How does Emily Bronte intend for the reader to respond to the character if Catherine in chapters 9 and 10? Examine closely her behaviour and her motives.
Bronte intends for the reader’s response to Catherine in chapters 9 and 10 to be one of mixed emotions towards this centralised character. Previously she has appeared selfish, spiteful and unaware of the world around her. This is also emphasised with a different side to Catherine. She is here older and appears to be not any wiser. The reader witnesses that her feelings have matured towards Heathcliff and that she is becoming a woman.
Catherine has some exceptional qualities. When she confides in Nelly she cares enough to make sure that Heathcliff does not hear her as she asks “where is Heathcliff?” Catherine also admits to being “very unhappy” and this indicates that she isn’t sure what to do. She asks for Nelly’s advice about the proposal from Edgar and asks “say whether I should have done so.” She needs help and advice although she pretends to be sure of herself. This is showed when Nelly asks her “why do you love Edgar.” Catherine replies “Nonsense I do – that’s sufficient.” She is very adamant that she will keep her private reasons to herself and that she doesn’t need to explain. This also shows that she is spoilt and thinks that she is always right. When she finally does describe to Nelly what she likes about Edgar she suggest feeble reasons and describes the things around him; “I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, and everything he touches, and every word he says.”
Catherine may be very highly strung but she knows how she feels and she knows deep inside what she is doing is wrong. When asked how she knows she says, “In my soul and in my heart, I’m convinced I’m wrong.” Her conscience begins to take over. It hurts her a lot and she has a good perception of what she should feel. “If I were in heaven, it should be extremely wrong,” this indicates she has a grasp of where she belongs. This can been seen in her dream of going to heaven that “the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath.” Catherine knows she “has no more business to marry Edgar Linton that she has to be in heaven.” Whereas she wants to marry Edgar because he is “handsome and pleasant to be with”, “young and cheerful” and because “he will be rich, and I shall be proud of having such a husband,” she would like to marry Heathcliff “not because he’s handsome, but because he’s more myself than I am.” Catherine knows that she loves Heathcliff deep down and that they are the same and they experienced many things together. “I am Heathcliff,” she tells Nelly “whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” Catherine thinks about Heathcliff romantically and believes that he is her soul mate. By the way she speaks of her love for him it is deep and meaningful. She never wants to be away from him, and she fails to understand why it cannot be so if she marries Edgar. “Every Linton on the face of the earth might melt into nothing, before I could consent to forsake Heathcliff.” She knows that “he’ll be as much to me as he has been all his lifetime.” Catherine’s motives appear to include Heathcliff, as she wants her marriage to benefit him as well, “If I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise and place him out of my brothers aid.” This is an ambitious and a caring side to her character, she wants to protect Heathcliff from her brother’s treatment. She feels her marriage is marriage for Heathcliff’s benefit although she is told she will be apart from him. She answers “don’t talk of our separation: it is impracticable.” She is naïve and is very wrong.
