Wuthering Heights Notes

Wuthering Heights

Introduction

Love is not always a happy experience; lovers may not treat each other gently.
Stories often depict lovers kept apart by external forces.
In Wuthering Heights, the main force separating lovers is themselves.
Characters possess weaknesses like pride, selfishness, and mixed feelings, leading to unhappiness.
Love fails passionately and dramatically in this story due to these weaknesses.

Setting and Characters

Mr. Lockwood: Narrator, rents Thrushcross Grange in 1801-1802
Ellen Dean: Housekeeper at Thrushcross Grange
Mr. Heathcliff: Landlord of Thrushcross Grange, resides at Wuthering Heights
Mrs. Cathy Heathcliff: Widow, Heathcliff's daughter-in-law
Hareton Earnshaw: Resident of Wuthering Heights
Joseph: Servant at Wuthering Heights
Zillah: Housekeeper at Wuthering Heights
Mr. Earnshaw: Deceased owner of Wuthering Heights
Hindley Earnshaw: His son
Catherine Earnshaw: His daughter
Frances: Hindley's wife
Mr. and Mrs. Linton: Residents of Thrushcross Grange
Edgar Linton: Their son
Isabella Linton: Their daughter
Cathy: Edgar Linton's daughter
Linton: Heathcliff's son.

Chapter 1: Mr. Lockwood Visits Wuthering Heights

Lockwood is delighted with Thrushcross Grange due to its remote location and Yorkshire scenery.
Heathcliff is Lockwood's only neighbor.
Heathcliff's character is similar to Lockwood's; both dislike people.
Heathcliff is unwelcoming to Lockwood's introduction.
Joseph, an old, sour servant, takes Lockwood's horse and mutters about the rare visitor.
Wuthering Heights is described as a windswept house on a hill; trees are bent by the north wind.
The name "Earnshaw" is inscribed above the front door.
The interior resembles a Yorkshire farmhouse kitchen but lacks signs of cooking or a farmer.
Heathcliff has dark hair and skin, like a gipsy, but possesses the manners of a gentleman.
Silence by the fire; Heathcliff retrieves wine from the cellar.
Lockwood is attacked by fierce dogs; a housekeeper calms them.
Heathcliff is rude, but Lockwood accepts wine and suggests another visit, despite Heathcliff's lack of interest.

Chapter 2: Catherine Earnshaw's Room

Lockwood walks to Wuthering Heights in misty and cold weather, arriving as it snows.
Joseph is initially reluctant to let him in, citing Mrs. Heathcliff's unwillingness.
A young man leads Lockwood inside, where he finds a warm fire and a table of food.
Mrs. Heathcliff, appearing cold and silent, is much younger than Lockwood expected.
The young woman is about seventeen, with golden wavy hair.
Hareton Earnshaw is introduced, the young man from before who Heathcliff calls not his own son, but the son of Hindley Earnshaw.
Heathcliff is unpleasant and inhospitable, yet Lockwood is compelled to stay the night due to darkness and snow.
Zillah, the housekeeper, discreetly leads Lockwood to a bedroom that Heathcliff forbids anyone from sleeping in.
The room contains a bed with heavy curtains and a shelf of books.
Childish handwriting on the wall reveals names: Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Heathcliff, Catherine Linton.
Lockwood discovers Catherine Earnshaw's diary from 1776.
Diary entries reveal Catherine's hatred for her brother Hindley and his cruelty towards Heathcliff after their father's death.
Dreams disturb Lockwood; he is awakened by knocking at the window.
An ice-cold hand grasps Lockwood's fingers, and a voice cries, "Let me in!"
The voice identifies itself as Catherine Linton, lost and wanting to come home.
Lockwood rubs the creature's wrist against broken glass, causing it to release him.
Lockwood piles books against the window and refuses to let "Catherine Linton" in, even if she cries for twenty years.
The voice says it has been outside for nearly twenty years.
Heathcliff enters the room with a candle, unaware of Lockwood's presence behind the curtains.
Lockwood reveals himself; Heathcliff is shocked and drops the candle.
Heathcliff angrily questions who allowed Lockwood to sleep in that room.
Lockwood describes his dream and the ghostly Catherine Linton.
Heathcliff, trembling, sits on the bed and asks Lockwood to move to his bedroom.
Lockwood declines and waits in the kitchen until daylight, resolving not to visit again.
Heathcliff throws himself on the bed, opens the window, and calls out to Catherine to come in.
Lockwood leaves, disturbed by Heathcliff's suffering.
Ellen Dean welcomes Lockwood back to Thrushcross Grange, thinking he was lost in the snowstorm.
After recovering, Lockwood asks Ellen Dean about the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights.
Ellen reveals she has lived at Thrushcross Grange for eighteen years, since Catherine Earnshaw married Edgar Linton.
The young Mrs. Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights is the widow of Heathcliff's son, once cared for by Ellen as a baby.
Lockwood describes Heathcliff as rough and hard but expresses interest in his story.
Ellen Dean promises to tell Lockwood the full story of Heathcliff's life so he can judge for himself.

