Catherine and Hareton’s Relationship

Catherine and Hareton’s Relationship

 In Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë develops a conflict between Catherine Linton and Hareton
Earnshaw and uses the resolution of their conflict to resolve that between Catherine and
Heathcliff. Though their social classes and upbringings differ, the two cousins possess the same
wild spirits and match perfectly. In order to discover their compatibility, however, they must both
break down their walls and let go of their bitternesses.

When Catherine the Second and Hareton Earnshaw first meet, Catherine treats Hareton with
disdain and refuses to recognize him as her cousin. She has come into Wuthering Heights with
a wall around her heart. She is unhappy about being there and resolves not to befriend its
inhabitants. Hareton acts politely in the best way he knows how, and tries to give her his seat by
the fire and retrieves books for her off the shelves. She turns down the seat and, according to
Zillah, “turned up her nose” (217). She accepts the books from him, but then turns away to read
them. Even though she does not thank him, he “felt gratified that she had accepted his
assistance” (217). Hareton obviously tries hard to be someone Catherine would respect, but
she continues to snub him. After she turns away, he gets really caught up in watching her and
reaches out to touch a curl. This forwardness disgusts and infuriates Catherine. She asks him,
“How dare you touch me?” and goes on to tell him, “I can’t endure you!” (217-8). He feels
foolish and grows timid in her presence. Even though he wants her to read aloud to him, he now
fears her too much to ask, so he requests that Zillah ask for him. Catherine responds with
another outburst, telling Hareton outright that she does not care about him at all and cannot
even bear the sound of his voice. This humiliation is the final straw for Hareton.
In response to her treatment of him, Hareton stops trying to please Catherine. He grows hateful
toward her and considers her snobbish and shallow. He “muttered, she might go to hell” (218),
and stops refraining from engaging in activities he was formerly told might displease Catherine if
they were done on a Sunday, such as cleaning his gun. It hurts his pride too much to care for
her when she is hateful back, so he puts up a wall and resolves to be just as hateful, making
himself less vulnerable......................................................................................................................

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Milan Tomic

Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.

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