Catherine's betrayal and Heathcliff's revenge in Wuthering Heights

Wuthering

Summarize Chapters 12-18

Chapters 12 through 18 build to the climax of Wuthering Heights. Catherine has married Edgar in spite of not loving him, thereby sabotaging her chances of ever being with Heathcliff, and likewise sabotaging her chances of ever being happy. She drives herself mad, and creates a psychosomatic illness from which she never recovers. In the meantime, Heathcliff is devastated to learn of Catherine's betrayal and to spite her marries Isabella. His behavior mirrors that of Catherine, highlighting their star-crossed love as well as their tragically unconsummated love. Catherine dies giving birth to her daughter.

Pick two or three quotes from chapters 12-18 that seem particularly meaningful, provocative, or well written and briefly (in a phrase or quick sentence) say why.

"I should mention that Isabella sent to her brother, some six weeks from her departure, a short note, announcing her marriage with Heathcliff. It appeared dry and cold; but at the bottom was dotted in with pencil an obscure apology, and an entreaty for kind remembrance and reconciliation, if her proceeding had offended him: asserting that she could not help it then, and being done, she had now no power to repeal it. Linton did not reply to this, I believe; and, in a fortnight more, I got a long letter, which I considered odd, coming from the pen of a bride just out of the honeymoon."

This passage reveals Isabella's estranged relationship with her brother, as well as describing the loveless marriage between Heathcliff and Isabella.

"Let us settle it at once: will you stay here, and am I to fight my way to Catherine over Linton and his footman? Or will you be my friend, as you have been hitherto, and do what I request? Decide! because there is no reason for my lingering another minute, if you persist in your stubborn ill-nature!"

Here, Heathcliff's emotional intensity regarding his desire to see Catherine in secret proves his undying love for her and heightens the tension building to the novel's climax.

6. This novel is similar to… (other literature, news, history)

This story bears resemblance to tragic dramas, such as Romeo and Juliet. After all, there were social conventions preventing Romeo and Juliet from marrying. In the same way, there are social conventions that prevented Heathcliff and Catherine from marrying. The tragic death of Catherine mirrors that of Juliet.

7. What are you still trying to grasp the significance of?

At this point in the reading, most of the elements of the story are clear. There is nothing meaningful that I am trying to grasp the significance of, for everything generally makes sense. Both Catherine and Heathcliff are doomed to spend their lives miserable without being able to be fully happy. The significance of the estate itself is starting to become clearer, as it represents the legacy of the family as well as symbolizing one's social class. By this point, Heathcliff has become master of the domain. However, it does seem a shame that he and Catherine do not rekindle their romance, but if they were to do so, the novel would have completely a different tone and theme. It is also difficult to tell whether Heathcliff has regrets, because the reader is not inside his head as much as inside Catherine's.

8. Come up with 3-5 good, higher-level open-ended discussion questions.

1. What does Wuthering Heights signify or symbolize, and why is it particularly important that Heathcliff manages to purchase it, and later bequeaths it to Catherine's daughter Cathy?

2. Bronte could have easily had Catherine and Heathcliff rekindle their love, especially with Heathcliff knowing what her heartbreak had done to her body and soul. If the novel had ended with Heathcliff and Catherine having a child immediately before Catherine's death, how would this have changed the novel?

3. When Catherine dies, Heathcliff cannot bear to even say her name. Clearly he loved her; do his words or actions indicate that he feels in some way guilty or responsible for her death? Or do you think he is simply bitter?

4. Do Catherine and Heathcliff change in any meaningful way? Do they learn from their mistakes or do they seem to cling to their prejudices and pride, refusing to take responsibility for their own actions?