Paper on Life

Corey Mascada

AP Literature

01-19-11

Eismeier

“Because misery, and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would parted us, you, of your own will did it. I have not broken your heart- you have broken it- and in breaking it, you have broken mine”(119.)

In Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, Catherine Linton is no heroine. Being the central cause for all the drama and misery she herself was to blame. From the beginning of this sinsiter love triangle Mrs. Linton think of no one, not even her own happiness, just her name. She knew deep in her heart that she loved and lusted for Heathcliff the “Hero” of Wuthering Heights, but she would not be with him because “It would degrade me [Catherine] to marry Heathcliff”(59.) She much values her name before her happiness or anyone's happiness. So she would marry Linton. After overhearing this conversation, Heathcliff runs off and is heard from for three years, just in time to come back for Mrs. Catherine Linton's early months of marriage.

Upon the return of Heathcliff, Catherine returns to her scheme of making Mr. Edgar Linton and Heathcliff friends, according to her if Edgar wanted her hand in marriage he “...must shake off his antipathy, and tolerate him [Heathcliff], at least”(60.) She wanted both men in her life; she wanted Linton for wealth and name, and she wanted Heathcliff for love and companionship. She was selfish, and she saw nothing wrong in that. After a quarrel one evening Thrushcross Grange, the Linton household, between Linton and Heathcliff, Catherine in despair promises “..to break their hearts by breaking [her] own”(86.)

Upon her death she blames Heathcliff and Linton for breaking her heart and causing her sickness. Hypocrisy takes a whole new meaning with Catherine, she herself knew that wasn't the case because she promised to break her heart. Her selfishness destroyed her,not to mention everyone else around her. After confessing to Nelly all her secrets she still...