Up to this point in the book, Heathcliff focused solely on getting revenge on Hindley. His plan for revenge, however, truly was a “difficult piece of work,” because it was long, thought out, detailed plan. Heathcliff didn’t plan to avenge himself by simply murdering Hindley, he slowly brought Hindley to ruin instead. This further shows Heathcliff’s lack of remorse, and it proves just how bad Heathcliff really is. This also is a shift in the novel, because Heathcliff had focused on slowly destroying Hindley up to this point. After this, Heathcliff transitions to ruin Hindley’s legacy as well, by controlling Hindley’s land and son.
Heathcliff relates his true feelings about both Hareton and Linton here. Heathcliff admits he “covets Hareton,” which is very uncharacteristic of him. Heathcliff usually talks about his hatred for someone and what he plans to do to them. In this moment of envy, though, Heathcliff offers a glimpse into Hareton’s potential. He even uses the word “love,” a word he only used once before for Catherine. But Heathcliff returns to his true self, as he let his hatred for one person determine his feelings for another. He also admits hatred for his own son, guessing Linton’s lifespan almost as if it were part of a game. Heathcliff’s contrasting attitudes towards Linton and Hareton show Heathcliff’s unwillingness to change his course of action. Although he hates Linton, Heathcliff is still determined to have Linton marry Cathy, simply to fulfill his plan of taking over the Grange.
This is an out-of-character moment from Cathy as well. Cathy, who is usually cheerful and compassionate, has an angry outburst directed at Linton. This is an important moment because it’s the first time we see how Wuthering Heights affects Cathy. Throughout the book, the characters changed based on where they were. Typically, Thrushcross Grange brought better attitudes out of the characters, and Wuthering Heights brought out negative attributes. Before Cathy started visiting the Heights, Nelly raved about Cathy’s kindness and sweetness, and there never was an overly angry moment. This is the first time in the book when Cathy has an outburst of this magnitude. It continues the theme of Wuthering Heights bringing out undesirable character traits. Cathy’s “violent push” isn’t just caused by her setting, though. It’s also caused by Linton, who constantly manipulates Cathy. He was the one who brought Cathy to push him, and he then overacted to make Cathy feel bad and cry for him. This is also important, because even though Cathy is being manipulated by Linton, her compassion still wins out. Further, this moment shows that Linton has emotional control over Cathy, but Cathy, the girl, has physical control over Linton, the boy.
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Linton’s “strange state of agitation” is very much unlike himself. There is a sense that Linton was forced under threat of punishment or worse to meet up with Cathy. It is also unlike Linton to be “begging” anything of Cathy, as he often manipulated her. Linton’s unusual behavior is a major red flag to both Nelly and the readers that he is being mistreated, very sick, or both. Linton conveys a sense of desperation that almost makes him pitiable, because of who his father is and where he lives. At this moment, Linton finally acts like the object his father is using him to be. It’s almost as if here he isn’t living for himself, he is living out of fear of his father instead, and he lives to do his father’s bidding as best he can. Linton’s despair is an ominous foreshadow of the things to come.
