Heathcliff: A Hero of the Heart

From the beginning of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff's character begins to form in our opinions. He seems savage, a man of impossible manners and diminished faiths. We as readers cannot connect with him, nor can we feel any pity towards him. This initial approach in introducing his character is very effective, because Emily Bronte sets the mystery of his person so that the readers then pay close attention to his actions in the hope of discovering this dark character. When the end of the book comes to close and his character now better known, is still one that does not evoke sympathy from the reader. He is a bitter, regretful, and malicious man, who takes pride in his revenge. Yet as disgusting as his character may seem, I cannot help but love him! He, at the end of chapter three, pleads from the bottom of his heart for the return of Catherine, yearning for her spirit to be next to him. This to me, for she has been dead a very long time, shows a sentimental side of him, so unyeilding and ever burning! He shows so much in his small exclamation, a large heart that is unfortunately governed by its loss, and has hid away from all others. Only in the scene right before Catherine dies does the true Heathcliff shine. As for his attitude towards the other characters in the novel, can you blame him for his rough manners? A man who is the product of those who raised him in the same brutality and the same meanness? I do not blame Heathcliff, nor admire him, but cannot dislike him. To me he is a very strong character, who has stood against the brutal nature of the snobby household he grew up in, who has lived to see the death of his lover, and who has fought hard to keep his guard up against all others. His story is a sad one, heart wrenching, but also heart-capturing.

In class we discussed whether or not Heathcliff and Catherine should be together, when Catherine describes how he is more herself than she is. People claim that it would grow boring, that they would wear out conversation, and that there is a suffocating aspect to being with someone that resembles your essence. I still cannot believe this to be true. Is it true that you would deny being with someone who is your ultimate companion? Catherine's separation from Heathcliff drives her to insanity! Would this be her fate if they lived together--loved together--supported one another? I cannot imagine Catherine ever being herself, without being Heathcliff as well!