![Picture](/uploads/1/7/6/0/17604381/2698969.jpg)
There are many mixed emotions towards the character Heathcliff in the novel. Is he a character of despicable nature, or is he ultimately just a man that is tainted by the hardships that life has dealt him?
Heathcliff grows up leading a seemingly decent life while Mr. Earnshaw is in control of the household. Despite the fact that he is frowned upon by the community as being a "gypsie," his actions are not cruel as they are throughout the rest of the novel when he becomes degraded by his adopted family, and heart broken by his love Catherine. Even when he first arrives at the Earnshaw's house, the children do not take a liking to him. The eldest sibling Hindley makes it his absolute desire to degrade Heathcliff whenever the chance is presented to him. Despite this, Heathcliff still remains in spirits.
As the novel progresses Heathcliff begins to spiral into a world of absolute hate, which would most likely be referred to as an extreme form of depression in today's society. He is in a hole that he is unable to dig himself of by the end of the novel. As much as he hates Hindley, he accepts his punishments and perseveres through the hardships with his happiness fully enthralled by Catherine. It isn't until Catherine denies her love towards Heathcliff and marries into the Linton family, that Heathcliff hits a point where he is unable to find happiness in anything that he does, not the death of his enemy Hindley, not the birth of his own child, and not even the death of Edgar Linton, the man who stole the woman he loves.
“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you--haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe--I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” (Bronte, 163). This quote describes the love that Heathcliff has for Catherine, and that her being is what drives his will to live. Without her, Heathcliff feels that he has and is nothing, and seeks revenge on anyone who was involved in his loss of Catherine as his own. Catherine was the only character that truly loved Heathcliff, the only one that stood by his side, and while he had her he was not as much a despicable character. Her leaving drove him mad, and drove him to inflict his cruel acts on each character in the novel. Even when Catherine is deceased, Heathcliff sees her in everything that he does, which even stops him from acting too rashly towards Cathy. This, in itself, shows that Heathcliff's anger is driven by the experiences that he has been faced with, and the slight way he withdrew himself from lashing out on Cathy shows that he is capable of a personality not completely derived from anger.
Was Heathcliff ultimately a despicable character? Most definitely. But it was not born into him as his nature, but through the way life has tainted him, that he acts in the cruel and spiteful manner that he does.
Heathcliff grows up leading a seemingly decent life while Mr. Earnshaw is in control of the household. Despite the fact that he is frowned upon by the community as being a "gypsie," his actions are not cruel as they are throughout the rest of the novel when he becomes degraded by his adopted family, and heart broken by his love Catherine. Even when he first arrives at the Earnshaw's house, the children do not take a liking to him. The eldest sibling Hindley makes it his absolute desire to degrade Heathcliff whenever the chance is presented to him. Despite this, Heathcliff still remains in spirits.
As the novel progresses Heathcliff begins to spiral into a world of absolute hate, which would most likely be referred to as an extreme form of depression in today's society. He is in a hole that he is unable to dig himself of by the end of the novel. As much as he hates Hindley, he accepts his punishments and perseveres through the hardships with his happiness fully enthralled by Catherine. It isn't until Catherine denies her love towards Heathcliff and marries into the Linton family, that Heathcliff hits a point where he is unable to find happiness in anything that he does, not the death of his enemy Hindley, not the birth of his own child, and not even the death of Edgar Linton, the man who stole the woman he loves.
“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you--haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe--I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” (Bronte, 163). This quote describes the love that Heathcliff has for Catherine, and that her being is what drives his will to live. Without her, Heathcliff feels that he has and is nothing, and seeks revenge on anyone who was involved in his loss of Catherine as his own. Catherine was the only character that truly loved Heathcliff, the only one that stood by his side, and while he had her he was not as much a despicable character. Her leaving drove him mad, and drove him to inflict his cruel acts on each character in the novel. Even when Catherine is deceased, Heathcliff sees her in everything that he does, which even stops him from acting too rashly towards Cathy. This, in itself, shows that Heathcliff's anger is driven by the experiences that he has been faced with, and the slight way he withdrew himself from lashing out on Cathy shows that he is capable of a personality not completely derived from anger.
Was Heathcliff ultimately a despicable character? Most definitely. But it was not born into him as his nature, but through the way life has tainted him, that he acts in the cruel and spiteful manner that he does.