Wuthering
Heights
Adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni
Wuthering
Heights
Adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni
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| ISBN: 978-960-478-623-7 | C1909007032-16759 |
Emily Jane Brontë was born on 30 July 1818 in Thornton,
Bradford, Yorkshire, and was the fourth daughter of Maria
Branwell and Patrick Brontë, an Anglican priest. She had another
four sisters and a brother. Shortly after the youngest child, Anne,
was born, the family moved to Haworth, Yorkshire, where they
remained for the rest of their life. Emily lost her mother when she
was three, and later was sent to the Clergy Daughter’s school along
with her sisters Maria, Elizabeth and Charlotte. However, a typhus
epidemic hit the school and two of the sisters, Maria and Elizabeth,
fell ill. All the girls returned home, but unfortunately Maria and
Elizabeth didn’t survive their illness.
Emily with her two remaining sisters, Charlotte and Anne, and
their brother Patrick Branwell, were educated at home by their
father. They were all gifted children, with a love for literature and
the arts and they often entertained themselves reading, playing the
piano and telling each other stories which they made themselves.
In a time when women had no place in literature, the Brontë sisters
decided to take their work out to the public, though under male
pseudonyms at first.
Emily Brontë didn’t write much, but all her works became
classics. She wrote poems, some of which were published in a
joint edition with her sisters’ Charlotte and Anne’s work. In their
time, these poems didn’t attract much attention, but later they
were much appreciated as being very powerful. Her one and only
novel, Wuthering Heights, although not as successful at its time as
her sister Charlotte’s novel Jane Eyre, is now considered one of the
greatest works of English literature.
First published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell in 1847, this
romantic novel tells the story of two generations and focuses on
the doomed love of Heathcliff and Catherine. At first, the book was
not warmly welcomed by most critics, who found it very shocking,
violent and strange. However, as years went by, there were favourable
comments on the undeniably powerful writing in Wuthering Heights,
which gave the book a place among other Victorian classics.
Kipling’s idea for the story seems to have come from the
adventures of two men who lived around his time, James Brooke
and Josiah Harlan.
Brooke was an Englishman who managed to become the first
white Raj (prince) in Sarawak, a state in Borneo, an island in southeast Asia.
The book inspired many adaptations for television, theatre,
opera, and even a musical, a song and a role-playing game on the
Internet. Two of the most famous films include the version directed
by William Wyler in 1939, with Lawrence Olivier as Heathcliff and
Merle Oberon as Catherine, and that of 1992, with Ralph Fiennes
and Juliette Binoche.
The diary of John Lockwood Wednesday, 4 December, 1801 – I have just moved into my new home, a manor house called Thrushcross Grange, which is situated in a remote part of the Yorkshire moors. My closest neighbour is my landlord, Heathcliff. He lives about four miles away from me, in a house called Wuthering Heights. The word ‘wuthering’, I am told, is a local word which is used to describe the strong winds that sometimes blow across the moors. On Monday, I decided to ride to my landlord’s house to introduce myself to him. I must admit, Heathcliff is not at all what I had expected: he has long, curly, black hair, green eyes and dark skin, and though he dresses and talks like a gentleman, looks very much like a gypsy
Heathcliff did not seem particularly pleased to see me, but he invited me in for tea, nonetheless. A servant showed me into the parlour, and Heathcliff and I spent the next hour talking about a range of subjects. He’s a surprisingly intelligent man, and, when I left Wuthering Heights, I made up my mind to pay my landlord another visit soon. *** Yesterday afternoon, I decided to take a walk to Wuthering Heights. It was a misty and windy day, and by the time I reached my destination, I was shivering and exhausted. As I pushed open the gates of the Heights, it started to snow, and I quickly made my way to the front door. After several minutes of knocking, a young man answered the door and informed me that Heathcliff was out. I asked him to let me wait for Heathcliff inside and he showed me to the kitchen. The burning wood in the fireplace was a welcoming sight, and I quickly sat down in front of it.
There was a girl in the kitchen preparing supper. She was quite young and remarkably beautiful and I wondered if she was Heathcliff’s wife. “Awful weather!” I said to the girl as I rubbed my frozen hands together. The girl glanced at me. “Yes,” she agreed. I tried to start a conversation with the girl, but she seemed reluctant to answer my questions. An hour or so later, my landlord arrived. “Here again, Mr Lockwood?” said Heathcliff as he shook the snowflakes from his coat. “You shouldn’t be wandering around in the middle of a snowstorm. You could get lost in the marshes.” “Hello, Mr Heathcliff,” I said, standing up. “Don’t worry, I’ll leave once the storm has passed. “This storm will probably last the whole night,” said my landlord. “You’ll never find your way back in this.” “Well, perhaps one of your servants could walk back with me?” I said. “Or maybe I could stay here for the night?” Heathcliff shot me an angry look. “There’s no one to take you back, and I have no room for visitors! You really shouldn’t have come here today, Mr Lockwood!” I was quite surprised by Heathcliff’s rudeness. “Well then,” I said coolly, “I’ll just have to find my own way home.” I was about to leave, when Heathcliff suddenly changed his mind. I think that, since I am his only tenant, he probably felt responsible for me and he agreed to let me stay the night. Once we’d eaten supper, Heathcliff’s housekeeper, Zillah, showed me to a room. “Mr Heathcliff doesn’t usually allow guests to stay in this room,” she said as she unlocked the door. “So don’t make any noise.” With a heavy sigh, I sat down on the bed and placed my candle on the wooden table next to it. I noticed that three names had been scratched onto the table: Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Linton and Catherine Heathcliff. Some books lay on the shelf above the bed and I picked one up and started to read it. It was the diary of Catherine Earnshaw. Most of the diary entries described events in the girl’s childhood as well as her close relationship with my landlord, Heathcliff. Soon, I fell asleep and I began to dream. A little later, I heard the sound of tapping at my window.
Believing that a tree branch was the reason for the noise, I opened the window carefully. I reached out to break the branch, and then, to my horror, felt a small, icy hand grip my wrist! I screamed and drew my arm back, but the hand wouldn’t let me go! “Let me in! Let me in!” said a voice. “Who are you?” I cried. “Catherine Linton,” it replied. “I lost my way on the moors, but I’m home now.” Suddenly, a child’s face appeared in the window. I screamed again and shouted in horror "Go away!" This time, the hand let me go, and I quickly shut the window. Minutes later, Heathcliff burst into my room, carrying a lamp. “Who’s there?” he asked. “It’s me, Lockwood. I had a horrible nightmare,” I said, breathing heavily. Heathcliff held up the lamp to examine my face. “Mr Lockwood?” he exclaimed. “What are you doing in here?” “Zillah said I could sleep here,” I said. “But this room is haunted!” Heathcliff narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?” “I-I saw a ghost at the window…” I said. “The ghost of Catherine Linton… She wanted to come inside!” Heathcliff looked surprised. He was quiet for a moment, then he ordered me to take the lamp and go downstairs. I did as I was told, and, as I began to go down the staircase, I saw Heathcliff open the window and calling out to the ghost: “Come in, come in, my darling Catherine! Can you hear me, Catherine? Please come in!” But nothing happened. I quickly walked to the kitchen where I waited until daybreak. To my surprise, Heathcliff offered to accompany me back to the Grange after breakfast. We did not discuss the events of the night before, in fact, we hardly spoke at all. When we reached the gates of the Grange, Heathcliff said farewell and I quickly made my way to my warm parlour.
