Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte

Chapter One • The year is 1801 • Mr. Lockwood is renting Thrushcross Grange from Heathcliff • Heathcliff seems like a prominent gentleman

Wuthering Heights (the place) • Joseph is a (really old) caregiver for Wuthering Heights • WH named for the its location to get hit hard by storms • Holds the date 1500 and the name HaretonEarnshaw • Home to a Pointer with pups and two Sheepdog among others

Mr. Lockwood • Confesses to being bad with women and “unworthy” of a home • Fell in love last summer but she thought he didn’t like her because he never spoke to her • “Attacked” by the dogs when left alone with them • This lightens Heathcliff’s mood. He finds it amusing. • Thinks socially he is just like Heathcliff. Is he really? • But he wants to visit again/Heathcliff does not

Chapter Two • Lockwood heads back to WH because a servant is cleaning the fireplace • Uninviting – no one opens the door • Joseph yells to go around back • Young man (Hareton) leads him to the entrance – appears to be a servant • Young woman (Catherine Jr.) less than hospitable – attitude distracts from looks (tea)

Who’s Who • Lockwood thinks Catherine Jr is Heathcliff’s wife • Realizes that H is around 40 and C is around 17 • Heathcliff’s daughter-in-law • Lockwood thinks young man is Heathcliff Jr. and she his wife • He thinks she could do better (with him) • HaretonEarnshaw • Lockwood thinks it’s funny that he tries to act proper

Lockwood needs to stay because of storm. Everyone ignores him • Joseph comments to Catherine that she will go right to the devil like her mother before her • Catherine scares Joseph with “Black Art” threats • Lockwood gets offended when H tells him to share a room with Hareton or Joseph • Hareton offers to guide and Catherine changes tone to spite H

Chapter Three • Heathcliff does not allow people to stay in the room where Zillah takes Lockwood • Lockwood sees names written on books: Catherine Earnshaw/Linton/Heathcliff

Catherine’s Journal • Hindley (and wife Frances) is head of household (Catherine’s brother – “blaming OUR father”) • Do as I say, not as I do – kids endure Joseph’s sermons but not Hindley • Heathcliff mistreated and viewed as outsider by Hindley • Catherine and Heathcliff are good friends. Rebelled together (burn Bibles, run off)

Lockwood’s Dream #1 • Going to Rev. James Branderham’s sermon to be excommunicated? • Lockwood finally has enough of sermon and commands congregation to “get him” • Rev. reverses crowd declaring Lockwood to be the sinner. • In chaos, Rev. bangs on pulpit (sound came from tree banging on window?)

Lockwood’s Dream #2 • Dreams of being annoyed by tree branch on window • Because window is sealed shut, he breaks it and reaches out • Discovered cold fingers which grab his arm begging to be let in • Voice claims to be Catherine Linton (proof it isn’t a dream?) • Lockwood not sure why he didn’t dream of Earnshaw name • Catherine says it has been 20 years • Woke up house with screaming • Heathcliff seems deeply affected and calls for Catherine to return

Chapters 4 • Lockwood sick at home listening to the story via Mrs. Dean • Heathcliff has plenty of money but lives in inferior home (Wuthering Heights) • Catherine Jr. was Catherine Linton (the ghost?! No.) • Thrushcross was the Linton home

Family Tree • Catherine Sr. was an Earnshaw but married a Linton. Hareton is nephew • Catherine Jr.’s husband was cousin no father’s side • Heathcliff married a Linton, too. • Hareton is last Earnshaw. Catherine Jr. is last Linton • Hareton “is the only one in all the parish that does not guess how he has been cheated.”

Heathcliff • Mrs. Dean grew up with Hindley and Catherine at Earnshaw home • Mom was housekeeper • Mr. Earnshaw came home from trip with H. • Catherine and Hindley hated him because their gifts were gone or broken • Mrs. Dean removed from home (for a few days) for leaving him to sleep on steps • Heathcliff named for son who had died

Catherine grew to like him. Hindley and Mrs. Dean did not. • Mrs. Dean came around after getting credit for saving H during sickness • H seen as father’s favorite • H takes Hindley’s beatings and uses them as blackmail (“wheedle my father out of all he has”)

Chapter 5 • Hindley sent away to college • As Mr. Earnshaw got weaker, Joseph used religion to encourage him to be more strict. • Catherine Sr. toyed with father which affected their relationship • Father dies (which brings us to Catherine Sr.’s diary)

Chapter 6 • Hindley comes home to funeral with a wife • “We don’t in general take to foreigners here, Mr. Lockwood, unless they take to us first.” – Mrs. Dean • Hindley assumes control/ denies H a home and education • H and C sneak off to Thrushcross Grange and spy on Lintons • Catherine “gets caught” and taken in to be treated for an injurywhile H is sent home

Chapter 7 • Catherine returns after 5 weeks (near Christmas) • H neglected even more during that time • H told to greet C like a servant • Lintons agree to come to dinner as long as H is removed • In the spirit of Mr. Earnshaw, Nelly cleans up H’s appearance and morale… • …which is quickly ruined by Edgar’s comment • “Next time…take the law into your own fists – it will give you an appetite.” • H declares revenge on Hindley: “I don’t care how long I wait…”

