Naturally, the treatment he receives at Wuthering Heights has an affect on him. Tortured by the his love for Catherine, the way she betrayed him, and his hatred of Hindley and Edgar for making him seem so unworthy for her, Heathcliff creates an elaborate plan for revenge. The rest of the novel focuses on this plan. Although he marries Isabella, he never loves her, but he simply just wants to get back at Catherine and the Lintons. Before they elope, Catherine confronts Heathcliff about his feelings towards Isabella. Heathcliff replies:
Catherine, I have a mind to speak a few words now, while we are at it – I want you to be aware that I know you have treated me infernally – infernally! Do you hear? And if you flatter yourself that I don’t perceive it, you are a fool – and if you think I can be consoled by sweet words you are an idiot – and if you fancy I’ll suffer unrevenged, I’ll convince you of the contrary, in a very little while. (82)
Even Linton, his own son is terribly abused by Heathcliff. To get back at Edgar again, he manipulates the younger Cathy, takes her prisoner at Wuthering Heights, and forces her to marry Linton so that someday Heathcliff will be the owner of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. He takes advantage of Hindley, who has both a drinking and a gambling problem. Heathcliff takes over ownership of Wuthering Heights as collateral for Hindley’s gambling losses. He also mistreats Hareton, Hindley’s son, in the same way he was mistreated. He teaches Hareton to curse and be disrespectful and also will not let the curate that has offered to educate Hareton do so. Hareton tells Nelly, “I was told the curate should have his - teeth dashed down his – throat if he stepped over the threshold – Heathcliff had promised that.” (81) Revenge takes over Heathcliff, which causes him to be evil and like the devil.
One redeeming feature in Heathcliff’s character is his love for Catherine, which is constant and deep. As children, the two of them are constant companions and defenders of one another. Catherine is the only thing that makes his life bearable after Mr. Earnshaw dies and Hindley’s treatment of Heathcliff becomes more brutal. Heathcliff just assumes they will always be together. However, Catherine decides that Heathcliff is not good enough for her to become her husband. She tells Nelly, “ It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff, now’ so he shall never know how I love him.” (59) She decides to marry Edgar, although she cannot tell Nelly why she loves him other than reasons such as he loves her and he is pleasant to be around. She never really loves him as much as she loves Heathcliff. This changes him for the rest of his life, causing him to feel a great sense of betrayal and loss. Heathcliff’s desire to see and embrace Catherine’s corpse later on in the novel, shows the depth of his passion for her. He openly states that he wants to die so he can be with Catherine. He says:
I have a single wish, and my whole being and faculties are yearning to attain it. They have yearned towards it so long, and so unwaveringly, that I’m convinced it will be reached – and soon – because it has devoured my existence – I am swallowed in the anticipation of its fulfillment. (239)
He wants to be buried with Catherine and he even punches a hole in her casket and asks that the same be done to his so that their dust can unite in death.
Heathcliff is a character that some may relate, and one that some may not. In my opinion, he is probably the most important character in the novel because without him, the whole theme of revenge would not be there. He plays a vital role all of the characters’ lives.
