Chapter Fifteen
SparkNotes summary: Four days after visiting Wuthering Heights, Nelly
waits for Edgar to leave for church, and then takes the opportunity to give
Heathcliff’s letter to the ailing Catherine. Catherine has become so weak
that she cannot even hold the letter, but nearly as soon as Nelly tells her
that it is from Heathcliff, Heathcliff himself enters the room. Heathcliff and
Catherine enter into a dramatic, highly charged conversation during which
Catherine claims that both Heathcliff and Edgar have broken her heart.
She says that she cannot bear dying while Heathcliff remains alive, and
that she never wants to be apart from him. She begs his forgiveness. He
says that he can forgive her for the pain she has caused him, but that he
can never forgive her for the pain that she has caused herself—he adds
that she has killed herself through her behavior, and that he could never
forgive her murderer.
The church service over, Edgar reaches the house, but Catherine pleads
with Heathcliff not to leave. He promises to stay by her side. As Edgar
hurries toward Catherine’s room, Nelly screams, and Catherine collapses.
Heathcliff catches her, and forces her into Edgar’s arms as he enters the
room, demanding that Edgar see to Catherine’s needs before acting on his
anger. Nelly hurries Heathcliff out of the room, promising to send him word
about Catherine’s condition in the morning. Heathcliff swears that he will
stay in the garden, wanting to be near her.
Key events:
Nelly makes sure Thrushcross Grange is empty so that
Heathcliff can visit Catherine
Their conversations constantly changes between love and
death, where they seem passionate, desperate and angry
Catherine faints in Heathcliff’s arms when Edgar enters
Heathcliff promises to stay close
Key themes/ideas:
Love/passion
Forgiveness
Death
Heathcliff:
He cannot help himself, he is impatient and desperate- “the
open house was too tempting for Heathcliff to resist walking
in”
, He is in despair at thought of losing her forever- “he could
hardly bear, for downright agony, to look into her face” “she
was fated, sure to die” “Oh, Cathy! Oh, my life! How can I
bear it?”
Is his natural violence shown or is it Catherine’s fragility?-
“had taken her arm… on his letting go I saw four distinct
impressions left blue in the colourless skin”
Shows his undying love- “I could as soon forget you as my
existence” “while you are at peace I shall writhe in the
torments of hell”
Doesn’t want to appear vulnerable- “but not so far as to let
her see his face, which was livid with emotion”
Shows rare and vulnerable emotions- “looking absolutely
desperate. His eyes wide, and wet at last”
Is animalistic- “his gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad
dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealousy. I did not
feel as if I were in the company of a creature of my own
species”
He can forgive her what she did to him, but not to herself, so
he loves her more than himself- “I love my murderer- but
yours! How can I?”
For what seems like the first time, he doesn’t prioritise
revenge and conflict- “Unless you be a fiend, help her first-
then you shall speak to me!” “I shall stay in the garden”
Catherine:
She seems to speak out of both anger and love- “‘I wish I
could hold you,’ she continued, bitterly, ‘till we were both
dead!’”
She is angry, but also desperate for reassurance- “Why
shouldn’t you suffer? I do! Will you forget me?”
She seems to give up her bitter front as her love for him
comes through- “I’m not wishing you greater torment than I
have, Heathcliff. I only wish us never to be parted” “Won’t
you come here again? Do!”
Begs him to stay, or she will die- “Oh, don’t, don’t go. It is
the last time! Edgar will not hurt us. Heathcliff, I shall die! I
shall die!”
Edgar:
