Complexity of Cathy Heathcliff Linton Earnshaw
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In this passage from Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte invites the reader to probe into Cathy's mind and attempts to explain her protagonist's actions. It protests any opinion against Cathy on her love, her decisions, and her future. One can sympathize with Cathy as while she has lots of say in what she does, it is soon realized that she is an incarcerated character. This excerpt is a good representation of the whole novel and equally important, Bronte defines the capacity of love: its boundless qualities and its limitations. Throughout the novel and specifically this text, we may note how Cathy is obliged to her society but at the same time, her "true love" as well.
Typical of the late eighteenth century, Cathy's life is governed by men, and then in turn, society. Heathcliff and Edgar determine her social class; the former, a level that she detests greatly, and the latter, a more luxurious and preferred class. Contrary to what many readers may interpret, Cathy is not a selfish character because of this respect: her decisions are made upon the good of Heathcliff. Well, she had good intentions at least. For example, the only reason why she thinks her marriage with Edgar is valid is so she could "aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of [her] brother's power...