Chapter 1

Only looking at the genealogy, I cannot tell which Catherine is Cathy because there is two! One that is a year older than Heathcliff that is born in 1765 and one that is 20 years younger than him born in 1784. Both are equally tragic but I guess the first one is more realistic now that I say it out loud.

It also says Cathy dies in 1784 (yikes) at the same year the new Catherine is born. Heathcliff dies in 1802 and his wife, Isabella, dies in 1797. She was born in 1765 like Heathcliff.

The Chapter starts in 1801. Many years after Cathy dies and a year before Heathcliff dies. We’re following a guy called Mr. Lockwood, who tells Heathcliff that he is his new tenant, having come from I’m assuming the more social/city-like aspect of England. He’s excited to be around Heathcliff? He says they’re “a suitable pair to divide the desolation” of the countryside.

Heathcliff is already shown as a dark figure. Black eyes sunken under suspiciously his brow, his fingers sheltered in his waistcoat with a jealous resolution. Despite Lockwood’s seemingly warm approach, Heathcliff is not excited to meet him. He’s suspicious and hesitant to outstretch his hand for a greeting. He only nods as an introduction before verbally reassuring his identity.

Lockwood is a pretty chill guy it looks like. Introducing himself and asking about the property before Heathcliff interrupts him and flays Lockwood’s anxieties saying “he would not allow anyone to inconvenience him if he could hinder it.” He’s so obviously not happy that he tells Lockwood to walk in with closed teeth and even Lockwood clocks that it basically sounds like he’s telling him to go to hell. He’s leaning on the fence, showing no urgency to assist Lockwood in opening it, only doing so when the horse’s chest hit it.

Heathcliff tells his, must be, servant/butler, Joseph, to take Lockwood’s horse and he does so with much displeasure. This guy isn’t much better than Heathcliff. He’s an incredibly old man who is very sassy it looks like. Saying the property must be full of live-in servants. For his own sake, Lockwood assumes he is just a sickly old man who is mad at everything and to not assume it personal.

We find out Wuthering Heights is the name of Heathcliff’s property, known for it’s position for frequent stormy weather and wind. Even the fir trees are stunted and curved by the wind with thorny plants stretching as if desperate for light. The windows are narrow and the building’s corners has stones sticking and jutting out of place.

The inside is very largely lavish with carvings of the forest with griffins and shameless men (hint hint) Lockwood wants to ask about the piece’s history but Heathcliff’s expression tells him to get a move on or even to leave entirely.

They go into the family sitting room that has the parlor and kitchen but the kitchen is pushed towards the back. He can hear people talking and movement of kitchenware but nothing cooking on the fireplace nor any pans on the wall. He admires the silver platters, oak dresser, the guns ornamented over the fireplace, the smooth floor, the dark and hig-backed chairs, and a dark pointer dog nursing puppies.

Lockwood thinks that this wouldn’t be unusually for a typical northern farmer to have, but takes note of Heathcliff’s dark skin, similar to Romani descent, with gentlemanly dress and manners like a country squire, excessively casual, negligent, but handsome while sullen. This contrasts with his living style apparently. Apparently people think he is “under-bred” or of ill parentage because of his dark skin likely. Lockwood feels that Heathcliff’s demeanor comes from aa place of not wanting to show much emotion or mutual kindess, while he may feel equal hate and care inside. Lockwood stops himself though, fearing he is projecting onto Heathcliff. It looks like Lockwood isn’t the best guy either with this projection and he quickly mentions how last summer, he proved himself perfectly unworthy of a comfortable home. Saying how he and the woman he loved exchanged unsaid loving acts before he finally decided to confess. But he confessed it with an icy lack of emotion, making the woman doubt the situation until her mother helped her decide to pull out of it entirely. He says he now has an “undeserved” reputation of heartlessness.

Anyways, Lockwood sits at the end of the fireplace across from Heathcliff and attempts to pet the mom dog but it growls at him. Heathcliff stomps his foot to correct the dog but warns Lockwood not to pet her, that she’s not meant for spoiling.

Heathcliff calls for Joseph again but he refuses to come up from the cellar, causing Heathcliff to go fetch him.

Lockwood, in the meantime, makes faces at the dogs, causing the mother to attack him. He tosses her back which causes more of the dogs to surround him and bite at his heels and coattails. He tries to fight them off with a poker and calls for help. Heathcliff and Joseph go upstairs with annoyed apathy, but a women from the kitchen comes in with a frying pan to shoo the dogs away.

Only then does Heathcliff ask whats happening and responds that the dogs do nothing to those who touch nothing. He asks Lockwood if he wants a glass of wine and if he was bit. Lockwood declines and says if he was, that dog would have been punched. This makes Heathcliff smile and he invites him to wine once more; stating he and his dogs’ ill manners are due to the lack of guests they receive.

Lockwood discusses how they talked for a while and Heathcliff became more relaxed around him with his speech. He was even invited back despite Heathcliff clearly not wanting him to. Lockwood decides to go in spite of this. Surprised that Heathcliff’s behavior made him feel, who he considers heartless, as sociable.