Heathcliff

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Wuthering Heights' Heathcliff

"Wuthering Heights" centres on the story of Heathcliff. The first

paragraph provides a vivid physical picture of him, as Lockwood

describes how his "black eyes" withdraw suspiciously under his brows

at Lockwood's approach. Nelly's story begins with his introduction

into the Earnshaw family. His vengeful desire to do evil and his love

for Catherine drive the entire plot.

Heathcliff, however, defies being understood and it is difficult for

the reader to resist seeing what they want to see in him. By the name

Heath-cliff it hints to the reader that he is empty like a heath or

dangerous like a cliff. The house which he is brought to also gives

the reader a picture of stormy bad weather. Bronte teases the reader

with two sides to his character. One that his cruelty is only an

expression of his frustrated love for Catherine and thus seen as a

romantic hero. The other, a demon or a devil who is hungry for

recognition, money and power and thus seen as a villain.

A romantic hero in a novel is usually someone who appears dangerous,

daring or cold at first who later emerges to be fiercely devoted and

loving. A villain is usually someone who's violent and ill disposed

towards others, the wicked enemy of the hero in a story or play.

As soon as Heathcliff entered the home after being picked up from the

streets of Liverpool he caused havoc and jealousy. He upset the family

and above all Hindley, as Mr. Earnshaw seemed to have a soft spot for

him. Heathcliff abused from this and used it as an opportunity to

blackmail Hindley. Once, when the father gave them two horses,

Heathcliffs' appeared to have a defect so he made Hindley change with

him or he would have his father of the beating...

... middle of paper ...

...e would be with Catherine again he saw happiness "last night I was at

the threshold of death, alone, I am within sight of my heaven. I have

my eyes on it hardly three feet to sever me!"

Bronte was very successful in combining two completely distinct

characters into one man. As the reader has seen Heathcliff could

either be seen as a romantic hero somewhat like Romeo in "Romeo and

Juliet" who at the end of the play took his own life to be with his

love Juliet as he could not stand being alone in this world without

her or as a tyrant who destroyed the lives and futures of two

families. In my opinion I see Heathcliff as a villain he managed

single handedly to win his way from nothing. Nevertheless happiness is

restored at the end of the novel moral rightness is restored when

Hareton and Cathy get married and the two house holds are left to rest

in peace.

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