Chapter Thirteen
SparkNotes summary: Edgar and Nelly spend two months nursing
Catherine through her illness, and, though she never entirely recovers,
she learns that she has become pregnant. Six weeks after Isabella and
Heathcliff’s marriage, Isabella sends a letter to Edgar begging his
forgiveness. When Edgar ignores her pleas, she sends a letter to Nelly,
describing her horrible experiences at Wuthering Heights. In her letter,
she explains that Hindley, Joseph, and Hareton have all treated her
cruelly, and that Heathcliff declares that since he cannot punish Edgar for
causing Catherine’s illness, he will punish Isabella in his place. Isabella
also tells Nelly that Hindley has developed a mad obsession with
Heathcliff, who has assumed the position of power at Wuthering Heights.
Hindley hopes that somehow he will be able to obtain Heathcliff’s vast
fortune for himself, and he has shown Isabella the weapon with which he
hopes to kill Heathcliff—a pistol with a knife attached to its barrel. Isabella
says that she has made a terrible mistake, and she begs Nelly to visit her
at Wuthering Heights, where she and Heathcliff are now living.
Key events:
Catherine is diagnosed as having a brain fever, and Edgar
cares for her
Her pregnancy is suggested
Isabella writes to Edgar, he ignores this, so she writes to
Nelly
Her letter reveals her sadness at Wuthering Heights, as well
as Hindley’s desire to kill Heathcliff- he shows her a gun and
she wants it
Heathcliff blames Edgar for Catherine’s illness, and uses
Isabella to take out his frustration until he can get to Edgar
Key themes/ideas:
Illness/madness
Isolation- Isabella- regret
Desire for murder and revenge
Strength- Catherine seems to be fighting for her life
Heathcliff:
He seems to be satanic- “is he a devil?” “the hellish villain”
“hell shall have his soul! It will be ten times blacker with
that guest than ever it was before!”
Isabella dehumanises him- “what have I married”
, He has no intention of making Isabella feel welcome, or
sharing what was once a place where Catherine lived- “The
adjective our gave mortal offence. He swore it was not, nor
ever should be mine”
Catherine:
She is diagnosed as having a “brain fever” which could be a
result of ever extreme, and passionate, emotions
She is no longer herself- “a mere ruin of humanity”
She seems to be fighting to live- “declared out of danger”
Isabella:
She feels both sad and alone at Wuthering Heights- “feeling
particularly cheerless, seated in worse than solitude”
Regretful- “remembering that four miles distant lay my
delightful home, containing the only people I loved on
earth”
Desperate- “where must I turn for comfort?” “who could or
would be my ally against Heathcliff”
She has a wish for empowerment- “how powerful I should be
possessing such an instrument!” “it was not horror, it was
covetousness”
She insists on cooking her own breakfast, either as she
doesn’t trust them, or she doesn’t wish to lower her
standards- “I’m not going to act the lady among you, for
fear I should starve”
Unable to control her emotions- “I was so vexed, I flung my
tray and its contents on the ground… hid my face in my
hands, and cried”
Used as revenge- “I should be Edgar’s proxy in suffering, till
he could get hold of him”
She seems her previous naivety- “I do hate- I am wretched- I
have been a fool!”
Edgar:
Catherine is his world- “No other could have nursed an only
child more devotedly than Edgar tended her”
He is her support- “she was soon strong enough to move
from one to the other, leaning on Edgar’s arm”
Hindley:
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