Chapter Ten
YorkNotes summary: Catherine is now married to Edgar and lives in
luxury and peace. Heathcliff returns to the area, causing Catherine to be
overjoyed. Nelly remarks upon the transformation of Heathcliff into a tall,
well-built intelligent man. Heathcliff reveals that he is staying with Hindley
at Wuthering Heights which causes Nelly to be suspicious. Isabella
develops an infatuation for Heathcliff, which Catherine reveals. Heathcliff
does not return these feelings but sees that he might be able to use these
feelings as a way to gain revenge against Edgar.
Key events:
Heathcliff returns and visits Thrushcross Grange- Catherine
is overjoyed
Isabella confesses her love for Heathcliff to Catherine
Catherine tells Heathcliff
Key themes/ideas:
Transformation- almost like an example of metamorphism
Love and betrayal
Revenge
Heathcliff:
He undergoes a noticeable change, which breaks social
norms- “behold the transformation of Heathcliff”
He appears to be dominant and masculine- “tall, athletic,
well-formed man; beside whom, my master seemed quite
slender and youth-like. His upright carriage…(posture)”
He appears to be sinister below the surface- “A half-civilised
ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes full of
black fire, but it was subdued” “too stern for grace”
He appears to be anxious about visiting the heights- “used
the liberty of vising at Thrushcross Grange cautiously”
There is a large mystery surrounding his new self- “How has
he been living? How has he got rich? Why is he staying at
Wuthering Heights, the house of a man whom he abhors?”
He is violent towards Isabella- “I’d wrench them off her
fingers, if they ever menaced me”
He seems to be plotting to use Isabella as a means of
revenge- “She’s her brother’s heir, is she not?”
He is seen as a dominating, menacing character- “freeing
both Wuthering Heights and the Grange of Mr Heathcliff”
, Catherine:
Is unable to control her emotions upon Heathcliff’s return-
“Oh, Edgar, darling! Heathcliff’s come back- he is!”
She attempts to bring Edgar and Heathcliff which, in the
end, has dire consequences- “Yet, for my sake, you must be
friends now”
She seems sneaky as she tries to hide her feelings towards
Heathcliff- “deemed it judicious to moderate her expressions
of pleasure in receiving him”
When Isabella becomes hysterical she is not sympathetic-
“‘And that’s your notion of harshness?’ said Catherine,
laughing”
She seems to be putting Heathcliff down as she doesn’t
want to lose him, or because she wants to look after
Isabella- “she seemed to speak sincerely… an unreclaimed
creature, without refinement, without cultivation: an arid
wilderness of furze and whinstone. I’d as soon put that little
canary into the park on a winter’s day, as recommend you to
bestow your heart on him”
She appears to be devious and cruel towards Isabella-
“mischievous smile on her lips” “No, no, Isabella, you shan’t
run off” “her tormenter”
She twists Isabella’s argument, suggesting she doesn’t love
Edgar- “Isabella swears that the love Edgar has for me is
nothing to that she entertains for you”
Isabella:
Her description is similar to how Catherine was as a younger
child- “a charming young lady of eighteen; infantile in
manners… keen wit, keen feelings, and a keen temper”
She appears to be hysterical, childish, spoilt and dramatic-
“Miss Linton fretted and pined over something… snapping at
and teasing Catherine continually… rejecting her breakfast…
‘Yesterday,’ sobbed Isabella, ‘and now!’”
She is naïve- “I love him more than you ever loved Edgar;
and he might love me, if you would let him!”
She is either ignorant or unknowing- “Mr Heathcliff is not a
fiend : he has an honourable soul, and a true one”
She is violent to Catherine- “she began to make use of her
nails, and their sharpness presently ornamented the
detainer’s with crescents of red”
Edgar:
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