Chapter 3: Ellen Dean's Story - Catherine and Heathcliff as Children

Ellen was raised at Wuthering Heights since her mother worked for the Earnshaw family.
She grew up alongside Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw.
Mr. Earnshaw returned from Liverpool with a gipsy child, Heathcliff, whom he found alone in the streets.
Catherine and Hindley were initially disappointed but Heathcliff became accepted into the family.
Catherine and Heathcliff became close friends, while Hindley resented Heathcliff.
Mr. Earnshaw favored Heathcliff, punishing Hindley for mistreating him.
Tension grew with Mr. Earnshaw’s failing health, furthering Hindley's resentment.
Old Joseph caused trouble by encouraging stricter discipline and complaining about Catherine and Heathcliff's lack of religious observance.
Catherine was wild and mischievous, requiring constant supervision.
Catherine's worst punishment was separation from Heathcliff.
Mr. Earnshaw died quietly in his chair one stormy night in 1775.
Catherine discovered his death, prompting grief from her, Heathcliff, and Ellen.

Chapter 4: Catherine Earnshaw Gets to Know the Lintons

Hindley returned home with his wife, Frances, after his father's burial.
Hindley relegated Joseph and Ellen to the back-kitchen and distinguished between Catherine and Heathcliff, where Catherine received lessons and Heathcliff worked on the farm.
Catherine and Heathcliff grew wild, seeking to provoke Hindley, and often ran away to the moors.
One Sunday evening it was discovered that Catherine found company and was staying the night with the Lintons by way of an injury.
Mrs. And Mr. Linton judged Heathcliff as a wicked thief and he was quickly removed from the property.
Catherine stayed with the Linton family at Thrushcross Grange for five weeks.
Catherine returned from the Lintons a different person, much more like a lady.
Heathcliff was not presentable in the same and the two were separated before the Linton's arrived for Christmas.
Heathcliff threw a bowl of hot soup at Edgar, and Hindley pushed him upstairs.

Chapter 5: Catherine and Edgar

Hindley’s wife, Frances, died shortly after giving birth to their son, Hareton.
Consumed by grief, Hindley indulged in alcohol and neglected both his son and Wuthering Heights.
Catherine, at fifteen, was a striking beauty but also proud and quick-tempered, leading a double life, she was kind at Thrushcross Grange, but spiteful at Wuthering Heights.
Edgar Linton fell deeply in love with Catherine, while Heathcliff, now sixteen, labored on the farm.
Heathcliff’s angry demeanor and lack of cleanliness reflected his resignation.
Catherine was unable to make conversation with Heathcliff.
Arguments ensued and Catherine ultimately struck both Ellen and Edgar before Edgar left.
Cathy then declared “I’m going to cry until I’m ill!”, leading to Edgar’s quick return and a newly made friendship between the two

