Wuthering Heights

Hindley comes home for the funeral as master of Wuthering Heights, having left home three years prior, and to everyone’s surprise, he brings his wife, Frances, with him. She is thin but initially appears healthy and at first attempts to flatter and befriend Catherine. Hindley soon grows impatient with his sister and with Heathcliff, and they avoid Hindley whenever possible. One night, Hindley flies into a rage over a minor offense, and Nelly discovers that Catherine and Heathcliff have fled Wuthering Heights, not to return home in time for supper. Hindley insists they “bolt the doors, and [swears] nobody should let them in that night” (32), but Nelly keeps a concerned eye out for them and lets Heathcliff in, alone, when she spies him coming up the road to the house.

Heathcliff explains that they had been spying on the Lintons, who live at Thrushcross Grange. They observed “a splendid place carpeted with crimson” (33). They also saw Edgar and Isabella Linton arguing over a little dog. Heathcliff and Catherine both laughed at the spoiled children, hating them for their behavior. The Linton children heard their laughter, which frightened them, so Catherine and Heathcliff made noises to frighten them further before deciding to make a run for home. A dog named Skulker caught hold of Catherine as she tried to run; both Heathcliff and Catherine were caught, but Catherine’s foot was injured, so the Lintons sent Heathcliff home while they tended to her. From outside, Heathcliff watched what happened indoors, as Catherine, much admired by the Linton family, ate a plate of cakes and shared them with the dogs. 

Learning of what happened the next morning, Hindley is furious, but Heathcliff is not flogged; instead, he is forbidden from speaking to Catherine.

Five weeks later, Catherine returns home just before Christmas, wearing fancy clothes and changed in demeanor. When she meets Heathcliff, her fabulous appearance emphasizes his filthy state. Heathcliff is humiliated when Catherine laughs at him, and he reacts badly, much to Catherine’s confusion.

On Christmas Eve, Nelly is alone in the kitchen baking while the Earnshaws plan to spend Christmas with Mrs. Linton, who has “begged that her darlings might be kept apart from that ‘naughty swearing boy’” (38). Nelly goes to look for Heathcliff and finds him in the stable, but he cannot be persuaded to enter the house nor to eat supper, planning to stay hidden until the family leaves for church on Christmas morning. When Heathcliff does speak with Nelly, he confides in her and admits he wishes he looked and behaved more like Edgar Linton. Nelly encourages him, telling him that he could look like a “prince,” which improves his mood. When Hindley and the rest of the family return to Wuthering Heights with the Lintons, however, Hindley is irritated to see Heathcliff, who has cleaned up and seems happy. He abuses him, which causes Heathcliff to act badly towards the Linton children as Catherine stands by, embarrassed and unsure what to do. Heathcliff is removed by Hindley while Catherine becomes tearful at the dinner table. After dinner, everyone dances and sings Christmas carols, and Catherine is unable to persuade the others to allow Heathcliff to join them. When Nelly goes to check on the boy, she finds him plotting revenge on Hindley. 

In the present, Nelly interrupts her own story to put away her sewing, suggesting that she skip over the next three years, but Lockwood encourages Nelly to carry on with the full story, so she does.

The following June, baby Hareton is born to Frances and Hindley, but Frances is so weakened by the birth of her son that she dies. Hindley denies her declining state until she has a fatal coughing fit. The death of Frances inspires Hindley to become more abusive. Only Nelly and Joseph can tolerate his behavior; the other servants flee. Soon, “[t]he master’s bad ways and bad companions form[] a pretty example for Catherine and Heathcliff” (46), and neighbors and friends stop visiting Wuthering Heights altogether. 

At 15, Catherine is proud and stubborn, but both Edgar Linton and Heathcliff continue to feel great affection for her. Nelly explains that while Catherine is in the company of the Lintons, she “ha[s] no temptation to show her rough side” (47). In the meantime, 16-year-old Heathcliff has given up his studies, as the demands of hard labor do not allow him to carry on with his education.

One day, while Hindley is away, Heathcliff takes a break from his hard work, and Edgar comes to visit Catherine at Wuthering Heights at Catherine’s request. Catherine and Heathcliff argue, so Heathcliff leaves when Edgar arrives, and Catherine is rude to Nelly because Nelly refuses to leave Edgar and Catherine alone together. When she thinks Edgar is not looking, Catherine pinches Nelly on the arm and then accuses Nelly of lying when the housekeeper protests. Edgar is shocked at Catherine’s behavior, especially when she shakes the infant Hareton, who is crying at the sight of Nelly’s tears. Edgar tries to help Hareton only to receive a hit on the head from Catherine, and the insulted Edgar moves to leave. Catherine interferes, making a scene. Edgar seems powerless to leave Catherine, and as the two young people confess that they love each other, Hindley arrives home, sending Edgar quickly to his horse and Catherine to her room.

Hindley arrives home in a violent mood, putting a knife in Nelly’s mouth and dropping Hareton from the top of the stairs. Heathcliff catches the boy, and Nelly soothes him. As she does, she initially thinks that Heathcliff has left to go to the barn, though in fact he remains hidden in the room. 

Catherine stealthily approaches Nelly in the kitchen, thinking they are alone. Catherine confesses to Nelly that Edgar Linton has proposed marriage to her, and Nelly asks her difficult questions about Catherine’s own feelings towards Edgar. Catherine admits that she wants to marry Edgar, but due to odd dreams and intuitions, adds, “I’m convinced I’m wrong” (56). Catherine tells Nelly of her strong feelings for Heathcliff, but from his position nearby, he only hears her say: “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now” (57). He leaves the kitchen silently but is not in the barn when Nelly goes to look for him, and Nelly tells Catherine that Heathcliff overheard the conversation. 

Catherine frantically searches for Heathcliff for several hours in the thunderstorm outside, but he is gone. Everyone goes to bed, except for Catherine, who stays up all night in cold, wet clothes waiting for Heathcliff to return. Catherine catches a fever, and Mrs. Linton insists on taking her to Thrushcross Grange for her convalescence. Soon, Mr. Linton and Mrs. Linton both catch Catherine’s illness and die. When Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights, she believes her recent illness entitles her to indulgence. She and Edgar marry three years after his father’s death, and Nelly moves to Thrushcross Grange with them, leaving Hindley, her beloved Hareton, and Joseph behind.