Cathy, Hareton, and Linton ¦ Character Studies ¦ Wuthering Heights Guide Ep.9

[@cowboynyc]

The reader is tipped off to Heathcliff's eventual, complicatedly loving relationship with Hareton way back in Chapter 9, when Hindley drops the toddler from the 2nd floor balcony, and Heathcliff catches the boy by "natural instinct." And then, most abused children still love their abusive parents.

[@cathyallsup7731]

Thank you for this series. My mother gave me this book 40 years ago. I've tried to read it every decade or so but couldn't get past the first chapter or two. I finally decided to read it at age 62 and was a third of the way through and didn't like it at all. Instead of abandoning it again, I went on youtube and found your discussions. With your insight, I was able to read the whole book and, while it is still not my favorite, I ultimately enjoyed it. I actually like the second half of the book because it is the redemption portion. As you said, Cathy and Hareton are what Heathcliff, Catherine, and Isabella could have been if.... Thank you.

[@jordancefalo1614]

One of my favorite parts in Wuthering Heights is when Cathy teaches Hearton to read. It's so sweet. It's like their the happy version of Catherine and Heathcliff. In terms of their relationship.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I think you are exactly right. That is one of my favourite parts of the book too :)

[@emmaphilo4049]

It is very cute and also show how books, knowledge and education are a gateway to escape the darkness and are a key to happiness

[@bashmeesh]

A psychological take on Haretons disposition vs Heathcliff and Catherine....I wonder if Hareton has a most secure emotional foundation from the 6 months or so that he spent with Nelly when he was an infant. Possibly that helped him to not become such an emotional savage and maybe Heathcliff and Catherine never had that treatment.

[@sandy23stories40]

Excellent video !!!! I love Hareton and was glad he had a happy ending and I didn’t like Linton at all and yes he was very manipulative.

[@gazellesdancepolka]

I think Linton also represents all the flaws of Heathcliff and Catherine. He is as vengeful as his father and as manipulative as Cathy. And Catherine Jr has to deal with it, I see it as a kind of redemption.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

That's a really good interpretation of Lintons character, I like it! 👍

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

The surprise hero out of the whole story who has my most sympathy is Hareton. Hareton who has been cruelly neglected, abused, threatened, and yet in spite of everything, unlike his Aunt Isabella, Uncle Edgar, Uncle Heathcliff, and Aunt Catherine, he chooses in the end of his own violation, even when everyone else was HATING Heathcliff for what he did, he did not. Hareton chose to show his Uncle not only genuine forgiveness but he also mourned him deeply. He views Heathcliff as kind of like his adopted "true father" in absence of his alcoholic abusive father Hindley. So much does Hareton unconditionally love his Uncle Heathcliff that he even kisses his corpse relentlessly, digging his grave with tears spilling down his cheeks. As Nelly points out, "... poor Hareton, the most wronged, was the only one who really suffered much" for Heathcliff's demise: He sat by the corpse all night, weeping in bitter earnest. He pressed its hand, and kissed the sarcastic, savage face that every one else shrank from contemplating; and bemoaned him with that strong grief which springs naturally from a generous heart, though it be tough as tempered steel." So in many ways, he even surpassed his own wife, Cathy. So Hareton is the one who has the most sympathy from me out of everyone in the entire novel, and he's earned it. The one area where I think he is genuinely messed up is in falling into lust with his cousin. From a modern perspective, that's definitely incest, and I can say that as someone who USED to hit on my cousin Jordan and honestly, it was a blessing that I was able to stop and grow out of that lust for him. :) Anyway, other than that big issue, Hareton is the most sympathetic character in the story. :)

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I agree with you about Haerton, he is one of the most sympathetic characters. I think it is also hinted that Heathcliff did have some affection for him too. And I think it was that affection that stopped Hareton from turning out like Heathcliff, who didn't have that affection from anyone (or not for long).

[@theoriginalsuzycat]

From a 19th century perspective cousin marriages are not incest, they're quite normal, and in plenty of non-western countries that still holds true.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

@@theoriginalsuzycatIt is still messed up and I don’t have any regrets giving up incest.

[@theoriginalsuzycat]

I've alwyas loved Hareton. And at the risk of reading too much of the author into her work, I think Emily Bronte did too. He's associated many times with dogs, and Emily was a big dog fan.