Chapter 8 • Mrs. Dean skips ahead in the story to the next summer (1778) • Hindley and Frances have child (Hareton) • Frances dies of consumption shortly after. Hindley spirals out of control. • Nelly left to raise Hareton

Catherine sees to have double personality. • Polite around Lintons • Wild around Heathcliff • Shows “true colors” around Linton with violent response to Nelly but Linton can’t resist staying • H seems to have given up on life and loses ground with Catherine • Hindley comes home drunk. Nelly removes shot from gun just in case

Chapter 9 • Hindley nearly kills Hareton – drops him from upstairs • Heathcliff catches him and immediately regrets it • Catherine confides in Nelly • Agreed to marry Linton…for all the wrong reasons • Claims to want to use he marriage to help Heathcliff…her true love. • But not before saying it would degrade her to marry H…which he hears then runs off

C catches fever and delirium from waiting for H in the rain • Taken care of at TG until Linton parents die of fever • Catherine and Edgar marry three years after his parents death • Nelly forced to move to TG with Catherine…leaving Hareton behind

Chapter 10 • Back in “present day” with Lockwood – confined until spring • Heathcliff visits with apology gift? • Nelly continues story • Edgar and Catherine actually in love? Edgar very protective. • Heathcliff returns (after three years) • Been in the army? • Dignified • Original plan: catch a glimpse, get revenge on Hindley, and “doing execution” on himself • Staying with Hindley (huh?)

Edgar accepts Heathcliff being around until… • Isabella takes a shine to Heathcliff and becomes jealous of Catherine • Catherine declares it to be a bad idea with unflattering comments of H • Humiliates Isabella in front of H • Joseph says H is taken advantage of Hindley’s weaknesses • H asks about Edgar’s heir

Chapter 11 • Nelly has “6th sense” feeling to visit Hindley • She discovers Hareton (10 months after leaving him) • He is violent and crude – taught by H • Likes H for paybacks to Hindley • H answers door and Nelly runs • Later, H caught flirting with Isabella “making the most of her secret” as part of his revenge

Fight between Catherine and H causes Edgar to banish H from home • Catherine betrays Edgar by locking door forcing him to fight H himself – cries? • Edgar escapes with punch to throat – H escapes shortly after • Catherine decides to make them both miserable by being sick • Blames Edgar for listening to argument • Edgar puts foot down with Catherine and Isabella

Chapter 12 • Everyone is leaving everyone alone • Catherine is frantic • Nelly ignores her with reason to believe she is faking illness • Proves delirious and Edgar notices walking by • Prepared for death • Nelly goes for Mr. Kenneth (and finds dog strung up) • Isabella runs off with H. • Edgar disowns her

Chapter 13 • Catherine recovering from “brain fever” • Kenneth continues to speak bluntly • Edgar gets word that his sister married H 6 weeks after their disappearance • Nelly gets a note two weeks after that • What is this place? What is H? • Hindley warns Isabella to lock the door. Wants to kill H. • H admits to Isabella that he will suffer for Edgar • Isabella wants Nelly to visit regularly

Chapter 14 • Edgar denies forgiveness • Heathcliff makes Isabella hate him • Isabella decides to suffer hopefully to ruin H’s plan • H doesn’t touch Edgar out of fear it will hurt Catherine • H demands to see Catherine. • To Nelly: Sneak him in or watch him attack • Nelly reluctantly agrees to take a note to her • Lockwood wonders if kids with Catherine Jr. would turn out like Catherine Sr. (Still thinking highly of himself)

Chapter 15 • Lockwood continues in Nelly’s words • Nelly doesn’t deliver note for three days • Nelly and H realize Catherine is going to die • “You have killed me” – Catherine • Hoping for life with both Edgar and H? The life she needs and the life she wants? • H blames Catherine for choosing the life she did • Catherine begs H not to leave when Edgar returns • Her health distracts Edgar for H to leave • H makes Nelly promise another update/visit

Chapter 16 • Catherine Jr. is born and Catherine Sr. dies • Jr. is neglected for not being a boy • H hopes Catherine is NOT resting in peace. “haunt me, then!” • H puts his hair in her locket • Hindley does not go to funeral • Catherine not buried with family but on “a green slope in a corner of the kirk-yard”

Chapter 17 • Isabella has run away stopping at TG • Nelly defends H after “Monster!” comment • Isabella gained strength by making H suffer • Hindley was prepared to go to the funeral

Hindley proposes to kill H but Isabella won’t allow it • Hindley gets sliced by his own weapon • Heathcliff seems resigned • Isabella leaves for London and has a son, Linton, a few months later. • Isabella dies 13 years later • Edgar heals like a normal person and connects with daughter • Hindley dies six months after Catherine Sr. – Kenneth insensitive as usual

Nelly thinks Edgar should take in Hareton • Lawyer says to leave him if he is to have a chance of owning anything • Hindley lost everything before death to Heathcliff • H takes over Wuthering Heights • H threatens descreetly to go after Linton if they take Hareton • Hareton is up a creek and doesn’t know it • He cares for H • Works for free as a child would for his father • No chance of earning anything to buy back what should have been his • …and he doesn’t even realize it.