Chapter 2
S unday - I have become very ill since my visit to my landlord and haven't been able to get out of bed. I’ve also been feeling quite lonely, so, when my housekeeper, Nelly Dean, brought me my supper last night, I asked her to stay with me and tell me more about the residents of Wuthering Heights. Nelly has worked at both the Heights and the Grange, and I was sure she’d have some interesting stories to share. “Do you know Mr Heathcliff well?” I asked. “I’ve known him since he was a young boy,” answered Nelly as she placed my supper tray on my bedside table. “He’s a bit rough, isn’t he?” I said. Nelly nodded. “Yes, he is. I’d advise you to stay away from him, Mr Lockwood.” “And who is the young woman who lives with him? Is that his wife?” “Heavens no!” replied Nelly. “That girl is Cathy Linton; she’s the daughter of my late master, Edgar Linton.”
“And the young man who lives at the Heights? Is he related to Heathcliff?” “No, he is the late Mrs Linton’s nephew; her brother Hindley’s son. His name is Hareton.” Once I’d finished eating, Nelly pulled out her knitting and sat down in front of the fireplace. She then proceeded to tell me the most extraordinary tale I’d ever heard. This is her story, in her own words… *** I started working at Wuthering Heights when I was about eighteen years old. The owner, Mr Earnshaw, lived there with his wife and two children, Catherine and Hindley. Catherine was about six years old when I arrived, and Hindley was in his early teens. I’d been at the Heights for about six months, when, one summer morning, Mr Earnshaw announced that he was going to Liverpool on a business trip. He returned three days later with a companion: a dirty, black-haired gypsy boy who I assumed was about six or seven years old. Mr Earnshaw said that he’d seen the boy wandering the streets of Liverpool alone and felt sorry for him. Without a second thought, he decided to bring the child to Wuthering Heights to raise him as his son. Naturally, the family was horrified. Although Mrs Earnshaw disagreed, Mr Earnshaw ordered me to wash and dress the child and put him to sleep in the children’s room. The boy was named ‘Heathcliff’, which was both his first name and his surname. In the weeks that followed, Heathcliff and Catherine became very close. Catherine was a delightful child – she was always singing, dancing and laughing and Heathcliff found her quite charming. The two would spend hours together, playing in the fields or exploring the moors. Hindley, on the other hand, hated Heathcliff. He was jealous of the attention his father showed to the boy, and he often beat Heathcliff and called him horrible names. Mrs Earnshaw died two years after Heathcliff’s arrival; after his mother's death, Hindley became even more violent towards Heathcliff. I never once saw Heathcliff cry or fight back, and I came to the conclusion that he was not the type of person who wanted revenge. Of course, I was very wrong.
When Hindley finished school, Mr Earnshaw sent him off to university. Sadly, Mr Earnshaw died three years later. When Hindley came home for the funeral, to everyone’s surprise, he brought a wife with him. Her name was Frances; she was a sweet girl, cheerful and happy, but also a little simple-minded, in my opinion. Hindley was very caring towards his wife, but his attitude towards Heathcliff remained negative. Shortly after his return, he decided to stop the boy’s education, and Heathcliff was ordered to work in the fields instead. At first, Heathcliff didn’t seem to mind; Catherine would teach him what she had learnt in class, and she sometimes worked and played with him in the fields. Occasionally, they would run away to the moors together and stay there all day, much to Hindley’s annoyance. One Sunday evening, I went to call the children for supper, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. Finally, Heathcliff appeared, but he was alone and he looked upset. “Where’s Catherine?” I asked. “At Thrushcross Grange,” answered the boy out of breath. Thrushcross Grange, at that time, was the house of the Linton family. Heathcliff and Catherine did not like the Linton children, Edgar and Isabella, but they often liked to go to the Grange and spy on them as a game. “We went to see what Edgar and Isabella were doing,” continued Heathcliff. “But they saw us at the window and began screaming for their parents! I immediately took Catherine by the hand and we started running, but the Lintons’ dog chased after us and bit Catherine’s ankle! One of the servants came out, and when he realised that a young girl had been attacked, he picked Catherine up and carried her back into the house. Mr and Mrs Linton recognised Catherine and began to take care of her. When they saw me walk in, they called me a ‘wicked boy’ and ‘a gypsy thief’. Mrs Linton said that I wasn’t fit for a decent house, and she told her servant to throw me out. I didn’t want to leave Catherine, but I had no choice…” “Oh, Heathcliff,” I said once the boy had finished his story. “Hindley is going to be furious.” I was right. When Hindley found out about what happened, he forbade Heathcliff from ever speaking to Catherine again.
Catherine stayed at Thrushcross Grange for about five weeks, and, in that time, Mrs Linton taught my young mistress how to dress and behave like a lady. By the time Catherine returned to Wuthering Heights on Christmas Eve, she had changed completely. “Catherine, you’re so beautiful!” exclaimed Hindley, as he helped his sister step down from the carriage. He was right; I’d never seen my mistress look so lovely. She was wearing a silk dress and a pretty pink hat; her cheeks were pink, and her wild, curly hair had been pulled up neatly. Catherine greeted her family first, then the servants, and then Heathcliff. I noticed Hindley give Heathcliff a disapproving look: the boy’s face and hands were dirty from working in the fields and his clothes were covered in mud. Catherine kissed Heathcliff on the cheek and he mumbled a greeting. I think he was quite amazed by his friend’s appearance. “Forgive me for saying this, Heathcliff, but you’re so dirty!” said Catherine with a laugh. “Why don’t you wash your face and brush your hair?” Hindley and Frances started laughing too and Heathcliff blushed. “II can be as dirty as I please!” he said, angrily. The boy ran off, humiliated. Catherine called to him to come back, but he ignored her.
