Chapter Five
SparkNotes summary: Time passes, and Mr. Earnshaw grows frail and
weak. Disgusted by the conflict between Heathcliff and Hindley, he sends
Hindley away to college. Joseph’s fanatical religious beliefs appeal to Mr.
Earnshaw as he nears the end of his life, and the old servant exerts more
and more sway over his master. Soon, however, Mr. Earnshaw dies, and it
is now Catherine and Heathcliff who turn to religion for comfort. They
discuss the idea of heaven while awaiting the return of Hindley, who will
now be master of Wuthering Heights.
Key events:
Catherine Senior, as a child, is described
Mr Earnshaw dies
Key themes/ideas:
Death
Religion- as Mr Earnshaw becomes weaker Joseph exerts
power through religion
Heathcliff:
When Mr Earnshaw is dying, Heathcliff relies on Catherine
for comfort- “lying on the floor with is head in her lap”
Shows real emotion after Mr Earnshaw’s death- “they both
set up a heart-breaking cry”
Catherine:
She is first described in a lively way with a good heart- “A
wild, wicked slip she was- but she had the bonniest eyes,
and the sweetest smile” this shows her vitality and how full
of life she is in contrast to her dying father and the
expectations of what a young girl should be like as she
appears spontaneous and impulsive
She is perceived as being largely innocent as she had the
“lightest foot in the parish: and, after all, I believe that she
meant no harm”
However in her next description she appears selfish and
unsympathetic- “His peevish reproofs wakened in her a
naughty desire to provoke him: she was never so happy as
when we were all scolding her at once, and defying us with
her bold, saucy look, and her ready words; turning Joseph’s
, religious curses into ridicule” she has no respect for
authority or religion
Mr Earnshaw would tell her to ask for “God’s pardon” which
made her “cry, at first; and then, being repulsed continually
hardened her” she rejects religion
It is suggested that she is good at heart because “as soon
as she saw him vexed again, she kissed his hand, and said
she would sing him to sleep”
Hindley:
It was advised that he “should be sent to college” because
he was “naught, and would never thrive as where he
wandered” he is isolated from the family
Joseph:
He uses his religious beliefs to gain power and control over
the dying master- “the more feeble the master became, the
more influence he gained. He was relentless in worrying him
about his soul’s concerns”
After Mr Earnshaw’s death, he contrasts the children’s cries
as he “asked what we could be thinking of to roar in that
way over a saint in heaven” which shows how his life is
filtered through the context of religious propriety”
Mr Earnshaw:
He becomes ill- “In the course of time, Mr Earnshaw began
to fail” “his strength left him suddenly”
He is protective over Heathcliff- “Hindley’s manifestations of
scorn, while his father was near, roused the old man to a
fury: he seized his stick to strike him, and shook with rage
that he could not do it”
Joseph’s religious influenced him negatively as he became
“crosser and less patient in his ailing condition, than he was
in his prime”
Setting
“A high wind blustered round the house, and roared in the
chimney: it sounded wild and stormy” represents the
distress of the death
Gothic:
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller annadiddle. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
