The Importance Of Actions In Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte

We judge people based on their actions. Actions are the easiest way to look into someone’s thougtht process, actions are the decisions that make impacts on others. So it is no supreise that in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Heathcliff is an absolutely despicable character. Mistreated his whole life and deemed unworthy of his beloved Catherine, Heathcliff sets out on getting revenge. The other characters in the book show him no mercy either and Heathcliff continues in his ruthless ways. However there is humanity in Heathcliff as can be seen in the relationships with Catherine, Hareton, Nelly, and Lockwood, where they actually treat Heathcliff like a respectable companion. Revenge can force us to do unthinkable things. A mission bent on

“It was not because I disliked Mr. Heathcliff, but because Mr. Heathcliff dislikes me; and is a most diabolical man, delighting to wrong and ruin those he hates, if they give him the slightest opportunity”(146). More characters compare him to the devil, because he isn’t a devout Christian. This shows how society influenced Heathcliff to become the vengeful man that he is. Heathcliff’s actions are easily not proper in the view of society. His relationship with Catherine is confusing. Yes they do not commit adultery but the strong love he has for a married woman is obviously not proper. Though many of Heathcliff’s actions are frowned upon by society, they did stem out of love. Heathcliff digs up Catherine’s grave, to hold her dead body again. It is obviously not the proper thing to do. Going against Christianity, but he did it to see his love again. Also they strongly compare his actions to those expected of good Christians. They alienate him because he’s different, based on skin color and heritage and his childhood even though he can’t control any of that. He is treated based on his appearance so he does the same to others. He treats Edgar as a snob and a weak man because that’s what he sees him as. He uses crude language and is often times disrespectful. There are many times where Nelly basically compares him to being a Satanist, but he grew up on the streets. The way that

He strips him of his title, dignity, and education. ”Do you know that, twenty times a day, I covet Hareton, with all his degradation? I’d have loved the lad had he been some one else. But I think he’s safe from her love”(143). He considers the younger Catherine to be a fiend and is happy that Hareton is safe from her. Heathcliff ruins his life but loves Hareton like a son. He does all this to get revenge on Hindley but ends up loving the boy he wants to torture. Hareton’s and Heathcliff’s relationship shows a kinder side of Heathcliff’s. "I've a pleasure in him," he continued, reflecting aloud. "He has satisfied my expectations. If he were a born fool I should not enjoy it half so much. But he's no fool; and I can sympathise with all his feelings, having felt them myself.I know what he suffers now,for instance, exactly: it is merely a beginning of what he shall suffer,though. And he'll never be able to emerge from his bathos of coarseness and ignorance. I've got him faster than his scoundrel of a father secured me, and lower; for he takes pride in his brutishness. I've taught him to scorn everything extra-animal as silly and weak. Don't you think Hindley would be proud of his son, if he could see him? almost as proud as I am of mine. But there's this difference ; one is gold put to the use of paving-stones, and the other is tin polished to ape a service of silver. Mine has nothing valuable about it; yet I shall have the merit of making it go