Wuthering Heights is an English classic literature written by Emily Bronte and published in 1847. It features a tempestuous romance between Catherine Earnshaw, whose mother died during her delivery, and Heathcliff, who is an orphan taken to Wuthering Heights. These two characters become extremely close companions. However, nature’s indifferent forces prevent them from enjoying their companionship, and instead brings massive damage to their lives.
Catherine and Heathcliff each exhibit a different persona, which contributes to their toxic relationship. Heathcliff portrays deadly and uncontrollable human emotions, while Catherine showcases her selfish persona that does not consider the one she loves. The book has exclusively focused on the toxic relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff, who showcase the impact of unrestrained passion, and how they use their will to feed off each other causing self-destruction to the other.
There exists a strong bond of love between Catherine and Heathcliff that goes beyond the norm and into a spiritual quality. The love between these two characters began during their childhood years when they were 12-year olds. Their love at this point was, however, innocent but spontaneously blossomed over the years into a strong passion that went beyond the typical love. An accident at Thrush cross Grange comes in between these two lovebirds, which strongly affects their love and turns it to a conditioned love.
Heathcliff disappears for a three year period before finally reappearing as an educated and wealthy man. Catherine, on the other hand, is married to Edgar and lives in Grange. The two immediately spark their previous love interest. However, it is more intense this time, and does not involve the normal tender compassion. Catherine is aware of the only means of taking her chances to reunite with Heathcliff and takes it without hesitation. Catherine and Heathcliff each do things that would hurt the other as a way of taking revenge for their sufferings. Their intense passion leads to the loss of life and irresponsible behavior that also hurts other people.
The separation between Catherine and Heathcliff destroyed their initial love and turned into a love full of limitations. Heathcliff and Catherine had gone to the moors, where they spied on Thrushcross Grange and encountered Linton’s children who were squabbling over some lapdog. Their encounter with the dogs is what separated them, and they each started leading different lives. When Catherine returns during Christmas, she exhibits different characteristics. First Catherine is appalled by the careless nature of Heathcliff. Heathcliff is unkempt and filthy. “If you wash your face, and brush your hair it will be all right. But you are so dirty.” (Arnold, 8).
Heathcliff is taken aback and does not understand why everything has to change now. He does not comprehend why he should not be accepted just as he was like the previous times that did not entail any demanding. Such affection expressions would only facilitate difficulties in his relations with Catherine, as it would be more challenging to respond to Catherine. “I shall be as dirty as I please, and I like to be dirty.” (9). His answer to Catherine’s remarks comes from a place of contempt, as he does not understand why Catherine wants to control him now.
This kind of control, on the other hand, emanates from a fear that Heathcliff is different, yet Catherine wants him to be like the rest of the people for him to be accepted. She is only defending herself as well as Heathcliff from the judgmental world and seeks the best for him. However, he naturally resists, which results in a power struggle that results in a lot of hurts.