The girl sighed and went up to her room and I returned to the kitchen to prepare for Christmas dinner the following day. Later that evening, I found Heathcliff brushing the ponies in the stable. His eyes were red and it was obvious that he’d been crying. “Will you help me become a decent boy, Nelly?” asked Heathcliff when he saw me. “I want to look good, like Catherine.” Of course I agreed to help the boy, so, the next day, while the family attended the Christmas church service, one of the servants gave Heathcliff a bath, and then I combed his hair and gave him a set of clean clothes. The boy was filled with pride. Unfortunately for poor Heathcliff, Hindley entered the kitchen a few minutes later, and, when he saw the boy, he pushed him angrily against the wall. “Why are you dressed like that?” he asked. “You won’t be joining us tonight. The Lintons are coming and I don’t want them to see you, is that clear?” “But it’s Christmas, sir!” I said. “I don’t care!” shouted Hindley. “Lock him up in the attic at once!” At that moment, Edgar appeared in the doorway. “Look at the gypsy boy’s hair,” he said, pointing at Heathcliff. “It’s so thick and long! It’s like a horse’s mane!” The comment made Heathcliff so angry that he picked up a pot of hot applesauce and threw it at Edgar. The boy screamed and Catherine and Isabella came running. Hindley dragged Heathcliff up to his room where he gave him a terrible beating; then he locked him
in the attic. After dinner, the Earnshaws and the Lintons gathered around the piano and sang Christmas carols. Catherine took advantage of the opportunity to slip away from the dining room. She made her way to the attic, where she spent the next hour talking to Heathcliff. Later, Catherine and Heathcliff came downstairs; Catherine returned to the party, while Heathcliff sat down in front of the fireplace in the kitchen. I gave him a plate of food, but he refused it. “Hindley will pay for what he’s done to me,” murmured Heathcliff as he gazed into the yellow flames. “One day, he’ll pay.” *** In June the following year, Frances gave birth to a baby boy named Hareton. Sadly, Frances fell ill and died a few weeks after the birth. Hindley could not bear the pain of losing his wife and the sadness began to drive him mad. He became short-tempered and often had violent mood swings. He did not care much for his son, and the responsibility of raising the child fell to me. That year, Catherine turned fifteen, and I started noticing some changes in her behaviour. My sweet young mistress suddenly became stubborn and arrogant. She began spending more time with the Lintons, who were wealthy and educated, and less time with Heathcliff who was neither. Heathcliff felt hurt and left out, and he made his feelings known, but Catherine didn’t seem to care. Then, when Catherine was nineteen, Edgar proposed to her. I still remember the evening she came into the kitchen to tell me the news. “Are you alone, Nelly?” she asked. “Yes, miss,” I said. “Where’s Heathcliff?” “At the stables, I think.” I hadn’t realised that Heathcliff was, in fact, sitting in a dark corner of the kitchen. Catherine sat down on the bench next to me and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Oh Nelly, I’m so unhappy,” she said. “Why?” I asked. “What happened?” “Edgar asked me to marry him, but I’m not sure if I should… Do you think I should?” she asked.
“That is not my decision to make, Miss Catherine,” I said. “Well, I accepted his proposal…” she said. “You did?” I said. “Well then, there’s no point in discussing it.” Catherine sighed. “Nelly, I’m not sure if I made the right decision.” “Well, do you love Mr Edgar?” I asked. “Of course I do,” answered Catherine. “And why do you love him?” I asked again. Catherine paused for a second. “I love him because he’s young and handsome and cheerful… And one day he will be rich, and I will be the greatest woman in the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud to have such a husband!” “Those aren’t particularly good reasons to marry someone, Miss Catherine,” I said. “Mr Edgar won’t always be handsome and young, and he may not always be rich… You have to think about the future.” Catherine looked surprised. “Well, I’m more interested in the present,” she said. “So what’s the problem, then?” I said with a heavy sigh. “The problem is that, in my soul, I know that I am wrong!” said the girl. “I shouldn’t be marrying Edgar, I should be marrying Heathcliff. And I would have married Heathcliff, if my wicked brother hadn’t turned him into a poor, uneducated farm worker! I wish I could marry Heathcliff… but if I marry him, we’ll both be beggars! Oh, I love him so much and not just because he’s handsome, but because he’s my other half… I am Heathcliff, Nelly! He is always in my mind, he is the love of my life!” At the point where Catherine called Heathcliff a ‘poor, uneducated farm worker,’ I noticed Heathcliff quietly leave the kitchen. I put my finger to my lips, trying to tell Catherine to be silent. “Why?” she asked as she looked around nervously. “I just saw Heathcliff leave the kitchen,” I said. “I think he heard what you said.” Catherine was in panic. “He heard me?” she cried in horror. The girl jumped to her feet and ran out of the kitchen. She went out in the rain and searched everywhere for Heathcliff until past midnight, but he was nowhere to be found.
Heathcliff disappeared after the night of the storm, and we all thought that he'd never return. Three years later, when Catherine was twenty-two years old, she married Edgar Linton and moved to Thrushcross Grange. Of course, I went with her. Edgar’s parents had died by then, and Isabella was the only other resident at the Grange. Catherine proved to be a good wife to Edgar; she was very fond of him and he simply adored her. But their happiness wouldn’t last. One evening, about six months after the wedding, I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, and, to my great astonishment, found Heathcliff standing on the porch. “Hello Nelly!” he said, as he removed his hat. “Mr Heathcliff!” I exclaimed. “Indeed,” he said. “Is Catherine in? I’d like to see her.” “Uh, yes, sir,” I said. “I’ll call her.” Catherine was sitting in the parlour with her husband, reading. I told her she had a visitor and she quickly went downstairs. After a while, we heard Catherine scream with delight. “Who’s here, Nelly?” asked Edgar and he looked at me. “It’s, uh, Mr Heathcliff, sir,” I answered. “He’s back.” “Heathcliff?” exclaimed Edgar, rising to his feet. “The gypsy?” I nodded. A moment later, Catherine came running into the room; her cheeks were red and her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “Edgar!” she said, out of breath. “Heathcliff’s back! Isn’t that wonderful?” Edgar gave Catherine a dark look. “I wouldn’t call it wonderful,” he said. “Oh Edgar,” said Catherine, as she put her arms around her husband’s neck. “I know you don’t like Heathcliff, but please try to be friends with him, for my sake.” Heathcliff was shown into the parlour and the two men greeted each other coolly. Catherine asked me to bring up tea, and she spent the rest of the afternoon chatting happily with her friend, while her husband looked on quietly. Heathcliff told Catherine about his travels and his various business ventures. He mentioned that he’d
