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Wuthering Heights - Hareton Earnshaw Character Analysis
Hareton is born from love. He is the son of Hindley Earnshaw (Catherine Earnshaw Linton’s brother) and Frances Earnshaw.
His mother died soon after he was born driving his father to despair. Hindley started drinking and gambling, and ultimately put himself and his son in the hands of Heathcliff.
Hareton was thus raised by Heathcliff, despite not having fatherly love to give, Heathcliff was the only father Hareton was to know (his own dying when he was still a boy). Nelly was Hareton’s first nurse but she was hindered from seeing him for quite a long time, she recounts to Lockwood her first meeting with Hareton after they had parted (ten months before) “an elf-locked, brown-eyed boy setting his ruddy countenance against the bars” who threw a stone at her “and then ensued <…> a string of curses which <…> distorted his baby features into a shocking expression of malignity.”
He grows up to be as wild as Heathcliff wants him to be and has a sense of filial duty towards him despite being denied the education and dignity deserving of his class. His lack of education will be a major obstacle and attraction in his relationship with his cousin Catherine.
Hareton may also be analysed in the light of storm and calm. His appearance and rudeness make him seem a child of storm in the beginning (fitting the Wuthering Heights environment) but turns out to be as much a child of calm as his cousin Catherine.
Published: November 05, 2009
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