Wuthering Heights

Reading Wuthering Heights was difficult in the beginning. Especially in terms of keeping all the characters in order in my mind. Once I got to reading more into the character of Catherine, I came to the conclusion that she wanted the life others wanted for her, rather than the life she wanted for herself. Maybe this plays into the role of a woman in the days this novel was written. As a child she enjoyed Heathcliff's company and adored him. Their personalities matched, even though Heathcliff was brought in to their family, and she, was supposed to have been a woman of great eloquence and class. Her stay at Thrushcross Grange turned her into the woman that she was expected of being. I understand up to this point, however, it is when she continues to toy with Heathcliff. If she genuinely had no interest, she should have buried the love she had for him and let him go. Her conversation with Nelly, "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and [Edgar’s] is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire." Should not have placed emphasis on her love for Heathcliff, also saying that he and her will never part. Letting him go, would have not made him seek revenge, or have lack of closure. He needed that closure so he could live his life properly. He was obviously capable of all the riches and happiness, but this love for Catherine held him back from so many things. I didn't like her character at all, and felt apologetic for Heathcliff and Edgar for having to have dealt with her.