made a great deal of money in the last three years and Catherine seemed impressed. Somehow, Heathcliff moved back into Wuthering Heights, with Hindley's permission and, in the weeks that followed, his visits to Thrushcross Grange became more and more frequent. Then, much to Edgar’s horror, Isabella announced that she was in love with Heathcliff. Catherine tried to discourage the girl from having an affair with Heathcliff. “He’s a difficult man, Isabella,” she said. “He’s rough and short-tempered; he’d crush you like a sparrow’s egg if you gave him any trouble.” “That’s not true!” shouted the girl. “You’re jealous! You want Heathcliff all to yourself!” The girl refused to listen to reason and my mistress decided to tell Heathcliff about Isabella’s love for him. Heathcliff said that he wasn't interested in Isabella, so Catherine put the whole business out of her mind. A few weeks later, however, I was preparing supper in the kitchen when I saw Heathcliff and Isabella taking a walk in the garden. They were talking and laughing and then I saw him kiss her. I told my mistress about that and she decided to talk to Heathcliff immediately. “What’s going on, Heathcliff?” asked Catherine as Heathcliff entered the kitchen. “Did you kiss Isabella? Edgar will be furious if you did, he won’t let you come here ever again!” Heathcliff narrowed his eyes. “I am not your husband, Catherine, and I can kiss anyone I please. What’s the matter? Are you jealous?” he asked. Catherine glared at him. “No, Heathcliff, I’m not jealous. But if you love Isabella, you should marry her. Tell me the truth, do you love her?” she asked. “Would Mr Linton let his sister marry Mr Heathcliff?” I interrupted. “I think so,” said Catherine. “Well, I don’t care about his approval!” shouted Heathcliff as he banged his hand on the kitchen table. Catherine jumped. “Heathcliff, calm down, all I said was –” “Enough!” yelled Heathcliff, his eyes burning in anger. “I’ve had
enough of all of you! Edgar has treated me like a criminal my whole life; your brother beat me throughout my childhood… And you, Catherine, you broke my heart! I was never good enough for you, was I? And now I’m not good enough for Isabella! You’re all going to pay for what you’ve done to me! It’s time for revenge!” Catherine gasped. “Revenge? What are you talking about, Heathcliff?” she said. Worried about my mistress’s safety, I hurried to the parlour to look for Edgar. I told him what Heathcliff had said and he raced to the kitchen with me. Edgar ordered Heathcliff to leave the Grange immediately, but he refused. The two men argued violently, and were about to start fighting. Edgar realised that Heathcliff was much bigger and taller than him so he went to his room to get his gun. “Leave now Heathcliff, or he’ll kill you!” cried Catherine. When Edgar returned, Heathcliff had left and Catherine was lying on the floor crying hysterically. I think she’d finally realised how much she’d hurt Heathcliff by marrying Edgar, and I think she deeply regretted choosing Edgar over her beloved Heathcliff. My mistress became very ill after that incident. She suffered from severe headaches and hardly ate or slept. We called the doctor and he told us that she had a brain fever and that a complete recovery was very unlikely. He also said we should try to keep Catherine calm and let nothing annoy or depress her. A few days later, we received news that Heathcliff and Isabella had run away together.
chapter 5
Over the next few months, Catherine’s health got worse. Edgar was constantly by her side, taking care of her. By spring, Catherine was a little stronger, and she was able to leave her room for the first time in weeks. One day, Edgar and I helped her make her way to the parlour, and she spent the afternoon there, reading in the warm sunlight. It was at around this time that we discovered that Catherine was pregnant. Edgar was delighted, but Catherine’s recovery remained his main concern. After Isabella ran away with Heathcliff, she sent her brother a letter
asking for his forgiveness. He did not reply to the letter, however. Then, Isabella sent me a letter in which she described her marriage to Heathcliff as ‘a terrible mistake’. She called Heathcliff ‘a devil’ and said that he had only married her to gain control over Edgar. She also said that Heathcliff blamed Edgar for Catherine’s illness, and, until he could take revenge on Edgar, Isabella would be the target of his rage. Isabella begged me to come see her so I paid a visit to the Heights a few days later. My heart broke when I saw the girl: she was painfully thin and her eyes were red from crying. When it was time for me to leave, Heathcliff told me that he wanted to come see Catherine. I tried to discourage him from coming to the Grange; I told him that my mistress was very weak and that a visit from him would only upset her, but he didn't seem to listen. He gave me a note to give to Catherine and I took it reluctantly. The following Sunday, while Edgar was at church, I gave Catherine the note and told her that Heathcliff wanted to see her. Her eyes brightened a little at the mention of his name. Once Catherine had finished reading the note, Heathcliff walked into the room quite unexpectedly. He must have waited for Edgar to leave the Grange, so that he could visit Catherine. My mistress gasped when she saw him and without a word, Heathcliff hurried to her bedside and took her in his arms. I saw tears roll down his cheeks as he kissed her pale face and held her close to him. “Oh Catherine! My darling Catherine!” he whispered. “How will I ever live without you?” “Heathcliff…” said Catherine weakly. “I’m so happy you came… But I want you to know that you broke my heart. Both you and Edgar broke my heart. You’re both to blame for what happened to me… Tell me, Heathcliff, will you forget me when I’m gone?” Heathcliff gave Catherine a look filled with pain. “How can you ask me such a thing, Catherine?” he cried. “My life will be meaningless without you! You know that!” Catherine buried her face in Heathcliff’s chest and began to sob quietly. “I am not to blame for what has happened to you,” continued Heathcliff. “You did this to yourself… You betrayed your own heart when you chose to marry Edgar instead of me. I have not broken your
heart, you have broken it, and, in breaking it, you have broken mine.” Catherine looked up at Heathcliff. “My darling, can you ever forgive me?” she said. “I forgive you, Catherine,” said Heathcliff, his eyes filled with tears. Exhausted by her pain and sadness, Catherine fainted in Heathcliff’s arms. He placed her gently on the bed and kissed her forehead. At that moment, we heard Edgar’s carriage approaching the house. “The fool has returned,” said Heathcliff angrily. “I’ll be waiting in the garden, Nelly. Come down later and tell me how Catherine is doing.” Heathcliff left about a minute before Edgar entered the house. Edgar came up to Catherine’s room immediately, and, together, we managed to bring her round. At midnight, Catherine’s daughter was born, two months prematurely. Sadly, my mistress died two hours later. In the early hours of the morning, I went down to the garden to tell Heathcliff what had happened. I found him leaning against an old ash tree, his hands in his pockets. “She’s dead, isn’t she?” he said as I approached him. “Yes,” I said. Heathcliff glanced up at Catherine’s bedroom window. “How did she die?” he asked. “Quietly as a lamb,” I said as I wiped my tears with a handkerchief. “She is at peace now.” “Peace?” exclaimed Heathcliff angrily. “I don’t want her to be at peace! She can’t be at peace while I am in pain! I need her, Nelly! I cannot live without my life! I can't live without my soul! I want her to haunt me for the rest of my days!” Heathcliff began to bang his head against the tree and wail like a wounded animal. He ordered me to leave him alone and I hurried off immediately. I thought it best to leave him to his grief. Things changed quickly after Catherine’s funeral: Isabella ran away to London, where she gave birth to Heathcliff’s son, Linton. Hindley made some foolish business investments and lost everything. Heathcliff offered to pay off his debts and, in return, Hindley gave him Wuthering Heights. Hindley died six months after his sister, and Heathcliff said that he'd raise Hareton himself. The boy was given no money or attention, because Heathcliff had decided to treat Hareton like a servant, much like Hindley had treated him.
