Chapter Eleven
SparkNotes summary: Nelly travels to Wuthering Heights to talk with
Hindley, but instead she finds Hareton, who throws stones at her and
curses. Nelly learns from Hareton that Heathcliff has taught the boy to
swear at his father, Hindley, and has forbidden the curate, who offered to
educate Hareton, to set foot on the property. Heathcliff appears, and Nelly
flees.
The next day, at the Grange, Nelly observes Heathcliff embracing Isabella.
In the kitchen, Catherine demands that Heathcliff tell her his true feelings
about Isabella. She offers to convince Edgar to permit the marriage if
Heathcliff truly loves the woman. Heathcliff scorns this idea, however,
declaring that Catherine has wronged him by marrying Edgar, and that he
intends to exact revenge. Nelly informs Edgar of the encounter occurring
between Catherine and Heathcliff in the kitchen, and Edgar storms in and
orders Heathcliff off of his property. When Heathcliff refuses to leave,
Edgar summons his servants for help. However, Catherine locks herself
and the two men inside the kitchen and throws the key into the fire,
forcing Edgar to confront Heathcliff without the help of additional men.
Overcome with fear and shame, Edgar hides his face. Still, Catherine’s
taunts goad Edgar into striking Heathcliff a blow to the throat, after which
Edgar exits through the garden. In terror of the larger and stronger
Heathcliff, Edgar hurries to find help, and Heathcliff, deciding that he
cannot fight three armed servants, departs.
In a rage, Edgar declares that Catherine must choose between Heathcliff
and himself. Catherine refuses to speak to him, locking herself in a room
and refusing to eat. Two days pass in this way, and Edgar warns Isabella
that if she pursues Heathcliff, he will cast her out of the Linton family.
Key events:
Nelly returns to Wuthering Heights and is appalled
Hareton is 5 and swears at Nelly
Edgar, Catherine and Heathcliff argue, forcing Catherine to
bed ill
Key themes/ideas:
Violence/corruption
Choice
Illness
, Heathcliff:
He turns Hareton against Hindley- “the devil teaches you to
swear at daddy?... who then?... Heathcliff”
Deprives Hareton of what he was deprived- “I was told the
curate should have his- teeth dashed down his- throat, if he
stepped over the threshold- Heathcliff had promised that!”
He evokes fear- “ran down the road as hard as ever I could
race… feeling as scared as if I had raised a goblin”
He is like a disease- “check the spread of such bad influence
at the Grange” “Your presence is a moral poison that would
contaminate the most virtuous”
Dominant- “desirous of getting away; to prevent it, he laid
his hand on her arm”
Seems to be evil- “black villain”
Shows spite to Catherine- “I’m not your husband: you
needn’t be jealous of me!”
Seems to be considering using Isabella for revenge- “thank
you for telling me your sister-in-law’s secret: I swear I’ll
make the most of it”
Has a softer side for Catherine- “‘I seek no revenge on you,’
replied Heathcliff less vehemently”
Violent- “I’d kick him with my foot, and experience
considerable satisfaction” “I’ll crush his ribs in like a rotten
hazelnut… I shall murder him sometime”
Catherine:
Seems to have a focus on power and status- “To hear you,
people might think you were the mistress… You want setting
down in your right place!”
She is mean to Heathcliff as she is angry at the concept of
Heathcliff and Isabella- “ungrateful brute”
Seeks trouble- “‘Have you been listening at the door,
Edgar?’ asked the mistress, in a tone particularly calculated
to provoke her husband”
Violently threatens Nelly- “or allow yourself to be beaten”
Seems to prioritise Heathcliff- “No, I’ll swallow the key
before you shall get it” “I wish Heathcliff may flog you sick”
“I’d rather see Edgar at bay than you”
