Linton Heathcliff
(1784–1801)

Biographical

Linton was born in September 1784 to Heathcliff and Isabella Linton. He grows up with his mother at London and lives with her until her death in August 1797. Unaware that he had a father, he then goes to live with his uncle, Edgar, at Thrushcross Grange. Soon after his arrival that month, Heathcliff's servant, Joseph, pays a visit to notify that his master requests that Linton be transferred to Wuthering Heights to assume custody of him. Edgar complies, and Nelly accompanies him on the trip, arriving in August 1797. Already sickly and delicate before arriving at the Heights, he later becomes weaker, and is despised by his father. He also proves himself to be a petulant and deceitful young man, with a spiteful nature, during the frequent visits of his cousin, Catherine Linton, who would come to nurse him. Later, Catherine and Nelly are taken hostage by Heathcliff during one of their visits. It is revealed that Linton had all the while been coaxing Catherine to the Heights as part of his father's plan to force her to marry Linton, thus uniting the two families and gaining ownership of her inheritance. They are married on the 31st of August 1801. Linton declares to Nelly that he now owns Catherine, and was even pleased when Heathcliff attacked her on one occasion, but he does help her to escape to visit her dying father. Linton himself dies soon after Catherine's return, when she is given the task of nursing him (Autumn of 1801).

© 2024 The Universal Compendium