Heathcliff
(c. 1764–1802)

Biographical

Mr Earnshaw finds a rough, proud, orphaned gypsy boy at Liverpool, and names him Heathcliff. He brings him home to Wuthering Heights in September 1771, to make him part of the family, and displays obvious partiality towards his new foster son. From then on, the family begins to decline. Heathcliff becomes the target of much emotional suffering because of his origins, but more importantly, he incurs the wrath of his tyrannical foster-brother, Hindley. Hindley becomes jealous over being displaced from the centre of his father's affections, and despises Heathcliff intensely. Heathcliff soon becomes possessed by an all-consuming passion for Hindley's sister, Catherine Earnshaw. Later, despite her love for Heathcliff, Catherine decides to marry Edgar Linton. A betrayed Heathcliff disappears for three years, and in the spring or summer of 1783, Catherine marries Edgar. On the 11th of September that year, a rich Heathcliff suddenly returns in the semblance of a country gentleman. Thwarted in his love for Catherine, he begins his demonic-like vengeance on those who have wronged him and on their descendants. He retaliates against Catherine and her husband by eloping with Edgar's sister, Isabella Linton, on the 13th of January 1784. After being mistreated and ruined by him, Isabella runs away from the Heights in September that year, and gives birth to their son, Linton. Heathcliff acquires the Heights that month after Hindley's death. After Isabella's death in 1797, Linton is taken to the Heights to live with his father. Following Catherine's death, Heathcliff remains a solitary, bitter figure, scheming to obtain further revenge, but unable to enjoy his triumphs he has dedicated himself to for so long because of his grief. On the 31st of August 1801, he forces his sickly son, Linton, to marry his cousin, Catherine Linton, who is being kept against her will at the Heights. After Linton's death, he inherits Thrushcross Grange triumphantly. Hareton Earnshaw, who has been living at the Heights, and who Heathcliff had degraded into a brutish, uneducated figure, as he himself once was, finally befriends his widowed cousin, Catherine. They both become close, as she teaches him to read. Heathcliff is aware of this but does not intervene. By now his wrath towards the couple has abated, partly because of their resemblance to his love, Catherine Earnshaw. He ends his life by swallowing nothing for four days, dying on the 15th of April 1802. He is buried beside Catherine. Hareton is the only person to mourn him.

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