Wuthering Heights: Close Reading of Key Passages

Catherine and the Landscape Metaphor

"Catherine's face was just like the landscape — shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient…" (Chapter 27)

This quote presents a striking metaphor, describing Catherine's face as being "just like the landscape." Doing so not only provides vivid imagery but also links Catherine to the land and to her home — prevalent themes throughout Brontë's work. Catherine has essentially become spiritually one with the land in which she lives, anchoring her in geographic space and time. All issues of ownership of property — especially given Heathcliff's use of property ownership as a means to assert his political and social power — revert, in a symbolic sense, to Catherine.

Moreover, Brontë is careful to point out that the landscape of Catherine's face is filled with "shadows and sunshine," which are "flitting over it in rapid succession." This extends the metaphor, showing that Catherine is susceptible to mood swings that likewise occur in nature. Significantly, the narrator notes that Catherine tends to have more shadows than sunshine on her face, meaning she was experiencing more sadness than joy at this stage of her life. These vicissitudes are not, however, portrayed as evidence that Catherine is an inherently shadowy or depressed person; rather, she is simply attuned to nature and the world around her.

This passage perfectly suits the tone of the novel and corresponds with Catherine's character, which Brontë develops through both the landscape metaphor and the broader allusion to the land. Throughout Wuthering Heights, Brontë relies on natural imagery to convey theme and characterization.

Linton, Possession, and Heathcliff's Revenge

"I'm glad, for I shall be master of the Grange after him — and Catherine always spoke of it as her house. It isn't hers! It's mine: papa says everything she has is mine. All her nice books are mine; she offered to give me them, and her pretty birds, and her pony Minny, if I would get the key of her room and let her out; but I told her she had nothing to give — they were all, all mine." (Chapter 28, p. 257)

Here, Brontë shows how thoroughly corrupted Linton has become at Heathcliff's behest. He has been cognitively poisoned, claiming that the Grange is "mine," when it is truly Heathcliff who desires surrogate possession of the place. Linton has become Heathcliff's tool for exacting revenge against the deceased elder Catherine and against Edgar as well. Heathcliff has, essentially, won in his long game against both. By forcing their marriage, he has effectively transferred ownership of the Grange to Linton and thereby achieved his secondary goal. His primary goal, of course, will not be fulfilled until he dies and is symbolically reunited with Catherine.

This passage carries a profound sadness, as Linton is already a pathetic figure. Adding to his physical and mental weakness is the abuse inflicted on him by Heathcliff, who manipulates him mercilessly. The themes of possession, revenge, and anger are clearly elucidated here. Furthermore, Linton's emotionality is a core feature of this dialogue; the reader can perceive his vulnerability in the way he refers to Catherine's "pretty birds, and her pony Minny." Linton loves Catherine and views her as his savior in many ways, yet here reveals a painful commingling of self-hatred and outward-directed anger toward a woman who did nothing to hurt him. He remains painfully unaware of the extent to which Heathcliff has manipulated him.