Heathcliff to everyone is a human monster, everyone except Cathy, but this is no surprise as from the start of his life he has been rejected, firstly by his mother then by Hindley. From a young age when he was bought home by Cathy and Hindley’s father people have seen a “diabolic wild side” to him and he has caused destruction from the start when he broke the children’s presents. Now a man he appears a gentleman but cannot hide his diabolical side “interrupted wincing”. However he is in fact very intelligent and worldly. Heathcliff is very dark with changeable moods and is very threatening “walk in!” He also enjoys other people’s suffering as shown when he come s to find Lockwood has nearly been attacked he merely says “the dogs do right to be vigilant,” and is someone who doesn’t like people “a perfect misanthropist’s.” His character is two-sided and although you hate the man who can show no love “not kept for a pet” you also end up loving his strong, romantic character and at some points even end up feeling sorry for him, such as when he over hears Nelly and Cathy’s conversation. The idea of pairs such as these is shown frequently through-out the story. He continues to show his evil side later on in the story when he marries Isabella and torments her, just to make Cathy jealous. He is the way he is because of frustrated love and vengeance. In chapter one Lockwood describes Heathcliff as a “dark skinned gypsy…….rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has as erect and handsome figure and rather morose,” this is interesting because not only is personality dark his appearance is also very dark and menacing.
The opening chapter is a diary entry by Lockwood, the new tenant of
Thrushcross Grange. He has “just returned from a visit to my landlord” Heathcliff. The chapter its self and a few that follow are very macabre. He tells us how he is met by Heathcliff who does not warmly welcome him, but Lockwood dismisses this and continues on into the house. The atmosphere of the whole chapter is very dull and ominous with aspects of the house and its grounds given us the idea of threat through-out. Even the name of the house, Wuthering Heights, suggests violence as “wuthering” is a local word used to describe the fierce and wild winds that blow during storms on the moors, which show s there is no protection and the house is open to endless assaults of nature. Lockwood sees the place as wild “compound order” and uncared for “grass grows between the flags and cattle are the only hedge-cutters.” Heathcliffs servant Joseph is also very strange, stubborn, and unkind. He is “an old man, very old” who is very religious “the lord help us!” As Lockwood continues to describe Wuthering Heights there is a great deal more violent imagery “stunted firs….. craving alms of the sun…… defended with large jutting stones” all helping to add to the tense and dark atmosphere already building. In the house there is a “liver-coloured bitch pointer surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies; and other dogs haunted other recesses.” The word “swarm” again suggests a wild atmosphere and is later picked up on when Lockwood – again describing the dogs – says “the whole hive,” suggesting he sees them as viscous, swarming and prone to attack, which he soon finds out, they are after they attempt to attack him! Even the dogs are fierce, which gives the whole house a bigger sense of mystery and violence. Lockwood is very naive and sees comparisons with himself and Heathcliff. The only comparison we see is that they both have had problems with love “I proved myself unworthy of one” although Heathcliff’s of course are more serious. The fact Lockwood also refers to this girl as a thing suggests further bad relationships with women. Towards the end of the chapter Heathcliff seem s to have relaxed a bit “-relaxed, a little, in the laconic style” but this mood will not last long, especially when the next day Lockwood decides to visit again.
After Lockwood is put accidentally in Cathy’s old room he see s names scratched in the wall and reads her diary, he becomes very scared and confused In chapter three the weather is very harsh and changeable, a lot like Heathcliffs character. It is described as a “tremendous tumult” with the alliteration adding to the chilling atmosphere. It is also seen as threatening “blast wailed by” preparing us for what is coming next. Through out the chapter we have the idea of death. Lockwood describes his bed as an “oak closet” giving us the impression of a coffin and interestingly a lot of characters are enclosed in this novel. When we are told Lockwood is grab bed by a “little ice-cold hand” it is very graphic, and intensifies the horror. Lockwood feels this is a nightmare “the intense horror of nightmare came over me” showing he find's it hard to distinguish between reality and dreams at the minute further showing his confusion. The little voice who identifies herself as Catherine Linton cries to him “let me in let me in!” but Lockwood the shaken Lockwood does not want her in. Although violence already has been a big part of the story, Lockwood has not been seen to have taken part in any of it. This is until he grabs “its wrists on to the broken pane and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bedclothes” he instantly becomes a participant in the horror and cruelty which surrounds Wuthering Heights. He claims this act is because “terror made me cruel” but the way he refers to the little girl as a “creature” and “it”, and the way he says “it wailed” suggests he sees her as violent like the storm and further shows his bad relationships with women. He also tries to block the girl out “hurriedly piled the books up in a pyramid against it” which could also be suggesting he tries to keep women out. She continues to call to him “twenty years, I’ve been a waif for twenty years!” but still he refuses to give in and sits paralyzed by fear “could not stir a limb” as “the pile of books moved as if thrust forward”. He cannot do anything and so “yelled aloud in a frenzy of fright” suggesting a weak character. Heathcliff comes questioning the presence in the room only to find the terrified Lockwood. He is outraged that he has been out in this room “and who showed you up to this room he continued crushing his nails into his palms and grinding his teeth to subdue the maxillary convulsions.” This imagery in very violent but expresses how immense his anger is. Lockwood sees Cathy as a “little fiend” with a “wicked little soul!” and show s no sympathy at all until he realises who she could be and decides what he has just said was a mistake. Heathcliffs anger then increases “... thundred heathclidff with savage vehemence,” but later he shows the first sign of an emotion other than violence “dashing a tear from his eye,” which shows Cathy must have meant a great deal to him. As he sobs into the storm “Come in! Come in! Cathy do come” we begin to feel sorry for him, as he sees nothing “but the snow.”
By chapter nine, Hindley is a totally broken man, as his wife Francis has died. He is now a very violent man who has turned to alcohol. The strong link between him and Branwell is again further shown in this chapter. The theme of violence is also further explored and a variety of emotions are featured. Hndley is now potentially murderous and almost anything he does is centered around violence, “squeezed and kissed to death.” Here when he is trying to show love for his child hecan still be harmful. Nelly is in the middle of hiding Hareton from the drunk Hindley when Hindley comes in and grabs the boy. There is use of short sentences “Hush, child hush!” to show Hindleys short temper. His violent language “swallow the carving knife” is obviously a common occurance as nearly reacts with humour “it has been cutting red herrings – I’d rather be shot if you please.” His language is very threatenin “I’ll break the brats neck” and Hareton is obviously terrified as he “squalling and kickin in his father’s arms” He takes Hareton to the top of the banister and dangles him over. As he does Heathcliff comes in just in time to catch the falling boy. As Nelly gives a sigh of relief at the boys safety Heathcliff is infact sad at the fact he saved him. “Had it been dark I dare say he would have tried to remedy the mistake by smashing Haretons skull on the steps.” This is extremely violent but shows the true extent of Heathcliff’s evil capabilities. Hareton’s childhood has been very unhappy and even when Nelly is trying to calm him with a lullaby she sings to him a ballad called the “The Ghosts Warning,” which contains ghostly imagery.
Wuthering Heights is story of love and hate, good and evil. It focuses on the theme of evil and violence and after reading the novel it is clear to see that there are many influences from Emily Brontes hard life. Her bad experiences helped shape her novel which would go on to become one of the best books ever written. It helps to show that good always prevails over evil and true love can survive through anything.
