Original Text(~172 words)
Mr. Hindley came home to the funeral; and—a thing that amazed us, and set the neighbours gossiping right and left—he brought a wife with him. What she was, and where she was born, he never informed us: probably, she had neither money nor name to recommend her, or he would scarcely have kept the union from his father. She was not one that would have disturbed the house much on her own account. Every object she saw, the moment she crossed the threshold, appeared to delight her; and every circumstance that took place about her: except the preparing for the burial, and the presence of the mourners. Hindley returns from college for his father's funeral with a mysterious wife who seems delighted by everything except death itself. She's clearly not from money, and her fear of mortality reveals deep insecurities. Meanwhile, Hindley immediately starts asserting his new authority, demoting the servants and preparing to reshape the household hierarchy. The chapter shows how death creates power vacuums that ambitious people rush to fill.
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Summary
Hindley returns from college for his father's funeral with a mysterious wife who seems delighted by everything except death itself. She's clearly not from money, and her fear of mortality reveals deep insecurities. Meanwhile, Hindley immediately starts asserting his new authority, demoting the servants and preparing to reshape the household hierarchy. The chapter shows how death creates power vacuums that ambitious people rush to fill.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
quarter ourselves
To relocate to lesser accommodations, usually servants' quarters
Modern Usage:
Like when new management comes in and suddenly you're moved from the nice break room to the basement
mourners
People attending a funeral to grieve the deceased
Modern Usage:
Family and friends who show up to pay their respects at a viewing or service
hysterical emotion
Overwhelming, uncontrollable emotional response
Modern Usage:
Having a complete breakdown or panic attack, especially when triggered by something specific
Characters in This Chapter
Hindley Earnshaw
New master of Wuthering Heights
Returns from college changed, immediately begins asserting power and reshaping household dynamics
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who inherits the business and immediately starts making changes to show they're in charge
Hindley's Wife
Mysterious new mistress
Represents someone who married up but can't hide her insecurities about death and social position
Modern Equivalent:
Someone who married into money but still feels like an outsider, anxious about fitting in
Nelly Dean
Servant and narrator
Observes the power shifts and class tensions with the practical wisdom of someone who's seen it all
Modern Equivalent:
The long-term employee who watches management changes and knows how these things usually play out
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Literature teaches you to recognize the subtle ways people establish and maintain social hierarchies, especially during transitions
Practice This Today
Next time there's a change in leadership at work or in your community, observe how people position themselves in relation to the new authority. Notice who tries to get close to power, who resists, and who just tries to stay out of the way.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"We don't in general take to foreigners here, Mr. Lockwood, unless they take to us first."
Context: Explaining the household's cold reception of Hindley's wife
Shows how insular communities protect themselves by making outsiders prove their worth first
In Today's Words:
We're suspicious of new people until they show us they belong here
"Are they gone yet?"
Context: Hiding from the funeral proceedings, terrified of death
Her fear of mortality reveals someone who's never had to face life's harsh realities
In Today's Words:
Is the scary stuff over? Can I come out now?
"Young Earnshaw was altered considerably in the three years of his absence."
Context: Observing how Hindley has changed after his education
Education and exposure to different social classes can fundamentally change someone's identity and values
In Today's Words:
College changed him completely - he's not the same person who left
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Power Grab Pattern
How individuals and groups reorganize themselves when established power structures suddenly change
Thematic Threads
Social Class Anxiety
In This Chapter
Hindley's wife is clearly from a lower class but trying to fit into her new elevated position while being terrified of exposure
Development
Her fear of death and constant nervousness reveal someone who's never felt secure in any social position
In Your Life:
Notice how people act when they're in situations above their usual social level - the overcompensation, the anxiety, the need to prove they belong
Power and Hierarchy
In This Chapter
Hindley immediately starts rearranging the household staff and living arrangements to establish his authority
Development
Shows how new power holders often make dramatic changes just to demonstrate control
In Your Life:
Watch for this pattern when new managers, landlords, or authority figures take over - they often make unnecessary changes just to mark their territory
Isolation and Belonging
In This Chapter
The household's cold reception of the new wife shows how communities exclude outsiders
Development
Nelly's comment about not taking to foreigners reveals the defensive nature of insular groups
In Your Life:
Every workplace, neighborhood, and social group has unspoken rules about how newcomers must prove themselves
Modern Adaptation
The New Boss's Wife
Following Heath's story...
Heath watches as the construction company owner's son takes over after the old man's heart attack. The son immediately brings his new wife to the job sites - she's clearly not from money, nervous around the workers, asking if they 'like her' and trying too hard to be friendly. Meanwhile, the son starts changing everything: new uniforms, different break schedules, moving the experienced guys to worse assignments. Heath recognizes the power play but also sees the wife's desperation to belong somewhere.
The Road
Resentment and power struggles that make everyone's work life miserable while the real issues go unaddressed
The Map
Understanding that both the son and his wife are acting from insecurity, not malice - and that these transitions always create temporary chaos
Amplification
When authority changes hands, expect a period of instability as everyone figures out the new rules. The key is not taking the changes personally and recognizing when someone's harsh behavior comes from their own fears rather than actual hostility toward you.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why do you think Hindley kept his marriage secret from his father?
analytical • Consider what this reveals about class expectations and family approval - 2
What does the wife's fear of death tell us about her background and personality?
character_analysis • Think about how different life experiences shape our relationship with mortality - 3
How do you think the servants feel about being demoted to the back-kitchen?
perspective • Consider the emotional impact of sudden status changes on working people - 4
Is Nelly's attitude toward 'foreigners' justified or prejudiced?
ethical • Examine the difference between protective caution and unfair exclusion
Critical Thinking Exercise
Power Transition Analysis
Think of a time when leadership changed in your workplace, family, or community. Map out what happened: Who took power? What changes did they make immediately? How did different people react? What was the real motivation behind the changes?
Consider:
- •Were the changes necessary or just about establishing authority?
- •Who benefited and who lost status?
- •How long did it take for things to stabilize?
- •What could have been done differently to make the transition smoother?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to adapt to new authority or rules. What was hardest about the change? How did you figure out what the new expectations were? What did you learn about yourself during that transition?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 7
The coming pages reveal social pressure transforms people and relationships, and teach us class differences create invisible barriers between lovers. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.