Assess the Importance of Hareton’s Contribution to Wuthering Heights.

Wuthering Heights - The importance of Hareton.

Holly Anderson. 'Assess the importance of Hareton’s contribution to Wuthering Heights.' The character of Hareton is seemingly a mirror of the character of Heathcliff. The difference in the two being that Hareton is kind-hearted, compansionate and almost heroic, while Heathcliff shows very little in the way of these endearing qualities. Perhaps the sole purpose of his character, is to show the reader the Heathcliff they so desperatly wished would appear. As we read the first few chapters with bated breath, waiting for this rough and hostile creature to reveal his true, charming self, we realise that Heathcliff is as Heathcliff is first written. Towards very few characters does he show true emotions, other than anger, resentment and a wish for revenge. As we conclude that no hero would emerge from underneath this dark facade of our leading man, Hareton appears. Once again, we hope to see this uncivilised, aggressive 'Heathcliffian savage'. turn out to be a lovable rogue, and this time we are not disappointed. Hareton is a heart-warming, good-natured character who helps the novel come to a happier ending than we would have initially anticipated. Throughout the novel, we can see several similarities between the life of the characters in Wuthering Heights and the life of the author, Emily Bronte. Like Emily, Hareton's mother dies when he is very young. This theme continues with the birth of Catherine's daughter and both are born from a relationship of love. Linton, however, is the product of a volatile and hate-filled relationship, which may explain why the characters of young Cathy and Hareton seem more alike deep down than their cousin. Hindley takes very little interest in his son, becoming more fond of alcohol than his own child. Easily provoked and violent, Hindley provides a difficult and unhealthy environment for a child to be raised in. At one point, he even drops Hareton when he is very young and the...