I spent the next few years at Thrushcross Grange helping Edgar raise his daughter, Cathy. She was a beautiful child: she had her mother’s dark eyes and her father’s pale skin and delicate features. My young mistress was a cheerful and friendly little girl, and she treated everyone with great kindness. She was also a very bright young lady, and, with Edgar as her teacher, she quickly proved to be an excellent student. Edgar was very protective of Cathy, and she was never allowed to leave the Grange. For her, Heathcliff and Wuthering Heights simply did not exist. Of course, Cathy was curious about the world that lay beyond Thrushcross Grange and she was particularly fascinated by the Penistone Cliffs. She would spend hours sitting at her bedroom window, looking at the cliffs in the distance. “When will I be old enough to leave the Grange?” she would ask. “Soon, my dear, soon,” I would answer. A few weeks after Cathy’s thirteenth birthday, Edgar received a letter from Isabella. She told him that she was dying and that she wanted him to come to London to see her. She also wanted Edgar to take care of her son, Linton. Edgar was very upset by the news and he left for London immediately. He instructed me to look after Cathy in his absence, and made me promise that I would never let her leave the Grange. Two days later, Cathy took her pony for a ride. When she did not return for tea, I began to worry. I asked the servants if they’d seen her, and one of them said that she’d left the Grange hours earlier. She’d taken two of the dogs with her. I was sure that Cathy had gone to the Penistone Cliffs and I immediately set off after her. The road to the cliffs goes past Wuthering Heights and when I got near the house, I noticed Cathy’s dogs sitting on the lawn. I ran to the front door and started knocking hard. “Hello, Nelly!” said the housekeeper when she opened the door. “Have you come for your little mistress?” “Yes!” I said out of breath. “Is she here?” “She is indeed,” said Zillah. “She’s in the parlour talking to Hareton. Mr Heathcliff is out.”
I made my way to the parlour and found Cathy sitting in a rocking chair, laughing at something Hareton had said. I hadn’t seen Hareton since he was a child; he was now a tall, strong boy of eighteen. “Nelly!” exclaimed Cathy when she saw me standing in the doorway. “You’re a very naughty girl, Cathy!” I said. “Put your hat on, we’re leaving at once!” “But I don’t want to go, Nelly!” said Cathy. “Well, you have no choice!” I cried. “What if your father finds out about this? He’ll be furious!” “Don’t be angry with her, Nelly,” said the housekeeper. “We asked her to stay. We noticed her riding past the house this morning and when she told us who she was and where she was going, Hareton offered to go with her. I thought it was a good idea; the road to the cliffs is quite dangerous.” After much discussion, Cathy finally agreed to leave with me. On the way home, she told me about her visit to the cliffs. She had noticed that Hareton could not read and she asked me why that was and if he was a servant. I explained to her that he was, in fact, her cousin. Cathy was quite amazed by this new information. I told the girl not to tell her father that she’d left Thrushcross Grange and she agreed to keep her visit a secret. My master returned home a few days later. Isabella had died and he brought Linton with him to the Grange. The boy had been weak and sickly since birth and when Edgar carried the pale child into the house, I could hardly believe he was Heathcliff’s son. Cathy was delighted to see her father and also thrilled to meet her cousin. “Now, darling,” said Edgar to Cathy as he placed the boy on the sofa and covered him with a blanket, “Linton’s had a long journey and he’s exhausted. He’s also just lost his mother, so don’t tire him this evening.” “Yes, Papa,” said Cathy. Edgar and I watched as Cathy took care of the young boy; she stroked his curls, told him stories and offered him some tea and biscuits. The boy smiled weakly. “That’s just what Linton needs,” said Edgar, “a friend his own age.
Cathy will help him get better again, I’m sure of it.” But Linton didn’t stay with us for long. That evening, Heathcliff sent his servant Joseph demanding that the boy be brought to the Heights in the morning. Edgar didn’t want Linton to live with Heathcliff, but he felt he had no choice in the matter. My master sent Joseph away that evening, but he instructed me to take Linton to Wuthering Heights the following day. He had no wish to face his old enemy. When Heathcliff first laid eyes on his son, he shook his head in disgust. “Is this weak child really my son?” he asked. I nodded. Linton was instantly terrified of Heathcliff and it broke my heart to leave the boy with him. I told Heathcliff to treat the child with kindness and he said he would. Then, I returned to the Grange. Cathy was very upset when she found out that her cousin had gone to live with his father. Of course, we never told her who Linton’s father was, or that her cousin was living four miles away.
chapter 7
On the day of Cathy’s sixteenth birthday, she and I went for a walk on the moors. It was a beautiful spring day; the sun was shining, the sky was bright and clear, and the birds were singing a pretty tune. I watched Cathy hop happily ahead of me; suddenly, a rabbit appeared and Cathy ran after it. When I finally caught up with her, I found her talking to two men. I was very upset when I realised that her companions were Heathcliff and Hareton. I heard Heathcliff introduce himself to my young mistress. She shook his hand and then turned to look at Hareton. “I’ve seen him before,” she said. “Is he your son?” “No, he isn’t,” answered Heathcliff. “But I do have a son. You’ve also met him once before. Why don’t you come to my house and pay him a visit? I’m sure he’d be delighted to see you again.” “We’re in a hurry, I’m afraid,” I said as I approached them. “Miss Cathy’s father is waiting for her.” Heathcliff gave me an angry look. “Don’t interfere, Nelly,” he said. “Let the girl come to the house if she wants to.” Cathy really wanted to meet Heathcliff's son, and I couldn’t stop her from going to the Heights. Heathcliff ordered Hareton to accompany
the girl to the house; I called to her, but Heathcliff grabbed my arm and squeezed it tightly. “Quiet!” he whispered angrily. “Leave me alone!” I cried. “You’re up to something, I know it!” Heathcliff grinned. “All I want is for Cathy and Linton to meet each other. Who knows, they may even fall in love and get married one day.” “Why would you want them to get married?” I asked. “If they do get married and Linton dies, Cathy will inherit Linton’s property.” “You’re wrong, Nelly,” said Heathcliff. “Linton’s will states that if he is married when he dies, I will inherit his property as well as his wife’s property. So, if Linton marries Cathy, and dies, Thrushcross Grange will be mine… Edgar Linton will lose both his daughter and his fortune!” I gasped when I heard Heathcliff’s evil plan. “You are a wicked man!” I cried. We reached the house and found Linton in the kitchen. He was almost sixteen at that time and quite tall for his age. Though he was still pale and very thin, he had grown into a rather attractive young man. “Do you recognise him?” Heathcliff asked Cathy, pointing to the boy. Cathy frowned. “It’s Linton,” said Heathcliff. “Little Linton?” exclaimed Cathy. “Why, he’s taller than I am!” Linton smiled and stepped forward to greet his cousin. The two spoke for a few minutes, then Cathy turned to address Heathcliff. “So, you’re my uncle?” she said. “Why have you and Linton never visited us at the Grange?” Heathcliff paused. “Your father doesn’t like me very much, Cathy,” he said. “We had an argument a few years ago and we haven’t spoken to each other since.” Cathy stared at Heathcliff, with her eyes wide open. “What did you argue about?” she asked. “Your father thought I shouldn't marry his sister,” said Heathcliff, “and when I did, he was furious.” “That’s wrong,” said Cathy, shaking her head. “I’m going to tell Papa that he was wrong to argue with you.” Cathy spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing with
