Important Quotes Wu-Heights

Revenge “...they forgot everything the minute they were together again: at least the minute they had contrived some naughty plan of revenge.” - This quote from page 46 shows how Catherine has feelings of loyalty and compassion for Heathcliff and his struggle as well as providing evidence for the theme of revenge. Not only is she Heathcliff’s friend and sister but also stands beside his plots of revenge. “I meditated this plan - just to have one glimpse of your face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure; afterwards settle my score with Hindley” - Coming from page 99, this quote again reveals the prominence of revenge throughout the novel. It shows Heathcliff’s desire to gain revenge on Hindley and Catherine’s unwillingness to step in on behalf of Hindley.

Love “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he is more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton’s is as different as a moonbeam from lightning or frost from fire.” - This quote allows the reader to see Catherine’s true feelings through a conversation between the previous and Nelly. Catherine tells Nelly that she truly loves Heathcliff and writes off Linton. An obstacle between her love for Heathcliff is the theme of Society and Class. (page 81-82) “Two words would comprehend my future - death and hell: existence, after losing her, would be hell. ‘Yet I was a fool to fancy for a moment that she valued Edgar Linton’s attachment more than mine. If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn’t love as much in eighty years as I could in a day.’” - This quote describes Heathcliff’s lack of reason for living without Catherine. He knows, despite the marriage, that he will always love Catherine more than Edgar. It is also showing the reader how Heathcliff replaces his love for Catherine with sourness. (page 155)

Family “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.” - Three names are inscribed in Catherine’s bed ledge. The names describe all the emotion, obstacles, and all things that are Wu- Heights. However, unknown to the scribe, it will be young Catherine whose last name is Heathcliff. (page 18) “I see the house at Wuthering Heights has ‘Earnshaw’ carved over the front door. Are they an old family?” “Very old, sir; and Hareton is the last of them, as our Miss Cathy is of us - I mean, of the Lintons.” - This quote is Lockwood opening up a can of worms he had no idea he was getting into. The slip up by Nelly reveals that there may be a slight bias in her narration. This quote shows, “Whats in a name?” (page 34)

The Super Natural “...knocking my knuckles through the glass, and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch: instead of which, my fingers closed on the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand. The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed, ‘Let me in - let me in!’” - This quote comes early in a book upon the eyes of readers who are already being confused by the other aspects of the novel. Lockwood seems to discover a ghost haunting Wuthering Heights. This adds to the initial spookiness of the house. The question is if the ghost is real or not. (page 24) “I have a strong faith in ghosts: I have a conviction that they can, and do, exist among us!” - This quote reveals that Heathcliff feels that Catherine’s love for him doesn’t have to die with her body. It also shows to what extent he will go to continue to love Catherine. (page 297)

Suffering “‘I never saw Heathcliff last night,’ answered Catherine, beginning to sob bitterly: ‘and if you do turn him out of doors, I’ll go with him. But, perhaps, you’ll never have an opportunity: perhaps, he’s gone.’ Here she burst into uncontrollable grief, and the remainder of her words were inarticulate.” - Even though Catherine has a hard time being nice to Heathcliff, she is very sad the moment he is gone. She also fails to understand that the mess is mostly her fault. (pages 89-90) “‘Nay, you’ll not drive me off again. You were really sorry for me, were you? Well, there was cause. I’ve fought through a bitter life since I last heard your voice; and you must forgive me, for I struggled only for you!’” - This quote from Heathcliff sums up his suffering in a sense. He tells Catherine, quite romantically for Heathcliff, that all his agony has been for her. (page 99)

Society and Class “He drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should labour out of doors instead; compelling him to do so as hard as an other lad on the farm.” - This quote describes what Hindley did to Heathcliff. He made him work with the servants because he came from a lower class than those who live at Wuthering Heights before Heathcliff. Hindley sends Heathcliff out to work because the upper class would never work with their hands. (page 45) “Were I in your place, I would frame high notions of my birth; and the thoughts of what I was should give me a courage and dignity to support the oppressions of a little farmer!” - This quote serves two purposes. The first is to show that Heathcliff comes from a lower class. The second is that it shows Nelly’s unreliability as a narrator. It shows how she doesn’t mind a little white lie. (page 57)

Betrayal Turn to page 167 - This paragraph is a release of anger from Heathcliff. He tells Catherine how it is. Even though he tells her all this, she still struggles to wrap her head around the fact that she caused most of this turmoil. “Mr. Linton was alarmed and distressed, more than he would acknowledge to me. In the morning, Catherine learnt my betrayal of her confidence, and she learnt also that her secret visits were to end.” - This quote shows that we can never really decide to whom Nelly sides with. This show her unreliability as a narrator, again. Does Nelly have some sort of likeness of the drama? (page 262)