Chapter 18 • Next 12 years are happy • Catherine Jr. never leaves TG • Edgar rushes off to see sister’s final days and bring home Linton • Catherine Jr. sneaks off for an adventure. Nelly finds her at Wuthering Heights farmhouse. • Jr. confuses Hareton for servant. Discovers he is her cousin. • Jr. reveals in confusion that Edgar had left to get her cousin • Hareton shows signs of kindness. Nelly sees better person than his father.

Chapter 19 • Catherine Jr. excited to meet cousin and have someone to play with • Linton Heathcliff looks like Edgar but sickly • Linton isn’t there long before Joseph come to bring him back to WH • Edgar has no ground to refuse

Chapter 20 • Edgar send Linton to WH and does not want his daughter to know • Nelly sugarcoats answers to Linton’s questions • “My son is prospective owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being his successor.” – H • Heathcliff does not think he is a “worthy object of pride” • Linton cried for Nelly as she left

Chapter 21 • Nelly learns about Linton through WH housekeeper • Linton ignored by H, sick frequently, and behaves like a weakling • Hareton attempts to amuse him but it never works out • Edgar worries about him • WH housekeeper leaves and replaced by Zillah two years later • While out for walk, Nelly and Cathy Jr. run into H and Hareton • H convinces Cathy to come to the house and reveal to Nelly his plan for the cousins to marry. • H tells Cathy Jr. to visit but keep it a secret from Edgar • H explains what Hareton has become – a victim of H’s revenge on Hindley

Linton insults Hareton’s ignorance – Nelly pities him less • Cathy Jr. tells Edgar and blames him • Edgar blames H for Isabella’s death / demands end of contact • Cathy Jr. begins sneaking notes to Linton through “milkman” • Become “love” letters • Nelly burns letters in exchange for promise not to write anymore • Writes to WH to end sending letters. They stop.

Chapter 22 • Cathy Jr. worries about losing Nelly and Edgar (who is sick) • Nelly bluntly hints that associating with H and WH will speed that up • Cathy gets stuck on other side of wall and runs into H • H claims Linton is dying of a broken heart and “begs” Cathy Jr. to “save” him • Cathy can’t rest until she knows the truth • Nelly caves and takes her hoping to prove H is lying

Chapter 23 • H told Linton that Cathy’s absence was his faultand is pretty clear why he wants them together • Cathy and Linton get caught up in a game of “Your daddy so…” • Cathy shoves Linton’s chair in anger • Fragile Linton milks it for all it’s worth and Cathy falls for it • The relationship is “revived.” Cathy implies she will sneak away

Nelly gets sick from visit to WH (for 3 weeks) • Cathy Jr. is sneaking out after 6pm

Chapter 24 • Nelly discovers visits and Cathy tells tale of last three weeks • Hareton attempted to learn to read. Cathy insults him. • In a rage, Hareton throws Linton out of room • Cathy thinks he killed him and does not visit for 3 days • Hareton tries to apologize after crying, too • Linton blames Cathy. She stops visiting again…not really. • Linton apologizes (sorta) and bond grows stronger when Cathy defends Linton with H

Cathy admits that most visits are miserable but seems to be ok with that • Nelly says she’ll think about telling Edgar but tells him almost immediately. • Edgar puts an end to the visits but says Linton can come over (knowing he is too sick to do so)

Chapter 25 • Story caught up to a year ago • Does Lockwood have a thing for Cathy Jr.? (Hanging her pic) • Edgar could handle H “winning” as long as Linton was a decent husband…which he knows he isn’t. • Wishes for her daughter to have part in her “ancestral home”

Edgar writes to Linton. • Linton responds asking to meet on common ground. • Edgar says no (for now) due to health reasons • H coaching the letters? • Edgar’s health continues to decline • So is Linton’s

Chapter 26 • Edgar allows Jr. to meet Linton • Linton breaks rules and is extremely ill • It is clear the meeting is “a task he was compelled to peform” • Jr. convinces herself that Linton is healthier (out of love?) • But thinks Linton isn’t interested anymore • Linton clearly scared of H • Nelly advises to wait until 2nd visit to judge

Chapter 27 • Edgar is worsening • He is now happy Jr. might not be alone after his death (clarity in dying?) • Linton is more alert but afraid • Jr. is ticked. She things Linton is wasting her time. • Linton breaks down alarming Catherine • H shows up asking about Edgar. Talks about the “race” to death between Edgar and Linton like it’s a game

H will get a doctor in “a day or two” • Jr. must help Linton back to the house • H locks them in • “It’s odd what a savage feeling I have to anything that seems afraid of me!” – H (vivisection comment) • H strikes Jr. • Linton no longer afraid. He’s done his “job.” • H is forcing them to marry • Linton gets scared again as Jr. seems determined to “burn a way out of the house.”

Jr. agrees to marry so she can be with Edgar before he dies • H says he should hate her when he dies like he did when she was born • Jr. taken out of room next morning • Nelly detained “five nights and four days” • Hareton oddly void of compassion this time

Wuthering Heights