Chapter Seven
SparkNotes summary: Catherine spends five weeks recuperating at the
Grange. Mrs. Linton determines to transform the girl into a young lady and
spends her time educating Catherine in manners and social graces.
Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights at Christmastime, wearing a lovely
dress. Hindley says that Heathcliff may greet Catherine “like the other
servants,” and, when he does so, she says he is dirty in comparison with
the Linton children, to whom she has grown accustomed. Heathcliff’s
feelings are wounded, and he storms out of the room, declaring that he
will be as dirty as he likes. The Linton children come for dinner at
Wuthering Heights the next day. Nelly helps Heathcliff to wash himself and
put on suitable clothes after the boy declares his intention to be “good,”
but Mrs. Linton has allowed Edgar and Isabella to attend under the
condition that Heathcliff be kept away from them. Accordingly, Hindley
orders that Heathcliff be locked in the attic until the end of dinner. Before
the boy can be locked away, however, Edgar makes a comment about
Heathcliff’s hair, and Heathcliff angrily flings hot applesauce in his face.
Catherine clearly appears unhappy with Hindley’s treatment of Heathcliff,
and after dinner she goes up to see him. Nelly frees the boy and gives him
some supper in the kitchen. Heathcliff confides to Nelly that he intends to
seek revenge on Hindley.
At this point, Nelly interrupts her narrative and rises to go, remarking that
the night is growing late. Lockwood says that he intends to sleep late the
next day and wishes to hear the rest of her story now. He urges her to
continue in minute detail.
Key events:
Catherine Senior returns to Wuthering Heights five weeks
later as a changed person- she is more ladylike
Heathcliff’s dirtiness emphasises his neglect
The Lintons arrive at Wuthering Heights for tea and
Heathcliff is isolated, but ends up throwing hot sauce into
Edgar’s face
Catherine Senior sneaks away to be with Heathcliff, who
plots revenge against Hindley
Key themes/ideas:
Character change- Catherine
Violence- Hindley and Heathcliff
Revenge- Heathcliff’s plan
Love- Catherine and Heathcliff
, Heathcliff:
His maltreatment increased- “”If he were careless, and
uncared for, before Catherine’s absence, he had been ten
times more so since”
His position in the house is put down- “like the other
servants”
He stubbornly refuses to clean, causing him to appear
homeless, which, in some respect, he is- “I shall be as dirty
as I please”
Nelly is sympathetic of him- “the poor lad’s situation” ”from
singing I changed my mind to crying”
It seems that he can only spend his time with animals-
“smoothing the coat of the new pony in the stable, and
feeding the other beasts” who are in better condition than
him
He wants no more than to be with Catherine- “The notion of
envying Catherine was incomprehensible to him, but the
notion of grieving her he understood clearly enough”
His “face brightened” at the idea that he could “knock him
(Edgar) down” showing his violence, however this is
questionable as he admits that if he “knocked him down
twenty times, that wouldn’t make him less handsome”
Despite this, his instinctual violent nature is emphasised as
Edgar made a “remark without any intention to insult; but
Heathcliff’s violent nature” caused him to throw “hot apple
sauce” “full against the speaker’s face and neck”
Nelly supports who he is- “You’re fit for a prince in disguise”
and being complimented lead to how “Heathcliff gradually
lost his frown and began to look quite pleasant”
He has a wish for revenge- “I’m trying to settle how I shall
pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait” purely to
satisfy his desire- “God won’t have the satisfaction that I
shall”
Catherine:
“Catherine stayed at Thrushcross Grange five weeks” and in
such a small period of time she changed in a significant way
Her change can be seen in a number of ways- “her manners
much improved” she wore “a grand plaid silk frock, white
trousers” and when greeted by the dogs “she dare hardly
touch them lest they should fawn upon her splendid
garments” this is a contrast to her previous wildness, as is
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