Why does he want revenge? Heathcliff through the book
Heathcliff’s
Revenge
Introduction
Define revenge Conclusion
Body
Con’s Pro’s The people he takes revenge Did he succeed? Kills Hindley Catherine
Hareton raised by Nelly
Thrushcross Grange and
Wuthering Heights he gambles
Topic: Heathcliffs whole aim in the novel is to gain revenge. Does he succeed? Discuss
Revenge is to inflict hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong done to oneself. Heathcliff seeks revenge for everything he has been through, the hurt, abuse he suffered at the hands of Hindley.
Two main subjects push Heathcliff to boiling point: his desire for Catherine’s love and his need for revenge. His love for Catherine endures, as his need to get revenge on Hindley which occurs after Mr.Earnshaw’s death. It is only after Catherine’s death that Heathcliff’s revenge towards Hindley, Edgar begins getting worse as Heathcliff assumes control of Hindley’s house and son, as well as everything that is Edgars like Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff wants to own ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Thrushcross Grange’! Heathcliff is a heavy drinker and a gambler which is why he gambles in the hope to win Thrushcross Grange.
When Heathcliff visits Catherine Linton he realises that Isabella Linton is infatuated with him. Heathcliff treats Edgar with absolute contempt,” Cathy, this lamb of yours threatens like a bull.”Edgar realises that he needs to fight Heathcliff to break down in fear. Though Edgar is humiliated, Heathcliff departs saying,” I wish you joy of the milk-blooded coward, Cathy!”
Heathcliff’s plan for revenge on Edgar and Catherine is to marry Isabella, who is ignorant of love and men because she has never experienced either. Heathcliff wants to hurt Edgar because of his marriage to Catherine, and wants to get revenge on Catherine by making her jealous, which will show her that there is no love left for them to be together. This will hurt Catherine tremendously as she has always loved Heathcliff but it degrades her to marry him. Heathcliff is haunted by the ghost of Catherine because he is till motivated by the need for revenge and tries to get young Cathy away from Edgar by having her marry his son, Linton.
Heathcliff never finds peace even after he dies. He meets Catherine in death and that is when he truly becomes happy. Heathcliff succeeds to take things from those who he thought had wronged him, specifically Hindley.
Word count: 360
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