Chapter Twelve
SparkNotes summary: At last, Catherine permits the servants to bring
her food. Hysterical, she believes that she is dying, and cannot
understand why Edgar has not come to her. She rants about her childhood
with Heathcliff on the moors, and speaks obsessively about death. Nelly,
worried that her mistress will catch a chill, refuses to open the window.
Catherine manages to stumble to the window and force it open; from the
window, she believes she can see Wuthering Heights. Catherine says that
even though she will die, her spirit will never be at rest until she can be
with Heathcliff. Edgar arrives and is shocked to find Catherine in such a
weak condition. Nelly goes to fetch a doctor. The doctor professes himself
cautiously optimistic for a successful recovery.
That very night, Isabella and Heathcliff elope. Furious, Edgar declares that
Isabella is now his sister only in name. Yet he does not disown her, saying
instead that she has disowned him.
Key events:
Catherine is ill and seems to be turning mad
Catherine seems to be haunted by memories of Wuthering
Heights and Heathclif
Nelly doesn’t tell Edgar about Catherine’s illness, until he
finds out by himself
Nelly finds Isabella’s dog hanging, nearly dead
The doctor is summoned and seems to think Catherine won’t
recover again and reveals that Heathclif and Isabella had
been meeting
Isabella runs of with Heathclif, so Edgar disowns her
Key themes/ideas:
Illness/madness
Regret
Isolation- Isabella
Heathclif:
Is dominant and in control of Isabella- “he pressed her not
to go in again, but just mount his horse and away with him!”
“Yon’ Heathclif’s run of wi’ her!”
Catherine:
, She seems dramatic- but doesn’t know Edgar isn’t aware of
her condition- “Oh, I will die…. Since no one cares anything
about me”
She needs attention- “he does not fear that you will let
yourself die of hunger… Cannot you tell him I will?”
She seems mad, as if she is losing herself- “I’ve been
tormented! I’ve been haunted!” “she increased her feverish
bewilderment to madness” “A minute previously she was
violent; now… she seemed to find childish diversion in
pulling the feathers”
She is superstitious as she pulls out pigeon feathers and
blames them for her not dying- “no wonder I couldn’t die”
Her madness has given her supernatural fears- “I see a face
in it!... Don’t you see that face?... It’s behind there still!...
Nelly, the room is haunted!”
She seems to be haunted by Wuthering Heights- “piercing
shriek… Trembling and bewildered… I thought I was lying in
my chamber at Wuthering Heights”
Seems to have regret- “if I were but in my own ned in the
old house!... I was enclosed in the oak panelled bed at
home; my heart ached with some great grief… I wish I were
a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free… Why am I so
changed?”
Her love for Heathclif is seen- “my misery arose from the
separation that Hindley had ordered between me and
Heathclif” “I won’t rest till you are with me”
Edgar is invisible to her whilst she thinks of Heathclif- “he
was invisible to her abstracted gaze”
Edgar will never have her heart- “What you touch at present
you may have; but my soul with be on that hilltop before you
lay your hands on me again, I don’t want you, Edgar”
Madness has taken over, manic has been fronted- “A
maniac’s fury kindled under her brows”
Nelly:
Keeps the secret of both Catherine’s illness and Isabella’s
elopement- “I kept it to myself” “Nelly has played traitor…
Nelly is my hidden enemy. You witch!”
Edgar:
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