Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë (1847)
Book Overview
Wuthering Heights tells the story of Heathcliff, an orphan taken in by a wealthy family, and his obsessive, destructive love for Catherine Earnshaw. When Catherine chooses social status over their passionate bond, Heathcliff's love turns to revenge, destroying everyone around him—and himself. Through Intelligence Amplifier™ analysis, we explore how obsessive love, social class barriers, and the desire for revenge can consume and destroy lives, and how these patterns appear in modern relationships, workplaces, and personal struggles.
Why Read Wuthering Heights Today?
Classic literature like Wuthering Heights offers more than historical insight—it provides roadmaps for navigating modern challenges. Through our Intelligence Amplifier™ analysis, each chapter reveals practical wisdom applicable to contemporary life, from career decisions to personal relationships.
Major Themes
Key Characters
Nelly Dean
Servant and narrator
Featured in 13 chapters
Edgar Linton
The proud husband refusing to apologize first
Featured in 13 chapters
Catherine Linton
The dramatic wife staging a hunger strike
Featured in 9 chapters
Heathcliff
Landlord of Thrushcross Grange
Featured in 8 chapters
Lockwood
Narrator and tenant
Featured in 6 chapters
Joseph
Elderly servant
Featured in 4 chapters
Hindley Earnshaw
Mr. Earnshaw's biological son, sent away to college
Featured in 4 chapters
Hareton Earnshaw
Newborn son, last of the Earnshaw bloodline
Featured in 4 chapters
Mrs. Dean (Nelly)
Housekeeper and storyteller
Featured in 3 chapters
Ellen Dean (Nelly)
Narrator and former housekeeper
Featured in 3 chapters
Key Quotes
"A perfect misanthropist's Heaven—and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us."
"The 'walk in' was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment, 'Go to the Deuce!'"
"Wretched inmates! you deserve perpetual isolation from your species for your churlish inhospitality."
"I'll hae no hend wi't"
"This writing, however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small—Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton."
"the air swarmed with Catherines"
"What vain weather-cocks we are!"
"Rich, sir! He has nobody knows what money, and every year it increases."
"Hindley was nought, and would never thrive as where he wandered."
"It was a disadvantage to the lad; for the kinder among us did not wish to fret the master, so we humoured his partiality."
"We don't in general take to foreigners here, Mr. Lockwood, unless they take to us first."
"Are they gone yet?"
Discussion Questions
1. Why is Lockwood drawn to Heathcliff's obvious hostility instead of being put off by it?
From Chapter 1 →2. What does the isolated setting tell us about both men's relationship with society?
From Chapter 1 →3. Why does Heath's household treat visitors with such hostility?
From Chapter 2 →4. What's the difference between choosing solitude and being trapped in isolation?
From Chapter 2 →5. What does Catherine's compulsive name-carving tell us about her mental and emotional state?
From Chapter 3 →6. How do the three different versions of Catherine's name reflect the impossible choice she faced?
From Chapter 3 →7. Why do you think Lockwood convinced himself he wanted isolation when he clearly craved human connection?
From Chapter 4 →8. What does Heathcliff's wealth combined with his cheap lifestyle suggest about his character?
From Chapter 4 →9. Is Mr. Earnshaw's favoritism toward Heathcliff understandable given the boy's orphaned status, or is it inexcusably unfair to Hindley?
From Chapter 5 →10. How does everyone's decision to 'humor' Mr. Earnshaw's partiality actually make the situation worse for everyone involved?
From Chapter 5 →11. Why do you think Hindley kept his marriage secret from his father?
From Chapter 6 →12. What does the wife's fear of death tell us about her background and personality?
From Chapter 6 →13. Is Catherine's transformation a betrayal of Heathcliff, or is she just trying to survive in her society?
From Chapter 7 →14. How does Heathcliff's deterioration during Catherine's absence reveal the connection between love and self-worth?
From Chapter 7 →15. How does Dr. Kenneth's blunt delivery of Frances's diagnosis reflect attitudes toward working-class patients?
From Chapter 8 →For Educators
Looking for teaching resources? Each chapter includes tiered discussion questions, critical thinking exercises, and modern relevance connections.
View Educator Resources →All Chapters
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Mr. Lockwood, our narrator, visits his new landlord Heathcliff at the remote Yorkshire estate. Despite Heathcliff's obvious hostility and suspicious n...
