Catherine's Character
Uploaded by VanillaHug on Oct 02, 2001
In the beginning Catherine is introduced to us as "high spirited", kind to Heathcliff, and a free spirit. These qualities originally made me like her and her love for Heathcliff. However her character drastically changes throughout the story. When she hurts her leg and is forced to say at the neighboring house, Thuscross Grange with the Linton's she returns to Wuthering Heights as a dignified, well dressed lady. She was easily swayed to the superior life style of the Linton's, and began to look down upon her old friend and soulmate Heathcliff. She even laughs at Heathcliff's rough and dirty appearance and says "I did not mean to laugh at you," she said; "I could not hinder myself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash your face and brush your hair, it will be all right: but you are so dirty! (94)."
We the reader, are left surprised and cheated with this reversal of Catherine. She becomes more and more selfish by the minute and try's to change Heathcliff, and begins to feel that he is infact beneath her. Which is one of the main reasons she starts to look at Edgar Linton in a new light. For he is a gentlemen, refined, handsome and rich. Her feelings for Edgar and Heathcliff become increasingly apparent. However, she claims to be in love with Heathcliff and says that they have the same souls "My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff" (122)." Although she is well aware that her love for Heathcliff is bound to change as time passes, she still is obsessed by her love for Heathcliff she confirms it in the above quotation and by saying that she will never, ever be separated from him. Why does she not marry him then? Well, she has another obsession too, she does not want to degrade herself by marrying him. Instead she thinks that by marrying Linton she can and Heathcliff can rise socially. So she goes ahead and excepts Edgar's proposal. This quick decision is baffling and hurtful.
We can see she is marrying Edgar for all the wrong reason's she even confides to Nelly that "he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighborhood, and I shall...