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Rebecca Shea
H English II
Ms. Dinnen
27 May 2013
Prevailing Passion
In the gothic novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Heathcliffs passionate
love for Catherine Earnshaw is the root of all his actions. After Edgar marries Catherine,
Heathcliff becomes consumed by revenge. Heathcliffs obsessive passion for Catherine
creates a destructive path, changing others lives. His various schemes of revenge
destroy the happiness of Isabella, Hareton, Linton, and Cathy, and cause conflict in
Catherine and Edgars marriage.
Heathcliffs obsessive passion for Catherine fuels his revenge and disrupts
Catherine and Edgars marriage. As children, Heathcliff and Catherine are raised as
brother and sister. As their love for each other continues to grow, they fall in love as
adults. Though Catherine and Edgar are married, Heathcliffs love for Catherine remains
strong. Nelly, a narrator for a portion of the story, observes the two lovers and says, For
some five minutes...He bestowed more kisses than he ever gave in his life before, I
dare say; but then my mistress had kissed him first (123).Heathcliff ardently loves
Catherine, and she is Heathcliffs sole source of happiness in his life. He professes his

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love to Catherine, I could soon forget you as my existence! (124). Despite his fervent
love for Catherine, Heathcliffs actions of love instill conflict in her heart. Catherine is
committed to Edgar. Knowing that he can never marry Catherine, vengeance drives
Heathcliff to marry Isabella, Edgars sister. Though he is married to Isabella, he
continues to love Catherine with as much passion as ever. Heathcliff does not love
Isabella, calling her a wicked slut (119). Isabella says, He accused my
brother...promising that I should be Edgars proxy in suffering till he could get a hold of
him (Bronte 114). Heathcliff hates Edgar for taking Catherine away from him. He
punishes Edgar through his cruel treatment of his sister. Heathcliffs marriage with
Isabella angers Catherine. She declares, You and Edgar have broken my heart,
Heathcliff!..You have killed me--and thriven on it (124). Heathcliffs actions cause
Catherine to have a life of torment. Catherine becomes overwhelmed, leading to her
death shortly after giving birth to her child, Cathy. When she dies, Heathcliffs
passionate love turns to revenge and becomes the catalyst for his future actions.
Heathcliffs vengeful heart drives him farther away from others and in his fury, he
tries to destroy the lives of the other characters. No one is close to Heathcliff because of
his terrible treatment of those around him. When Hindley, Catherines brother, dies,
Heathcliff gains ownership of Wuthering Heights along with Hindleys son, Hareton. He
continues to push others away as evidenced by his treatment of Hareton whom he treats

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like a slave, destroying every chance Hareton has with happiness. When Heathcliff
discovers Isabella had hidden their son from him, he does not express any love towards
Linton. Instead, he immediately decides that it will be his. He exclaims, Ill have it
when I want it. They may reckon on that! (142). Heathcliff claims his property after
Isabella dies. He does not care about his son, and he does not even recognize Linton as
a person. He treats Linton poorly because his heart is full of revenge. The mother of
Linton is Isabella, not Catherine. Lintons existence is a reminder to Heathcliff of what he
does not have, Catherine. Heathcliff constantly yells at Linton, which slowly corrodes
Lintons spirit. Heathcliff forces Cathy to marry Linton. This union is a part of his scheme
to own both families properties. He knows Edgar and Linton will soon die due to their
sicknesses, leaving him with complete control over Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering
Heights. Owning both properties formerly belonging to the Linton and Earnshaw families
supply Heathcliff with smug satisfaction.
Heathcliffs revenge consumes his life. The narrator says, Mr. Heathcliff...grew
more and more disinclined to society (238). Heathcliff increasingly isolates himself
through destroying the happiness of Isabella, Hareton, Linton, and Cathy. Heathcliff has
only cared for Catherine in his life. He describes Hareton and Cathy, Those two...are
the only objects which retain a distinct material appearance to me (247). Heathcliff no
longer desires to torture Cathy and Hareton because they resemble the love of his life,

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Catherine. Heathcliffs revenge returns to its root emotion, his passion for Catherine.
Heathcliffs actions are dominated by ways to be with his dead love, Catherine. He stops
his vengeful actions towards those around him. Instead he longs to be with his
Immortal love (247). His passion drives him to be with Catherine. He says, I cannot
continue in this condition (248). Heathcliff cannot continue living without Catherine. He
focuses on being with Catherine, so he devises a scheme concerning Catherine and
Edgars grave. The only suitable solution for Heathcliffs happiness is to be buried next
to Catherine, so that he can at least be with her in death. While thinking about his plan
he says, Im too happy, and yet Im not happy enough. My souls bliss kills my body, but
does not satisfy itself (254). Heathcliffs soul is filled with bliss when he knows he will be
united with Catherine in death.
Passion is the underlying emotion that fuels Heathcliffs love towards Catherine
and his revenge towards the characters in the novel. His passionate love for Catherine
consumes his life and causes destruction on the lives of Catherine, Isabella, Hareton,
Linton, and Cathy through revenge. He plays with their emotions in the novel, causing
confusion, pain, and heartache in their lives. The root of all of Heathcliffs actions is his
love for Catherine. Heathcliff is finally at rest when he is reunited with Catherine in
death.

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Works Cited
Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2003.
Print.