The Effect of Passion in the Wuthering Heights

Passion is the display of strong and uncontrollable emotions. In the novel

Wuthering Heights the passion that each character possesses results in many different
conflicts throughout.

Heathcliff and Catherine display a passion towards one another that changes the
lives of everyone in the novel. Their love toward each other affects both the Earnshaw
and the Linton families in many ways. She was much too fond of Heathcliff. The
greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep her separate from him: yet she
got chided more than any of us on his account. (46) Catherines passion for Heathcliff
was so strong that the worst thing you could do to her was take him away. Catherine
was passionate enough about Heathcliff to spend her free time teaching him even
though he was an individual of a lower class than her. Catherine's love for Heathcliff
was a problem for Hindley because he wanted Catherine to be proper and Hindley
views Heathcliff as a peasant. Catherines love for Heathcliff is also a problem for
Edgar because he has competition with Heathcliff for Catherine's love. Edgar caused a
feud between him and Heathcliff because they are both passionate about their love for
Catherine. Yet I was a fool to fancy for a moment that she valued Edgar Linton's
attachment more than mine. (147) Heathcliffs passion for Catherine was the reason he
lived. When Catherine married Edgar it drove him mad because he couldnt be with her
anymore. Heathcliff became angry with himself because he allowed this to happen and
even called himself a fool for allowing this to happen. Heathcliff and Catherines love
caused both characters to hurt themselves because they are too passionate about each

other and cant be without. Edgars passion for Catherine introduced him to Heathcliff
who he cannot physically match but is superior to him in both wealth and looks.
Heathcliff and Catherine's passion results in trouble everyone in the novel.

Hindley and Heathcliff have a passionate rivalry towards each other. It effects
everyone in the novel. This rivalry starts when Mr. Earnshaw brings Heathcliff home and
Hindley becomes jealous of Heathcliff. This changes the way Heathcliff is raised and
makes him the man he is ultimately affecting everyone in the novel because When Mr.
Earnshaw dies Hindley takes over as master and makes Heathcliff a servant. Heathcliff
is abused, receives no education and is spoken to like a servant even though Heathcliff
was considered equal to Hindley and Catherine before Mr. Earnshaws death.
Heathcliff, you may come forward, cried Mr. Hindley, enjoying his discomfiture and
gratified to see what a forbidding young blackguard he would be compelled to present
himself. You may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.
(56) Hindley uses the abuse as a method of revenge in order to get back at Heathcliff
for changing his childhood. Because of his abuse and labour Heathcliff becomes bigger
and stronger than the other characters in the novel making him better than Hindley.
Hindleys passionate hatred of Heathcliff drives him to drink and gamble which Heathcliff
(who wants revenge for the abuse) exploits to take his fortune and leave Hindley a
drunken mess. I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I
wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do! (63-64) The two men
hate each other so much that Heathcliffs revenge results in the death of Hindley and
Heathcliffs inheritance of the Heights. Heathcliff takes his passion a step further and
goes on to ruin the live of Hindleys child Hareton by making him suffer the same life

that he did. Hareton grows up with no education and isnt aware that he is the rightful
owner of the Heights. Hindleys abuse of Heathcliff results in his physical strength and
repulsive attitude that everyone in the novel must endure. Hindley and Heathcliffs
passionate feud has results that change the lives of everyone in the novel.

Heathcliff and Edgars hatred of each other changes the lives of many of the
novels characters. Edgar insults Heathcliff early on in the novel which makes both
Heathcliff and Catherine angry. Edgar doesnt think that Catherine should be with
someone as low class as Heathcliff (he sees him as a gipsy servant) and Heathcliff
thinks that Catherine will never truly love Edgar as much as she loves him him. Yet I
was a fool to fancy for a moment that she valued Edgar Lintons attachment more than
my own (147) Heathcliff and Edgars hatred stays with them their entire lives. When
Heathcliff and Edgar become more violent Edgar gives Catherine an ultimatum. She
must decide between being Edgars wife or seeing Heathcliff. Will you give up
Heathcliff hereafter, or will you give up me (117) Catherine refuses to choose between
the two men but Edgar insists that his hatred of Heathcliff will not allow them to be
friends. Catherine stops eating to try and force Edgar to change his mind but she ends
up becoming sick and dies. Edgar and Heathcliffs hatred killed Catherine. Heathcliff
plans to take Edgars land. Heathcliff marries Edgars sister Isabella even though he
hates her so that he can inherit the Grange. Heathcliff abuses Isabella and she is forced
to escape. Unfortunately Isabella is pregnant and dies leaving Heathcliff with their child
Linton. Heathcliff wants Linton to marry Edgars daughter Catherine who is treated
poorly by Heathcliff. Heathcliff forces Catherine to marry Linton if she wishes to see her
dying father (Edgar). After they marry Heathcliff no longer cares about Linton who dies

shortly after. Heathcliff and Edgars passionate hatred results in conflict for every
character around them.

The passion that is displayed in the novel Wuthering Heights causes many
different problems for everyone involved in the two major families.

Cody, you definitely have some good points here. You clearly argue that passion
is the cause of conflict. I think that you could benefit from simplifying your argument a
bit. There are parts of the essay where you are adding in extra details and references
that crowd your analysis. Keep it simple, focus on one idea and discuss that idea as it
supports your thesis. Work on writing more effective introduction and conclusion.