Wuthering Heights: Analysis of Quotes

In the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brunte, the quote “Linton is all I have to love in the world, and though you have done what you could to make him hateful to me, and me to him, you cannot make us hate each other. And I defy you to hurt him when I am by, and I defy you to frighten me!”(Ch.29), represents how Cathy was showing strength and passion out of love which on the other hand, Heathcliff and Catherine were very close-minded people who would be selfish and only care about each other and no one else. This quote shows how Cathy’s humanity surrounds in a cruel society. The way she represents herself shows that she will love someone regardless if they don’t deserve it. “Nelly, I see now, you think me a selfish wretch; but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married we should be beggars? whereas, if I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of my brother’s power.'(Ch…), this quote represents Mr. Lockwood’s definition of ‘Wuthering’ in his own words as the main key to the novel. It also represents how each character will have different transitions in their roles and their lives. It begins with Lockwood’s staying at Wuthering Heights when there is a blizzard in where he appears to assume he has seen the ghost of Catherine. ‘She was slender, and scarcely past girlhood: an admirable form, and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding: small features, very fair; flaxen ringlets, or rather golden, hanging loose on her delicate neck; and eyes, had they been agreeable in expression, they would have been irresistible:” (Ch….), this quote shows that she is very pretty, but her eyes show hopelessness. Lockwood noticed that not natural for someone to have an expression like this, that is why he brought it upon being important to show the type of state that she is in. “The ledge, where I placed my candle, had a few mildewed books piled up in one corner and it was covered with writing scratched on the paint. This writing, however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small – Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton.” (Ch…), the ‘glare of white letters’ shows that they repeatedly bring up ghosts in Wuthering Heights. Catherine wasn’t known much but was introduced by her name only. ‘He got on to the bed, and wrenched open the lattice bursting, as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears. ‘Come in! come in! he sobbed. ‘Cathy, do come. Oh, do – once more! Oh! My heart’s darling! Hear me this time, Catherine, at last!”(CH…), Heathcliff’s love, Catherine appears to be dead and gets very superstitious about ghosts and haunting. They wonder why he doesn’t stay in the haunted room if he wants to see Catherine badly, yet he doesn’t want to because he believes that she is only haunting him. ‘ I seek no revenge on you,’ replied —- less vehemently. ‘That’s not the plan. The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don’t turn against him; they crush those beneath them.”(CH…), Heathcliff explains that revenge travels back to those directly and don’t go any other way. Catherine was still torturing Heathcliff with their love for each other. “You suppose she has nearly forgotten me?’ he said. ‘Oh, Nelly! You know she has not! You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton, she spends a thousand on me! At a most miserable period of my life, I had a notion of the kind: it haunted me on my return to the neighborhood last summer, but only her assurance could make me admit the horrible idea again.” (CH…), Heathcliff was reflecting on all of the hauntings. He is haunted by what will happen to him if he lost Catherine. Catherine was his person and they were almost like the same person.“You teach me now how cruel you’ve been – cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and wring out my kisses and tears: they’ll blight you – they’ll damn you. You loved me – then what right have you to leave me? What right – answer me – for the poor fancy you felt for Linton?”(CH..), Mr. Heathcliff explained that Catherine betrayed her own heart by marrying Linton. Catherine broke her own heart by her decisions which the outcome became to break Heathcliff’s heart as well. This shows how marriage can be broken by death and he only waits to meet with her again.’Because they are a great deal higher up than we are,’ replied I; ‘you could not climb them, they are too high and steep. In winter the frost is always there before it comes to us; deep into summer I have found snow under that black hollow on the north-east side!”(CH…), this quote represents that the moors represent danger and also the love that Heathcliff and herself share. Later on, she encounters Linton and learns more about Wuthering Heights.’Catherine’s face was just like the landscape – shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession, but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient, and her poor little heart reproached itself for even that passing forgetfulness of its cares.” (CH 243), this quote shows how the role of Mrs. Dean in Wuthering Heights, describes the landscape. The landscape shows the threat of nature on people.’Nelly, there is a strange change approaching: I’m in its shadow at present, I take so little interest in my daily life, that I hardly remember to eat and drink. Those two, who have left the room are the only objects which retain a distinct material.” (CH…), Heathcliff started to become more open with his feelings which made him weak.’I sought, and soon discovered, the three headstones on the slope next the moor: the middle one gray, and half-buried in heath; Edgar Linton’s only harmonized by the turf, and moss creeping up its foot;’ (Bronte 308), Heathcliff’s headstone was a symbol of him being strong. He was the last person to die and when he died, everything that he carried upon him, collapsed on him. The only thing that remained was his peace. Now they are both ghosts for eternity.