Linton. We left just before sunset and Cathy promised she’d come back and visit the boy, since he was too weak to make the trip to Thrushcross Grange. The next morning, Cathy admitted to her father that she had seen her cousin; needless to say, Edgar was horrified by the news. “Why do you dislike his father?” asked Cathy. “Heathcliff is an evil man, Cathy,” said Edgar. “I wanted to protect you from him, that’s why I never told you that Linton was staying at Wuthering Heights.” Edgar gave his daughter a serious look. “Cathy, you must never go to Wuthering Heights again, is that understood?” “But I want to see Linton!” she protested. “He’s my friend!” “I’m sorry, darling,” said Edgar. “One day you’ll understand why I’m doing this.” Cathy felt she had to obey her father’s wishes, but she missed Linton terribly and decided to start writing letters to him in secret. The letterwriting continued for months and no one knew anything about it. One day, however, as I was looking for some papers, I happened to come across a box containing all of Linton’s letters to Cathy. I immediately asked Cathy about it, and she begged me not to tell her father about her correspondence with Linton. I told her I would keep her secret as long as she destroyed the letters and promised she would never write to Linton again. Of course, she didn't have the heart to destroy the letters, so I had to throw them all in the fire myself. Cathy was very upset. She spent the rest of the day crying in her bedroom and refused to speak to me for days. One afternoon in November, Cathy and I were picking berries when we heard the sound of a horse approaching. It was Heathcliff. He’d come to tell Cathy that Linton missed her very much and that he was dying of a broken heart. Heathcliff was lying, of course; his intention was to make Cathy feel guilty. Cathy begged me to come with her to Wuthering Heights to see Linton, and, though I was reluctant, I finally agreed to accompany her. Linton was suffering from a bad cough, but his condition was not as bad as Heathcliff had suggested. Still, Cathy felt it was her duty to take care of Linton and she began to pay secret visits to him. I was furious when I found out and I told her father immediately. Edgar was very upset by the news and he forbade Cathy from ever going to Wuthering Heights again.
L ast winter, Edgar suddenly became very ill. He knew the end was near and his thoughts turned to his daughter’s future. He could see that Cathy had very strong feelings for Linton and he believed that there was a good chance that they would get married. It was after Cathy's seventeenth birthday when Edgar began writing letters to Linton in an effort to get to know the boy better. He must have been satisfied with Linton’s responses, because he decided to let Cathy and Linton meet. And so, one Thursday afternoon last August, Cathy and I rode out near Wuthering Heights to see young Linton. The boy was sitting on the grass when we arrived, and when he saw us, he slowly rose to his feet. He greeted us with a weak smile and I noticed that he was shivering. Cathy embraced Linton and he began to cough violently. His health had clearly become worse, and Cathy and I both told him that we were worried, but Linton insisted that he was all right. Linton and Cathy spoke for about half an hour, but the boy's mind seemed to be somewhere else, and he kept glancing nervously at his house. As we were leaving, Linton made Cathy promise that she’d come see him again the following Thursday. In the days that followed, Edgar’s health began to get worse rapidly and Cathy spent hours at his bedside. The girl was terrified of losing her father, and her great sadness made my heart ache. On Thursday morning, I reminded her of her meeting with Linton. She didn’t want to leave her father, but felt she had to keep her promise to her cousin. Cathy and I rode out to the moors once more, and found a very anxious Linton waiting for us. “I didn’t think you’d come!” he said, his voice trembling. “My father said that Uncle Edgar is very ill.” “He is very ill,” said Cathy. The girl gave her cousin a sad look. “Linton, I’m sorry, but I can’t spend any time with you today, I have to get back to my father.” Linton gasped. “No, Cathy!” he exclaimed. “You can’t leave now, my father will be furious! He’ll kill me!” “What?” said Cathy. “What are you talking about?” Linton’s blue eyes filled with tears and he took Cathy’s hands in his. “My father says he’ll kill me unless you come home with me!” said the
boy. “My life is in your hands, Cathy! Please save me!” Cathy stared at Linton, open-mouthed. She was about to respond, when Heathcliff appeared. “What a lovely surprise,” he said. “It’s so good to see both of you!” Linton began to cough uncontrollably and his father turned to glare at him. “Why don’t you ladies come to the house for a cup of tea?” said Heathcliff. “I’m sure you’re both tired after your journey.” Linton looked at Cathy, begging her silently, and she felt she had no choice but to go to Wuthering Heights with him. I wanted to stop her, but I really did believe that the boy’s life was in danger. We arrived at the house, and, once we’d entered the kitchen, Heathcliff locked the door and removed the key. Cathy turned to look at Heathcliff. “What do you want?” she asked. “Why have you brought us here?” Heathcliff sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. “You’re going to marry Linton tomorrow,” he said calmly. “And you and Nelly will be staying here overnight. The housekeeper is away, so you can stay in her room.” “What?” I exclaimed. “Have you gone mad? You can’t make Cathy marry Linton!” “And you can’t make us stay here either!” shouted Cathy. “My father is very ill and he needs me! I must go!” The girl tried to snatch the key out of Heathcliff’s hand, but he grabbed her arm and slapped her hard across the face. “Leave her alone, you wicked man!” I shouted as I ran towards Heathcliff. “Stay back, Nelly!” said Heathcliff. “Or you’ll be next!” Cathy was too stunned to speak. She touched her bright red cheek and began to cry. Her cousin looked away and said nothing. Heathcliff then pushed Cathy and me into a room where we stayed until the next morning. Needless to say, neither of us slept that night. At sunrise, Heathcliff unlocked the door and ordered Cathy to come downstairs with him. I tried to leave with her, but he pushed me back into the room and locked the door. I spent five days in that room; the only other person I saw was Hareton, who brought me my meals each day. On the fifth day, the housekeeper returned and released me from
my prison. I searched the entire house for Cathy, but she was nowhere to be found. I was about to search the stables when I saw Linton in the kitchen. “Where is Miss Cathy?” I asked. “She’s upstairs,” said Linton. “And it’s Mrs Heathcliff now.” “Which room is she in?” I said, ignoring his comment. “I can’t tell you that,” said the boy. “Papa will be furious.” “Where is Heathcliff?” I continued. “He’s outside talking to the doctor. He’s just come from Thrushcross Grange; he says that Uncle is very ill,” he answered. I decided it would be best to return to the Grange and send the servants to rescue Cathy later. When I arrived home, I found that my master's health had got a lot worse. He was pale and feverish and very worried about Cathy. I told him what Heathcliff had done to us, and I reassured him that Cathy was all right. Edgar instructed me to call his lawyer immediately; he wanted to change his will so that Cathy’s inheritance would not end up in Heathcliff’s hands. I sent for the lawyer and then ordered four servants to go to the Heights to bring back my mistress. Later, I was informed that the lawyer would not be able to come to the Grange until the following morning. At sunset, the servants came back from Wuthering Heights empty-handed. Heathcliff had told them that Cathy was ill and could not be moved and they believed his lies. I was furious. Luckily, Cathy returned to us later that evening. “Oh, Nelly!” she cried as I opened the front door. “Is Papa still alive?” “Yes, my angel!” I said as I embraced my mistress. “I’m so happy to see you! How did you get away?” “Linton helped me escape,” said Cathy. The girl ran up to her father’s room and I followed her. Edgar smiled when he saw his daughter. He kissed Cathy’s cheek and murmured: “I am going to her, Cathy... one day, darling child, you will come to us.” Fifteen minutes later, Edgar Linton was dead.