[@nola3963]

5:30 you make a very good point here. But I also think it’s because of Hareton ignorance that he thought Heathcliff- as horrible as he was, was like a father to him. He was deprived from love and all he knew was Heathcliff. So I believe he thought Heathcliff treated him well. Which is really sad because Heathcliff abused him. Hareton has a soft spot in my heart 💓💓💓💓

[@nirupanabharathi8182]

I love this series. I think when I read this book, I was totally moved by the dynamics of Heathcliff and Hareton Earnshaw. Heathcliff, had he been a little bit more open to life, could've made a great father to Hareton. I think in the end, through this dynamic, we get to see a little peak into what a good person Heathcliff could've been. He wanted to turn Hareton into himself thus exacting revenge on Hindley, but the more Hareton started resembling his younger self, the more empathy Heathcliff started feeling. But Heathcliff now is at a point where he associates himself with vengeance, and couldn't let himself associate with empathy and the kindness it evoked. I think that's why he tried to shut Hareton away from him at the end; even that, he couldn't make himself straight up banish him or order Hareton to leave him and never come in front of him ever again, he could only ask to be left alone by Hareton. This I think shows that as much as he wanted to stay a vengeful brute, he couldn't stop his fatherly affections from showing.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Excellent analysis of their relationship, I 100% agree! I like the subtle touches in the story that show Heathcliff's underlying affection for Hareton. Like towards the end when he sees Hareton looking uncomfortable and he pats him on the shoulder and asks "what's up lad". It's such a small thing, but it shows that Heathcliff has a soft spot for Hareton, even if not anyone else. I guess another thing as well is not just Hareton reminding him of himself, but also the reminder of Catherine as well. Thanks for your comment, glad you are enjoying the series! Only a couple more episodes to go!

[@nirupanabharathi8182]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall Absolutely! That "What's to do now, my lad?" was my favourite line from the entire book. I'm glad you mentioned it. And Hareton when Heathcliff doesn't dine with them, his first reaction is to think if they have grieved Heathcliff in someway. As you mentioned in the video, Hareton is blinded towards Heathcliff's abuse aswell; he blames himself. He even says, "if he were the devil, it didn't signify", when his love Cathy points out Heathcliff's nature. And, thanks for your response, and also for mentioning that line.

[@rosselladelfrate9572]

I totally agree with your analysis

[@EmoBearRights]

I think that if Hareton is the best of Hesrhcliff and/or Catherine Snr, Catherine Jnr is the best of the Lintons/Catherine Snr then Linton is the worst traits of all the previous generation combined with Heathcliff's vidinctiveness combined with Edgar's wimpyness and passive aggressiveness.

[@EmoBearRights]

One of things that stays with me is when Heathcliff says Linton to him is like tin used ape a fine silver dinning set whike Hareton is gold he's using for a paving slabs. Linton he's using to lure Catherine jnr in but he has no respect for, Hareton is being misused but Heathcliff respects. Ultimately gold doesn't alter no matter what you do to it, it retains its value and Catherine will see, cherish and bring out Hareton's quality.

[@sydneydenham5778]

I think Cathy is very much who Cathryn would have been if she had been loved in her childhood. She has her mothers wild soul, strength, and defiance. Ironically her cruelness towards Hereton comes from Edgar, despite Cathryn being regarded as the cruel one. It’s very reminiscent of how Edgar regarded Heathcliffe, just combined with Cathryn’s directness. But after some time at Wuthering Heights, her relationship with Hereton transforms to resemble Cathryn and Heathcliffe instead. When that shift happens is when Heathcliffe is unable to pursue her destruction any longer. Linton on the other hand, is the depiction of who Edgar would have been had he grown up under Heathcliffe or Cathy’s conditions. The neglect and abuse he endures manifests in self-hatred, much like Cathryn and Heathcliffe possess, but instead of seeking love and stability to heal it, as Cathryn did, or revenge on those who wronged him, as Heathcliffe did, he is passively cruel to those who he has power over. Edgar is passively cruel to Isabella and ignores Heathcliffe, despite Hesthcliffe being the true object of his malice, and Edgar punishes Cathy while doing his best to ignore Heathcliffe. I loved the second half of the book, and I think it’s very interesting how the second generation is essentially just versions of the first generation, had they swapped circumstances.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Interesting, I agree with both your points but I'd never thought of Linton as an example of what Edgar might have been. I saw Haerton and Cathy as reflections of a positive Heathcliff and Catherine, but never thought of Linton and Edgar's connection. But I think you might be right! Also nice to see some appreciation of the second half of the book! :)

[@egjaniccy]

Thank you so much. So well explained

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

You're very welcome.

[@jennalvarez6572]

What piano piece did you use at the beginning of the video? I play the piano so I would like to play it. Thanks

[@alenacutajar3200]

I am doing my English A-level this year and let me tell you, you are a life saver!!! I have to study 2 novels, Wuthering Heights and The Handmaid's Tale, and you have made it so much easier to understand and analyze this novel further in my essays. Thank you :)))

[@mishamir9530]

This is a great video! Thank you so much

[@Jules2439.5]

This half of the book is just as good as the first I hate how overlooked it gets!

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Totally agree!

[@rachaelmccarl]

I felt compassion for Linton. He was used and manipulated. He was in survival mode.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I felt this on my first read-through, especially the scene where he gets left behind at Wuthering Heights by Nelly. It's brutal. That said, he becomes a total monster by the end regardless.

[@rachaelmccarl]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall I really enjoyed your commentary, like an old friend to listen to.

[@judyrosewall6767]

❤