Heathcliff’s tragedy lies in the fact, that having tasted kindness from his benefactor, it was abruptly withdrawn at the latters’ death. In the early chapters of the novel we meet a seven year old tyke roaming the streets of Liverpool. The harshness of his countenance reveals that the child has suffered from neglect. Such a child, left to fend for himself, without the benefit of adult supervision, is clearly deprive of affection and human warmth that a
family provides for. It is in this circumstance that the elderly Earnshaw finds the waif and takes pity on him. But the same generosity offered by the master of the estate is not shared by his children. Hinley develops apathy towards the street waif that his father brought home. The younger Earnshaw feels that his privileges had been usurped by an intruder. Hinley assumes the mastery of the estate and Heathcliff is forced to live as a servant instead of being treated as one of the family. Badly treated by Hindly, he turns to Catherine as his only solace. Catherine’s friendship becomes Heathcliffs consolation. He strives hard to win her approval by giving in to her every whim and caprices. For a while, they share a happy comradeship. When Catherine meets Edgar Linton and begins to show preference for the subtleties of her class, Heathcliff is excluded from her attention, he attempts to impress her and is ridiculed in return, his self esteem suffers. Heathcliff is subjected to a final rebuff when he overhears Catherine’s’ preference for Edgar Linton. When she favors Edgar for his position and breeding over him, Heathcliff is crestfallen. Heathcliff’s misinterpretation of Catherine’s rebuff compels him to leave Wuthering
heights .He returns three years later, completely change in appearance and circumstance. His transformation is partly due to an imagined rebuff by the object of his affection. Healthcliff for all appearances looked like a gentleman but his manner and speech suggest otherwise. Hardened by his formative years and his early experiences as adolescence at Wuthering Heights develops into a character incapable of loving. He was unforgiving, and simply would not let a slight real or imagined, be forgotten. This characteristic becomes the focal point of the novel.He vows vengeance on Hinley, Edgar and their children. His return to Wuthering Heights and into Catherine’s life wrecks havoc on the Earnshaws lives.Fate seems to favor the former undergo. Heathcliff plan of
revenge is facilitated by the very character of his intended victims.. Hindley Earnshaws own lack discipline gives Healthcliff the opportunity to sow the seeds of revenge on him and on his family. Catherine’s lack of propriety’ gives Heathcliff the chance to harm the Lintons, the family Catherine had married into. Heathcliff uses to advantage Isabella infatuation on him to hurt Catherine. Edgar Linton gentle manners is not capable of preventing the impending tradgedy.Catherine is taken ill after Edgar forbids her from further friendship with Heathcliff and when she learns that Heathcliff had eloped with Isabella. . Catherine dies after giving birth to a
daughter. After her death, Health cliff becomes more ruthless in his pursuit of revenge.He refuses to let Catherines’ soul rest in peace, preferring to be haunted by her than to be left alone. He spends his time in cultivating Hinleys’son Hareton into an ignorant personality just as Hinley had done to him. His hatred is so deeply rooted that he fails to love neither his own offspring nor the daughter of his suppose dearly beloved Catherine. Healthcliff hates Catherine’s daughter and plans his revenge around her person. He forces the marriage of his son to Catherine’s daughter. Through cunning and deceit, he becomes the master of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. His planned revenge on his suppose oppressors having been accomplished with the demiss of Edgar Linton, it leaves Heathcliff unsatisfied. An irony in Heathcliff life and to his sole credit is his failure to destroy the character of Hareton. The son of his avowed enemy turns out to be a better person than his own son. It is through this younger generation of Earnshaws that morose place of Wuthering heights will become a brighter place. In the end, Heathcliff begins to act very strangely, seeing visions of Catherine. He is found dead in his room. He is buried next to Catherine.
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