chapter 9
The day after Edgar’s funeral, Heathcliff came to the Grange and demanded that Cathy would go back to Wuthering Heights. The girl did not want to leave, but felt she had to return to take care of her husband. She collected her things, kissed me with tears in her eyes, and left with Heathcliff. He warned me to stay away from Wuthering Heights, and I had no choice but to obey. About a month later, I ran into Zillah in the nearby town of Gimmerton. I asked her how Cathy was, and she told me that the girl was very unhappy. She said that when Cathy first arrived at Wuthering Heights she went straight to Linton’s room to see him. A few hours later, she came downstairs and begged Heathcliff to call the doctor, as Linton was very ill. Heathcliff, however, refused to send for the doctor; he said that Linton’s life wasn’t worth saving. Cathy begged him to change his mind, but Heathcliff simply ignored her. “Cathy spent every moment at Linton’s bedside,” said Zillah. “She hardly ever ate or slept. Sometimes, she’d sit at the top of the stairs and sob for hours. I wanted to help her, but Mr Heathcliff told me not to interfere. Then, one evening, she burst into my room and said: ‘Tell Mr Heathcliff that his son is dying! Get up now and tell him!’ “I hurried to Mr Heathcliff’s room and banged on the door. He seemed annoyed at the interruption, but he nevertheless followed me to Linton’s room. We found Cathy sitting at the boy’s bedside, with her hands folded on her knees and a blank face. Mr Heathcliff examined the boy and after a brief pause said: ‘He is dead.’ He turned to look at Cathy. ‘How do you feel?’ he asked.
“Cathy was quiet for a moment. ‘He is safe now, and I am free…’ she said. ‘I suppose I should feel relieved, but I don’t feel anything.’ “Mr Heathcliff ordered a servant to take Linton’s body to his room, then he told me to return to mine. Cathy remained in her husband’s room, alone. Grief and exhaustion made her fall ill and she stayed in bed for two weeks. Mr Heathcliff went up to her room only once, to show her Linton’s will. The boy had left everything to his father, including Thrushcross Grange, which Cathy had inherited when her father died. Mr Heathcliff told Cathy that he planned to rent out Thrushcross Grange; the girl had no choice but to stay at Wuthering Heights. “Cathy has recovered from her illness, but she spends most of her time on her own, reading. She hardly ever speaks to me or Hareton. I think she’s angry with us because we didn’t help her take care of Linton. Hareton has tried to explain to her that Mr Heathcliff had forbidden us from interfering, but she refuses to listen,” said Zillah. I wish I could save my poor Cathy from Heathcliff. My only hope is that she gets married one day and leaves Wuthering Heights forever. *** 25 January, 1802 – Yesterday I went to Wuthering Heights to tell my landlord that I am planning to return to London. I’ve spent most of my time at the Grange recovering from illness, and I don’t want to spend another winter in this cold and lonely place. Cathy was in the kitchen preparing lunch when I arrived. Hareton showed me into the parlour and told me that Heathcliff was out hunting, but that he’d be back soon. “Ah, Mr Lockwood, it’s good to see you feeling well again,” said Heathcliff when he finally returned. He removed his coat and hat and hung them on a rack, then turned to shake my hand. “Good day, Mr Heathcliff,” I said. “I’ve come to tell you that I am moving back to London. I will, of course, pay my rent for the next few months, but I’m not going to stay at the Grange. You’ll have to find a new tenant from October.” Heathcliff nodded. “I see,” he said. “I suppose you miss the city.” “Yes, I suppose I do,” I said. Heathcliff invited me to stay for lunch and I accepted the invitation. As soon as we’d eaten, I said goodbye to him and left Wuthering Heights.
chapter 10
20September, 1802 – Last week, I returned to Wuthering Heights to discuss some business with my landlord and give him what was left of the rent. When I arrived, I noticed that the house looked slightly different. The garden was full of flowers and hundreds of delicate pink roses framed the entrance. Most of the doors and windows were open, and, as I reached the porch, a light wind carried with it the smell of spring. I was about to knock on the front door, when I saw two figures in the parlour. Cathy and Hareton were sitting at a table together – he was reading aloud and she was listening with attention. Once Hareton had finished reading, Cathy smiled broadly at him and kissed his cheek. I decided not to interrupt the happy scene by knocking on the door, so I made my way around the house to the kitchen. To my surprise, I found Nelly there, sitting in a rocking chair. She was sewing and singing quietly to herself. “Hello Nelly!” I said, as I removed my hat. Nelly gasped. “Mr Lockwood!” she cried. “You’ve returned!” “Yes,” I said. “I’ve come to see my landlord. Do you live here now?”