Chapter 6: Heathcliff Disappears

Hindley, in a drunken state, endangers his son Hareton, but Heathcliff saves the child from a fall.
Catherine confides in Ellen about Edgar's marriage proposal and seeks her advice.
Catherine admits that while she loves Edgar, her soul is intertwined with Heathcliff's.
Catherine believes marrying Edgar will enable her to help Heathcliff with her husband’s money, which Ellen strongly disapproves of.
Catherine declares her love for Heathcliff is like the unchanging rocks, and he is always in her heart but Heathcliff hears Catherine say she cannot marry him.
Catherine has a fever caused by getting wet, and fell ill for several weeks as a result.
Dr. Kenneth advises to do whatever she wants, and don’t make her angry, and as such everyone had to obey her orders.
Having recovered somewhat, she stayed at Thrushcross Grange with Edgar

Chapter 7: Heathcliff Returns

Catherine marries Edgar Linton; they reside at Thrushcross Grange.
Ellen is surprised and pleased with Catherine's behavior toward her husband and Isabella, Edgar s sister.
After four years, Heathcliff returns to Ellen bringing much shock.
Ellen warns that the shock of this news may be too much for Catherine.
Catherine rushes downstairs in anticipation.
Edgar and Catherine are happy, and soon their time is interrupted by Catherine screaming “Oh Edgar darling! Heathcliff’s come back!”
Edgar is worried, but eventually welcomes Heathcliff, thinking he is only a servant.
Catherine could not keep her happiness to herself, and in the middle of the night she woke Ellen.
In the matter of days, Catherine behaved so sweetly towards Edgar, and this granted her the ability to see Heathcliff again.
Her sister, Isabella, declared that she was in love with Heathcliff much to Edgar’s horror.

Chapter 8: Catherine is Ill

Heathcliff met Isabella by chance in front of the house, and gave her a kiss.
Catherine told Heathcliff to leave Isabella alone, and he replied that you shouldn’t be jealous of him, which would not be true.
At this point Ellen went to look for Edgar, and told him that Catherine and Heathcliff were quarreling
Edgar told Heathcliff that he would be thrown out, and soon Catherine locked the door.
Edgar attempts to fight Heathcliff, but gets pushed away and then leaves.
This results in Catherine becoming so over-excited that she orders Ellen to go upstairs with her.
Catherine states “ I’m wild with anger Ellen!”
Ellen states “Catherine’s ill?”!
Having known of her condition, she was told to take food and rest, but when she took food she declared that “Oh, why don’t I die, since no one cares about me!”
Shortly after, he found old and new faces all around him - those being Edgar and the ones who had just arrived.
To his dismay, Isabella’s’ room would go vacant

Chapter 9: Isabella's Story

For two months now, the residents of Wuthering Heights had heard nothing back from Isabella or Heathcliff yet during those times Catherine was in “brain fever” where nobody knows how long she will survive
They went on to receive a letter from Isabella, and this letter had a letter for Ellen, Isabella’s thoughts would soon become very truthful.
In these words she declares that she and Edgar are married, and she pleads that Ellen can come bring her a message from Edgar where otherwise nobody is going to help her
Not knowing where else to turn, Elizabeth would then decide she has to ask questions where only but one person knows the answer
This is something that would prove to be what drove Isabella to become as unhinged as she was
Having seen an opportunity, Isablella left, but not without seeing Ellen and explaining the story which gave Isabella more insight then before.

Chapter 10: Heathcliff Visits Catherine for the Last Time

Heathcliff provides a letter for Catherine, but the master is out which gives prime opportunity for Ellen to visit Catherine.
As Ellen explains. Catherine appears to not want to read the letters but she needs help.
Catherine and Heathcliff hold eachother for another five minutes, where they give eachother pain to look at eachothers faces
Catherine questions: “How can I bear it!”
As Heathcliff gives himself over to darkness, Catherine turns towards him with the most striking eyes, and they become one in another”
After this great bond. they could not be torn apart.
This is soon interrupted as servants are returning from church.
Heathcliff gets pulled apart from his time with Catherine as they get more scared than ever.
As Catherine falls uncioncious, Edgar is torn from the moment to be with Heathcliff.
Catherine is not the same. With her Edgar wants Heathcliff but it is not safe for eather.
Heathcliff then cries Where are you, Catherine! What took for you so soon!. And how did you die?
He then hits his head multiples times against a tree.

