Love is an amazing emotion. People spend much of their lives searching for truelove. When true love is found, people will do everything possible to hold on toand cherish it for eternity. It is said that true love can only be found once ina lifetime that is filled with intense everlasting emotions. A classic exampleof this powerful emotion is displayed by the characters Heathcliff and CatherineEarnshaw in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights examines apassionate and overwhelming love between its central characters, Cathy andHeathcliff.
Their love is profound and filled with passion unlike any other. Itsintensity builds from their childhood until the untimely death of Catherine. Theextent of this love is exemplified during Heathcliff and Catherine’sinteractions with each other, during Catherine’s statements to Nelly, andduring Catherine’s death where Heathcliff and Catherine embrace for the lasttime. When Catherine and Heathcliff were young, they would ?run away to themoors in the morning and remain there all day?(44). They spent a lot of timetogether playing like children. It is in this time that they create theireverlasting bond.
Catherine and Heathcliff spend almost every waking hourtogether and inevitably fall in love. Whenever Catherine and Heathcliff talkabout their love, their tone is high and wild. No words could possibly expressthe great passion they share, yet it becomes obvious in their ?interactionstogether?. At one point, Catherine stays at Thrushcross Grange for five weeksand comes back a different woman and her appearance seems more refined andpolished. She has been influenced by the Lintons, particularly Edgar who she hasdeveloped an infatuation with. She has changed and ?seems? to look atHeathcliff in a different manner.
Catherine says to him ?Why how very blackand cross you look! and how-how funny and grim!?(52). Heathcliff can’tbelieve his ears. He is so angry that he refuses to shake hands with her: ?Ishall not stand to be laughed at, I shall not bear it?(52). Heathcliff wonderslater if she misses him: ?Do you suppose she has nearly forgotten me? Everythought she spends on Linton, she spends a thousand on me?(149). The thoughtof Catherine loving another is unfathomable to Heathcliff, but he is convincedthat she still loves him more. Here again, even when there is not an obviousdisplay of love, it lies just below the surface of their interactions.
Anotherside of the love shared between Catherine and Heathcliff is revealed instatements by Catherine to the servant Nelly Dean: ?Whatever souls are madeof, his and mine are the same. . . Nelly I am Heathcliff?(182).
Catherine lovesHeathcliff so much that she feels that they share the same soul. Nothing canever break this bond. Catherine herself then compares her love for Edgar and herlove for Heathcliff: ?My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it. .
. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocksbeneath-a source of little visible delight, but necessary?(82). It is asthough she realizes the superficial love she has for Edgar and the eternal loveshe has for Heathcliff. Catherine knows she is about to marry the wrong man.
What she does not realize is that this mistake will eventually bring about herdemise. While Catherine layed on her deathbed, she is visited by Heathcliff. Inthis last interaction, they throw accusations of betrayal at each other withfiery intensity. In Catherine’s delirium, she realizes her mistake of marryingEdgar, but knows now there is nothing she can do about it. She in on the vergeof death, and deeply regrets betraying her heart: Why did you despise me? Whydid you betray your own heart Cathy? I have not one word of comfort-you deservethis. You have killed yourself.
Yes, you may kiss me and cry; and wring out mykisses and tears. . . you loved me-then what right had you to leave me? I have notbroken you heart. .
. and in breaking it, you have broken mine(161). Heathcliff isclearly angry at Catherine but he still loves her. He embraces her before heleaves, wishing that he could just hold her forever.
After Catherine dies,Heathcliff becomes very distraught and feels that he cannot survive alone. Hecurses her spirit out of anger and betrayal: ?May she wake in torment. . . Mayyou not rest as long as I am living.
. . Oh God! It is unutterable! I cannot livewithout my life! I cannot live without my soul?(167). Heathcliff does not wanther soul to rest. He wishes for her to haunt him so that they can be together,at least partially, but yet eternally.
Catherine and Heathcliff in EmilyBronte’s Wuthering Heights travel an intense and passionate road. Theirintense and passionate love is evident in their interations with each other,their interactions with others, and especially their last interaction whenCatherine is on the verge of dying. With the love they share, Catherine andHeathcliff endure many hardships in their journey. Mistakes are made and regretis formed.
However, they have built their love on the foundation of their souls,which will last for an eternity. In death they will roam together, their soulsintertwined as one. Nothing can separate them now.
