"His and mine are the same..."Out of all of the doubles and oppositions in the text, one of the most prominent is clearly that which exists between Heathcliff and Edgar. These two characters are different in almost every way, from their appearance to their behaviour and traits. This allows the weaknesses of each specific character to be shown through the other character. One of the only things shared between Heathcliff and Edgar Linton is their love for Catherine Earnshaw. However, this is quite possibly also their biggest difference. Another major aspect of the differences between the two is possibly the most obvious one, their appearance. Edgar is constantly portrayed as weak, gentle, and to an extent, frail, while Heathcliff is shown as quite the opposite, with heavy brow, dark hair and eyes, and an intimidating stance.
However, with all the differences between the two, they still share some similarities. Namely, their love for Catherine. While this may be one of their only similarities, it is also one of their most major differences. Heathcliff’s love is pure passion, bordering on obsessive love, with Heathcliff and Catherine being so similar themselves, that Catherine goes so far as to say that “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same…” On the other hand, Edgar’s love is gentle, tender, and overall more traditional. Overall, Emily Brontë’s portrayal of Heathcliff and Edgar shows them as two of the most conflicting and opposing characters in Victorian literature. |
"You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton she spends a thousand on me!"
|