Yes, in Heathcliff's opinion, Cathy betrayed him, but not only him. She betrayed her heart, she betrayed herself. Maybe this is the main problem or question touched in Wuthering Heights that is explored through the entire novel. Conflict is a basic foundation for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Much of this conflict results from a distinct division of classes and is portrayed through such ways as personal relationships, appearance of characters, and even the setting. The division of classes is based on cultural, economic, and social differences, and it greatly affects the general behavior and actions of each character. The separation of Catherine and Heathcliff could be brought about by family because if Hindley had not taken Heathcliff out of school, Heathcliff would have stayed with Catherine and he could have been the same class as her but Hindley was the main cause of their separation.
Obsession played a big role on Heathcliff’s love for Catherine. After Catherine came back from the Lintons and Edgar used to pay her visits, Heathcliff would mark off the days that he came over to spend time with Catherine and the days that he did not come over, which would be the days she would spend time with Heathcliff. Also when Catherine moved to Thrushcross Grange, after she married Edgar Linton, Heathcliff would stand outside her window to watch her. Heathcliff was obsessed with the love he had for Catherine. He loved Catherine more than his own life. The two have a powerful emotional bond together, something Heathcliff never experienced with anyone else, being that no one else ever loved him, so he became obsessed with the one person he related to emotionally.
‘The crosses are for the evenings you have spent with the Lintons, the dots for those spent with me. Do you see? I’ve marked every day.’
This quotation shows the love that Heathcliff had to Catherine, when he has counted the days he spent with her and the days she spent with the Lintons. It shows that he has a lot of care and love for her and he wanted to marry her.
Fate played a very important role of the separation of Catherine and Heathcliff as so may people behind their backs were the people to blame for their separation. An example is Edgar’s love for Catherine made Catherine love him because of the wealth but she clearly loved Heathcliff more. Fate and family together played an important role as Hindley took Heathcliff out of school so he can stop being friends with her and then their love was broken.
The setting of the story at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange provides a clear example of social contrast. While the Heights is depicted as simply typical and "domestic," the Grange is described as a "scene of unprecedented richness". Each house is associated with behavior fitting the description. For example, when Catherine is taken into the Grange, she experiences drastic changes, thus going from a "savage" to a "lady". While at this house, she rises in status, learns manners, and receives great privileges such as not having to work. Heathcliff, on the other hand, learns to classify himself as a member of the lower class, as he does not possess the qualities of those at the Grange. The critical essay explains a main point in Wuthering Heights, Catherine's decision to marry Edgar Linton rather than Heathcliff, and this decision widens the gap between social classes. Edgar Linton is a wealthy man of high status, and Heathcliff is poor and possesses no assets. Catherine does not consider personal feelings, but instead, she focuses on her outward appearance to society. "Edgar Linton will be rich and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighborhood whereas if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars.” It is obvious that wealth justifies social class, and Catherine strives to achieve high status. The struggle between social classes roughly resembles a real-life conflict during this time. The book was published during the Industrial Revolution, a time of great economic change in which laborers fought for fair conditions in the workplace, and employers fought to defend themselves. People formed groups to work for their own benefit, thus, causing the separation of classes.
While Emily Bronte book reflects the world during this time, she does not focus on the negativity of the changes, but instead presents the world as, ever-changing yet adaptable. The story concludes in "resolution and reconciliation". After Heathcliff's death, the classes seem to converge and accept one another. Catherine and Heathcliff represent the Grange and the Heights as they posses’ differences that eventually disappear. I agree that the story presents that variance does not necessarily separate but instead brings society together. Finally, I think that the separation of Catherine and Heathcliff was brought about by social class because I found many more points that social class played more than the fate or family. Fate and family played a small part in their separation but I think the power of social class and wealth brought about their separation the most.
