Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Hindleys mistreatment of Heathcliff during their childhood leading him to revenge in the future demonstrates character development. Heathcliffs desire to fulfill his wicked needs of revenge due to unfortuna

Heathcliff’s desire to fulfill his wicked needs of revenge due to his mistreatment at a young age reveals a change of character. Following the humiliation Heathcliff is forced to encounter due to Hindley’s cruel actions, his only solution is to take revenge on Hindley for his abuse: “‘I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone, and I’ll plan it out: while I’m thinking of that, I don’t feel pain’” (Bronte 69). Heathcliff reaches a point where he can no longer handle the abuse of others. He instead, reveals to Nelly and the reader the bitter feelings that resign inside of him. He is ready for revenge. This event illustrates the character change Heathcliff encounters. Previously being the boy dismissing bullying from others, he turns into the most desperate person for revenge. Slowly isolating himself from the rest of the people, Heathcliff eventually takes the extreme path, and leaves Wuthering Heights. Shortly following his return form his long disappearance, Heathcliff has returned as a well educated and civilized man. Nelly further describes his appearance: “He had grown a tall, athletic, well-formed man…His countenance was much older in expression,…it looked intelligent,…A half-civilized ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows, and eyes full of black fire, but it was subdued” (Bronte 109). Upon his return to Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff’s appearance is completely changed, but the struggle is figuring out whether his heart is also changed for the better. He seems to appear as an intellectual, rich, and well mannered individual. This behaviour appears rather strange coming from a man whose past is full of hate and injustice.  The reader later realizes that behind Heathcliff’s new appearance is a dark soul ready to take revenge, slowly and painfully. Furthermore, one’s appearances narrate a story, but their hearts’ is what counts.

Finally, Heathcliff’s corrupt actions towards his wife and son due to mistreatment during his childhood leading him to revenge, also illustrates an evolution of character. Having been informed of Isabella’s love for him, Heathcliff decides to present her with the favour of his consent: “Now, as soon as he beheld her, his first precaution was to take a sweeping survey of the house-front…There was another rapid glance at the house, and supposing himself unseen, the scoundrel had the impudence to embrace her” (Bronte 126). Heathcliff’s favour towards Isabella carried a negative intent, in which Catherine and Nelly quickly came to realize. Knowing that turning Isabella into his wife would tear Catherine apart and devastate Edgar, he does so willingly. This is just the beginning of a journey of corruption on behalf of Heathcliff. He goes on to marry Isabella, only to destruct her life with cruelty and hate, as a form of revenge to Edgar. But more is to come. After bringing Linton, his son, into Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff involves him in his revengeful plans: “‘Papa wants us to be married,’ he continued, after sipping some of the liquid. ‘And he knows your papa wouldn’t let us marry now; and he’s afraid of my dying, if we wait; so we are to be married in the morning, and you are to stay here all night; and, if you do as he wishes, you shall return home next say, and take me with you’” (Bronte 310). Years later, following Isabella’s death and his son, Linton’s, birth, Heathcliff decides he wants to have Linton living with him in his home, where he belongs. Yet again, Heathcliff only appears to be doing a kind act, but his intentions prove the reader wrong. Forcing his son Linton into marrying Cathy, Catherine’s daughter, Heathcliff knows that her home, the Grange, will fall into Linton’s hands. Linton’s death being near due to his illness, predicts the Grange would then be in Heathcliff’s possession, making him successful in attaining the fortunes of both his enemies, Hindley and Edgar. In doing so, he corrupts the life of his own son, proving himself to being a heartless and selfish man. Heathcliff in the end takes advantage of his power in order to lead the innocent in to suffering, proving that he had been impacted as a child, having the urge to release his anger on his enemies’ loved ones.

In conclusion, mistreatment during the childhood of an individual, leading them to seek revenge, reveals character development, as shown in the novel, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte. Through Catherine and Hindley’s mistreatment of Heathcliff leading him to revenge in the future demonstrates character development; Heathcliff’s desire to fulfill his wicked needs of revenge due to unfortunate events encountered at a young age, also reveals a change of character; lastly, Heathcliff’s corruption towards his wife and son due to mistreatment encountered during his childhood leading him to revenge, illustrates an evolution of character. Therefore, one would conclude that this novel is indeed “…a compound of vulgar depravity and unnatural horrors…” (Unknown Author), proving that the actions of one individual can shape the actions of another.