Wuthering Heights - Character Analysis

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27/04/03

British Literature

Wuthering Heights - Character Analysis

In Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, each character is a unique and plays an important role in tying the story together. All characters are related to one another in their own special way. They overlap and interconnect their faith and destinies to make an outstanding plot and theme and turn Emily Bronte's novel to be a true masterpiece of World Literature.

The most important character, which possesses the readers' attention throughout the whole story, is Heathcliff. His strong, charismatic, and bitter character combined with handsome appearance makes some sympathize with him, other to hate him, but certainly does not leave anyone indifferent.

Overall, Heathcliff's life could not be considered happy and salutary in any sense. From early childhood a status of a gypsy orphan did not grant him any trumps in life, yet placed him into a disadvantageous position. He was very fortunate that Mr. Earnshaw was kind hearted and brought him to Wuthering Heights where he joined the family. From the first days of his presence at the Heights he encountered a multitude of both bad and good emotions. From one side it was the emerging conflict with Hindley, on the other hand the developing love with Catherine.

After many years as Heathcliff was living at the Heights he grew up to be a passionate, somewhat uncivilized and uneducated young man, but with a strong will and a unique personage. As he grew up the childhood friendship with Catherine transformed into a sincere love that burned in their young hearts. He was so used and dedicated to her that his objective in life was to love her. This love and passion was the part and parcel of his life and motivated him to live.

At the same time the boyhood friction with Hindley came to be a great hatred. Being constantly abused and humiliated by him, Heathcliff swore to commit a devastating revenge one day. He could not further cope with the inhumane treatment, but he was yet helpless to do anything.

Heathcliff was born to suffer. And that hidden curse began to appear when a crack developed in his and Catherine's relationship. The crack turned to be a nuclear explosion when he was once destined to be in the kitchen and witness Catherine and Nelly's colloquy. He found out that the love of his life was planning on marrying a rich gentleman, Edgar Linton. This was certainly a great turning point and a complete metamorphosis in Heathcliff's life. He lost all faith in love honesty and hope.

He returned years later being a rich, educated and handsome man. His outer appearance and inner attributes where radically altered. He was not the young Heathcliff with everlasting spirit and love for Catherine. He certainly still loved her, but he drive and motives came from a different source, a source so overwhelming that it placed a shadow on love for Catherine that he still possessed. His main motivation was to revenge, revenge big time and with tremendous vengeance.
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Step by step, he began his mission approaching each task methodically. He made Catherine feel tormenting guilt and literary drover her insane with his presence. He knew he suffered, and he wanted her to suffer as well. He used the fact that she still loved him to destroy her inner harmony, to kill her soul and sucked the life out of her like a giant leech, before she finally gone crazy and died while delivering a baby.

He then started to get back at Hindley, using the opportunity since his older "brother" had turned into a ...

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