Nelly nodded. “Zillah resigned shortly after you left for London and Mr Heathcliff offered me her job.” “You must be pleased,” I said. “Is Mr Heathcliff here?” Nelly stared at me for a moment. “You haven't heard?" she said. "Mr Heathcliff is dead, sir.” “Dead?” I exclaimed. “But how? When?” Nelly sighed. “He died about three months ago,” she said. “Why don’t you have a seat, Mr Lockwood, and I’ll tell you all about it.” I sat down and Nelly offered me a cup of tea. Then she began her story. *** I was absolutely delighted when Heathcliff asked me to return to the Heights. Cathy and I were always together for the first few weeks after my arrival. We spent all our time gardening or reading in the parlour. I was Cathy’s only friend at that point; she hated Heathcliff and hardly ever spoke to Hareton, unless it was to insult him. As I mentioned to you before, Hareton was illiterate and Cathy often made fun of him for that. Though he was uneducated, I knew that Hareton was a good boy and I encouraged Cathy to be kinder to him. Eventually, the two became friends. Cathy offered to teach Hareton how to read, and, in time, their friendship developed into love. I’m not sure if Heathcliff noticed that the two of them had fallen in love. He seemed quite distracted in the weeks before his death; he often disappeared for hours wandering on the moors and he barely spoke to any of us. Gradually he lost his appetite and refused to eat or drink anything. One evening, I found him in the parlour talking to himself. I asked him if he was all right and he said: “Nelly, something is happening to me… A change is approaching…” “Are you ill, sir?” I asked, alarmed. “No, I am not ill,” he replied, “but I cannot live like this anymore, Nelly. Catherine is calling to me… She haunts me every day! She will not rest until we are together.” Heathcliff’s words upset me greatly. “You mustn’t say such things, sir!” I said. Heathcliff asked me to leave him alone and I hurried off. It seemed to me that his obsession with Catherine was causing him to lose his
mind. That night, Heathcliff went out for a walk. When he returned the following morning, he was a changed man. He strolled into the kitchen with a big smile, his eyes shining with excitement. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen Heathcliff look so happy. “Good morning, sir,” I said. “Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?” Heathcliff shook his head, refusing with a smile. “You seem to be in a good mood, sir,” I said. “I am so happy, and yet, not happy enough,” said Heathcliff, “Last night,” he continued after a pause, “I visited hell! But today, I saw heaven! I am so close to it, Nelly, I can almost touch it!” Heathcliff’s strange behaviour was beginning to frighten me, but I tried not to show it. That night, I heard him walking up and down in his room and calling out to Catherine. He was groaning and murmuring and we decided to call the doctor, but Heathcliff refused to let him in. It rained all day the next day. Heathcliff did not come out of his room at all, and I began to fear the worst. I used a spare key to unlock his door and found him lying on his bed. His wild eyes were open and his face was frozen in a peculiar smile. I touched his hand… It was ice-cold. Heathcliff was buried in the churchyard next to his beloved Catherine. Some people claim that their ghosts haunt the moors, but I try not to pay attention to those stories. Cathy and Hareton are planning to get married in January and then they will move to Thrushcross Grange, taking me with them. They decided that Wuthering Heights will be locked up forever. *** A short while later, I was leaving Wuthering Heights for the last time. As I passed the churchyard, I decided to stop and pay my respects. On a nearby hill, I found three headstones – one belonging to Edgar, one to Heathcliff and one to Catherine. I spent some time there looking at the moors and listening to the soft wind breathing through the grass; it gave me some comfort to think that those unhappy souls had finally found some peace in that quiet earth.
1. John Lockwood goes to live in a remote place in the country. Do you
prefer living in the city or in the country? Why?
2. Heathcliff talks and dresses like a gentleman, but he looks very much
like a gypsy, says Lockwood. Why isn’t a gypsy be considered to be a
gentleman? For your answer, you need to take into consideration the
beliefs and ideas of the time the book was written.
3. Do you think that the incident with Catherine Linton was real or a
dream? Why?
4. Do you believe in ghosts? Why? / Why not?
5. Do you think that Lockwood will visit Wuthering Heights again after
what happened on the night of the storm?
1. Lockwood is very interested in Wuthering Heights and its people,
and is trying to find out more about them. Why do you think that is?
How would you feel in his place? Would you do the same?
2. Mr Earnshaw decides to bring Heathcliff to his house and raise him
as a member of his own family, although he is a total stanger. What
do you think of his decision?
3. Mrs Earnshaw and her son strongly disagree with Mr Earnshaw’s
decision and make that obvious by the way they treat him. How do
you think you would feel if you were Hindley? What would you do?
4. The boy had Heathcliff both as his name and surname. How do you
think that might affect him?
5. Do you think that Hindley’s behaviour toward Heathcliff will change?
What will Heathcliff do about it?
1. What do you think “behaving like a lady” means? What is appropriate
behaviour for women in your country?
2. What do you think of Catherine’s behaviour towards Heathcliff
on returning from the Grange? Do you think he was right to feel
humiliated? How would you have felt in his place?
3. How do you find Heathcliff’s reaction to Edgar Linton’s comment? How
should we react when somebody does or says something we do not like?
4. What do you think of Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar? What
would you have done in her place? How should people choose their
future wives/husbands?
5. Will Catherine marry Edgar? Where do you think Heathcliff went?
1. How do you think Edgar Linton felt when he saw Heathcliff? Why?
2. Why do you think Heathcliff returned? What makes you think so?
3. Do you think that Catherine was right to want to protect Isabella
from Heathcliff?
4. What do you think about Isabella’s reaction to Catherine’s advice?
What would you have done in her place?
5. Will Isabella be happy with Heathcliff?What do you think they will do
now that they have run away?
1. How do you think Edgar felt when he received his sister’s letter? What
would your reaction have been?
2. How did Catherine and Heathcliff’s last meeting make you feel? Why?
3. What do you think about Heathcliff’s reaction to Catherine’s death?
What does it show about him?
4. Heathcliff decides to keep Hareton at Wuthering Heights and raise
him himself; however, he also decides to treat him as a servant. What
does that say about him?
5. What do you think will happen to Isabella and Linton? Will they ever
return to Wuthering Heights?
1. Do you think that Edgar was right not to have let Cathy go to or know
about Wuthering Heights? Why / Why not?
2. Hareton cannot read or write. Why is that a problem in your opinion?
3. How do you think Linton felt when he moved from London to the
moors? How would you feel in his place?
4. Do you think that Edgar was right to let Linton stay with Heathcliff?
Why? / Why not?
5. What do you think will happen to Linton? Will he and Cathy ever
have the chance to meet again?
1. What do you think made Cathy want to visit the Heights? What
would you do in her place?
2. When Heathcliff reveals his plan to Nelly, she tells him that he is
wicked. What do you think of him? Justify your answer.
3. Do you find Edgar’s explanation about why Cathy should stay away
from Wuthering Heights satisfying? Why? / Why not?
4. Do you think Nelly was right to reveal Cathy’s secret visits to Linton
to the gir’s father? Why? / Why not?
5. What do you think Cathy will do? Will she obey her father and not
visit Wuthering Heights again, or not?
1. Linton is obviously ill, but he insists that he is all right. Why does he do
that? What makes him say so?
2. Linton seems to be terrified of his father. What is your relationship with your
parents like? What do you think an ideal child-parent relationship is like?
3. Heathcliff forced Cathy to marry his son. What do you think about that?
How should people choose the person they get married to?
4. Judging Heathcliff from his behaviour towards Cathy and Linton, what is
your opinion of him? Why does he treat others that way?
5. What do you think will happen to Cathy now that Edgar’s dead?
1. What should you do when someone doesn’t feel well or has a health
problem?
2. Right after Linton’s death, Cathy says that she doesn’t feel anything.
Why do you think that is? How would you feel in her place?
3. After Linton’s death, Cathy stopped speaking to Zillah and Hareton.
Why? How do you react when someone annoys you or makes you
feel angry?
4. What do you think made Lockwood decide to leave the Grange? How
would you feel about your landlord if you were in his shoes?
5. What do you think Cathy will do? Will she manage to be happy
again?
1. How do you think Lockwood felt when he heard about Heathcliff’s
death? Why?
2. How did Nelly feel when she returned to Wuthering Heights after
Zillah’s resignation? Why? How would you have felt in her place?
3. What was Heathcliff’s obsession? How did it affect his behaviour?
4. What do you think Heathcliff meant by the words: “Last night I
visited hell, but today I saw heaven?”
5. Did you like the ending of the story? Why? / Why not? Would you
like it to end differently? How?