Character Conflicts in Wuthering Heights
-What are Character Conflicts?-
Character conflicts serve as the driving narrative force for the novel. While conflict is to some extent present between all characters, the three most important are briefly outlined below. Heathecliff's revenge and lack of forgiveness results in his character conflicts being the most intense.
Heathcliff and HindleyHindley is jealous of the favourable treatment Heathcliff receives, regarding him. Hindley physically reprimands Heathcliff while Heathcliff exploits his adopted father's favoritism.
Hindley takes revenge following his father’s death by degrading Heathcliff to a servant. Upon Heathcliff’s return, he sponsors Hindley’s alcoholism and gambling, aiding Hindley’s deterioration. Heathcliff achieves revenge by obtaining ownership of both the Grange and the Heights. Cycle of Revenge
This conflict shows the impact of revenge, with it emotionally crippling Heathcliff and Hindley. Both parties wrong each other early in life, yet rather than being settled conflicts instead compound. The needless, destructive endless cycle of conflict between Hindley and Heathcliff comments on how revenge will never satisfy, and in fact cause more misery. Hindely's revenge on Heathcliff ends up backfiring and causes him to lose everything. This is poignant to both period and modern readers, for it is a universal human trait not limited to either context. |
Heathcliff and EdgarInitially Heathcliff views Edgar as a pathetic, snobbish
child, but they become rivals for Catherine’s love.
Heathcliff feels inadequate compared to Edgar and after Catherine rejects him, Heathcliff seeks revenge upon Edgar. Heathcliff is now more dominant and causes conflict between the couple, subdues Isabella and brings Edgar’s daughter into his power. Edgar’s death ends the conflict. Heathcliff's death soon after reunites him with Catherine. Jealousy
Heathcliff is quick to retaliate against Edgar, revealing his jealousy of him. Heathcliff's retaliation takes the form of throwing apple sauce at Edgar. The ironic use of “hot apple sauce” (a traditional condiment of celebration) as a weapon is particularly effective. Charles’s Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published only five years before Wuthering Heights so the destruction of this commonly held perception of Christmas would emphasize this theme of jealousy to a period audience, even to those who hadn't read the text. |
Heathcliff and IsabellaHeathcliff treats Isabella as a means to an end, to take revenge upon Edgar. Whilst their conflict is not personal, Heathcliff thoroughly detests and abuses her. Heathcliff projects his hatred for Edgar and Catherine onto Isabella.
Eventually Isabella leans to hate him, taking an active part in the conflict by verbally attacking him following Catherine’s death. Their relationship deteriorates to one of violence and hate. Isabella cannot escape Heathcliff except in death. Gender
In this conflict Isabella is objectified, and treated as a tool. Brönte also comments on her capacity for “great attachments”, but additionally courage when Isabella stands up to Heathcliff and derides him. Modern feminist readers would suggest that because of Isabella viewing Heathcliff's near-remorse after the conflict with Hindely with a clean conscience shows the superiority of woman to men. However, a contextual reader might see this arrogance as a weakness. Furthermore, the acceptance of Heathcliff’s abuse implicitly condones the Victorian roles of women. |
-Key Quotes-
Heathcliff and Hindely
Heathcliff and Edgar
Heathcliff and Isabella
- Nelly is aware of the conflict early on; “from the very beginning [Heathcliff] bred bad feeling in the house.”
- Hindely's jealousy of Heathecliff; “as an usurper of his parent's affections, and his privileges”
- Both wish for revenge; Heathecliff states "I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back…..I hope he will not die before I do!" while Hindely exclaims "Oh, damnation! I will have it back; and I'll have his gold too; and then his blood; and hell shall have his soul!"
Heathcliff and Edgar
- Heathcliff's Envy of Edgar; wishing for "light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be"
- Corruption of Christmas celebration; “Heathcliff's violent nature was not prepared to endure the appearance of impertinence from one whom he seemed to hate, even then, as a rival. He seized a tureen of hot apple sauce (the first thing that came under his gripe) and dashed it full against the speaker's face and neck”
Heathcliff and Isabella
- Heathcliff uses Isabella to harm Edgar; “Edgar’s proxy in suffering”
- Abusive, uncaring relationship; Heathecliff would perform “experiments on what she could endure, and still [she would] creep shamefully cringing back!’”
- Viewing her male companions; Isabella posesses a "sense of satisfaction and superiority" due to her moral cleanliness