'Wuthering heights is a novel of great contrasts'.

        This is the first encounter with the Linton family and Thrushcross grange. As this is part of the symbolic cultured half of the novel Heathcliff and Cathy are shown to be outside, looking in through the window (P33 ‘the light came from thence…we saw’). The building is described in stark contrast to the cold unwelcoming Wuthering heights (p33 ‘it was beautiful- a splendid place carpeted with crimson, and crimson- covered chairs … little soft tapers’). In this first encounter we are shown the reoccurring theme of the ‘inside, outside’ divide which is created by the use of windows. We are shown this first in the form of Lockwood’s dream when Cathy is outside his window trying to get in. (p17 “let me in….I’ve been a waif for twenty years”). Once again Cathy and Heathcliff are shown to be outside the window in chapter 6. Here it isn’t as much a rich/ poor divide as a divide of manners and social position. The Linton’s residence at Thrushcross grange isn’t far superior to that of the Earnshaw’s but it is their manners and breeding that set them apart from the inhabitants of Wuthering heights. Indeed even the names of the two houses give the impression of a strong divide between the families and settings. Wuthering heights, as the name suggests is a symbolic place of violence, anger hatred and jealousy, (OED: Wuther, a violent or impetuous movement, a rush; a forceful blow; a gust of wind; a tremble; a rushing sound) Lockwood also states the suitability of this name (p2 ‘Wuthering heights is the name … jutting stones’). Thrushcross grange’s name conjures up images of beauty and a natural elegance especially with the use of the bird in its name. Indeed the house is described as beautiful by Heathcliff on page 33 and this appearance of pleasing worldliness applies heavily to the characters of the Linton’s. Like the house they are materialistic and superficial, the first encounter with them showing them fighting between a dog (‘that was their pleasure! To quarrel who should hold a heap of warm hair’).

        The Linton family are, in the first description of them, described as rather spoilt in that despite all their wealth and lack of hardship in life they are still unhappy. Their faces are described as having ‘vacant blue eyes’ and it is only the introduction of Cathy, whom Heathcliff describes as ‘far superior’ that creates any type of emotion (p35 ‘kindling a spark of spirit’). In fact it seems that Cathy is the outsider to both houses. She is both savage and cultured, having spent time in both the houses. She is also seen as being outside the windows of both houses, firstly as a ghost to Lockwood (p17 ‘let me in- let me in’) and then later, looking into the house of the Linton’s with Heathcliff (p 33 ‘they had not put up the shutters… we saw- ah!’). She has the same superficial beauty the Linton’s exhibit and yet she still retains the cruel temper that comes with being brought up in a life of savagery (p 50 ‘irresistibly impelled … eyes with water’).

In this complex novel there are many contrasts but most prominently that of the two families and two houses. In both cases it is the main male character (Edgar and Heathcliff) that shows the greatest contrast to the other. Cathy, as an object of desire to both men from both houses is seen almost as the middle ground, she displays character traits of both the cultured and the savage. In her almost split personality we see the way in which Bronte used these elements to show the best and the worst in humankind.