Chapter 11: Isabella Escapes

That Friday evening would become too much for Ellen, as the weather turned bad and it made the situation worse.
Next she encountered Isabella Heathcliff. Ellen then asked why she did this. - which made the escape all real. . with the gold rings now being thrown into the fire! Never wanting to see her again.
Where Catherine loved Heathcliff, Isabella hated it. And it would become this way each, and everyday.
As such, she left. And at that very instance would tell how every encounter has to be the one or the last.
Shortly thereafter there can another son, where Heathcliff then stated. “ I wish bad upon that boy!”
There are just a couple of things that make one so torn. The lost of love, as Hareton and Edgar had. And how Heathcliff will not treat his son

Chapter 12: Bringing Up Cathy

I went on to spend the next twelve years being happier, as I became what Catherine had turned out to do.
In this I only had her and Catherine as true protectors, to make me feel as if nothing could be hurt.
Even into her teenage-years where he had been the most protective, but Catherine then asked Ellen: “ Can I ride off”?
And with this single movement would see the path of Hareton to once more be a servant.
Soon Ellen was afraid, in disbelief that someone with such little hope can fall into despair after running away.
As Catherine and Ellen approached a man, Ellen then asked: what do you mean? I could not be the first to learn from my own cousin.
I will forever have my love for Ellen and Catherine

Chapter 13: Heathcliff's Son at Wuthering Heights

As such Linton had to learn about it quickly. The story that the two are so similar made it more heartbreaking knowing how lonely the two could be.
Soon the two had arrived close at Wetherington and found the two children. Soon thereafter: Heathcliff asked Linton, “ Are you hurt”?!
Ellen stated to Heathcliff, “ At least this is something good you have done!”. Having tried before she thought, why bother me?
The fact that he’s so ill I must do what is right.

Chapter 14: Secret Visits

Months had past, and Ellen spoke her worries about Catherine, as it then seemed that they could stay ill from this.
“Catherine, how you let him do all of this”?, Ellen states.
Having then said that if both her father and son die - what do I do!
As the gentleman approached Catherine, they got so close that they were soon forced to act by way of the situation - it was never there intention.
Ellen would continue the rest of the story in such a heartbreaking manner, with so much to be told.

Chapter 15: A Trap

In time Catharine began seeing someone new, Linton. But with more interactions came more questions over what could be.
Ellen knew more of Linton then Catherine and became worried over her interactions.
Seeing Ellen take such good care for Catherine, Edgar did his part and explained what the master could say.
This was when Catherine finally understood what could be, something that she had never before realized.
As both sat down, Linton looked very scared! Crying before everyone.
Cathy was never as honest to someone who held so much meaning. I must got back, you said you weren’t going too!
The people started the trip to Weatherington now - I need you.
His face and clothes was red! What did he do!? As I am sure both men, Ellen and Edgar thought. Did these men hurt her
You’ll need to cry harder! We won’t allow you to escape

Chapter 16: Cathy Becomes a Widow

On the evening after the Burial, Heathcliff came back - he had found her.
They were then all looking for someone - but where did they go! He’s looking for someone to rent off from where he’s staying!
Ellen was looking to see his family, not what was his!
We then see one of the most depressing moments, Catherine speaks poorly to - almost - disrespects her own mother.
Do you know what Catherine was doing yesterday! He states!! He didn’t stop looking in that direction!!
He was a strong man with nothing holding him. But then what was something from the coffin. You see how much she will take! You almost killed everyone!
Did everyone really not want to see me to help others! He was smiling as if Catherine would be there for him.
But this didn’t stop him. He had known what I’ve done. And for a moment felt a sadness in my heart as what was was no longer.