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Lockwood returns to Wuthering Heights despite harsh weather, only to find himself locked out and unwelcome. Joseph, the surly servant, refuses to help...
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Lockwood discovers a mysterious chamber where Catherine Earnshaw once slept, finding her name carved obsessively into the windowsill in different vari...
Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Lockwood, feeling lonely and desperate for company, convinces his housekeeper Mrs. Dean to stay and chat during dinner. He's curious about his mysteri...
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Mr. Earnshaw's health fails rapidly, turning him from a kind patriarch into an irritable, controlling old man obsessed with protecting Heathcliff from...
Chapter 6: Chapter 6
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 ...
Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Catherine returns from her five-week stay at Thrushcross Grange completely transformed—now a refined lady in fine clothes instead of the wild child wh...
Chapter 8: Birth and Death
A son is born to Hindley and Frances, but the joy is overshadowed by the doctor's grim prediction that Frances will die from consumption before winter...
Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Father's Rage
Hindley returns home in a violent, drunken rage, terrifying his own son Hareton who has learned to hide from his father's unpredictable moods. Nelly p...
Chapter 10: The Storyteller Returns
Lockwood is stuck indoors recovering from illness and craving human connection. Heathcliff visits and brings gifts, showing an unexpectedly caring sid...
Chapter 11: Chapter XI
Ellen Dean reflects on her conflicted feelings about visiting Wuthering Heights, torn between concern and self-protection. During a journey to Gimmert...
Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Nelly watches as both Catherine and Edgar engage in a destructive standoff after their fight. Catherine locks herself away, refusing to eat, hoping Ed...
Chapter 13: Catherine's Recovery
Catherine slowly recovers from her mental breakdown while Edgar devotedly nurses her back to health. Though her body heals, her mind remains fragmente...
Chapter 14: Chapter XIV
Edgar Linton refuses to reconcile with his sister Isabella, who has written seeking forgiveness after her disastrous marriage to Heathcliff. Despite E...
Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Letter and the Return
Nelly finally delivers Heathcliff's letter to the dying Catherine after delaying for days out of fear. Catherine, weakened by illness, sits by her win...
Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Birth and Death
Catherine Earnshaw dies giving birth to her daughter, also named Catherine, leaving behind a devastated Edgar Linton and an unwanted child. The narrat...
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
A brutal winter storm hits just as Isabella Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange, soaked and desperate after running through the snow from Wutheri...
Chapter 18: Chapter XVIII: Catherine's Childhood
Mrs. Dean describes the peaceful twelve years raising young Catherine Linton at Thrushcross Grange. The child grows into a beautiful, spirited girl wh...
Chapter 19: The Return and the Reunion
Edgar Linton returns to Thrushcross Grange with devastating news: Isabella has died, and he's bringing her son Linton to live with them. Young Catheri...
Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Young Linton is forcibly taken from the Grange to live with his father Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights. The boy knows nothing about his father and is ...
Chapter 21: Chapter 21
Young Cathy grieves her cousin Linton's departure while Heathcliff deliberately keeps the sickly boy isolated at Wuthering Heights. The housekeeper re...
Chapter 22: Chapter 22
Edgar Linton falls seriously ill after working late in the damp autumn fields, confining him indoors for the winter. Young Cathy becomes increasingly ...
Chapter 23: Chapter 23
Nelly and Catherine arrive at Wuthering Heights on a miserable morning to find Heathcliff absent and Joseph enjoying himself by the fire. They encount...
Chapter 24: Chapter 24
Ellen Dean recovers from illness and notices young Catherine's strange behavior during their evening reading sessions. Catherine becomes increasingly ...
Chapter 25: Chapter 25
Mrs. Dean continues her story while carefully watching Lockwood's reactions, noting his obvious fascination with young Catherine Linton. She reveals E...
Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Catherine and Nelly finally visit young Linton Heathcliff, but find him alarmingly weak and sickly. The boy is clearly deteriorating, both physically ...
Chapter 27: Chapter 27
Edgar Linton is dying rapidly, and young Catherine refuses to leave his side, becoming pale and worn from constant vigil. Nelly tries to get Catherine...
Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Truth and Consequences
Zillah arrives with village gossip about Nelly and Catherine being lost in the marsh, revealing Heathcliff's manipulation of the story. Nelly learns t...
Chapter 29: Chapter 29
After Edgar Linton's funeral, Nelly and young Catherine discuss their uncertain future at Thrushcross Grange. Their fragile hope for stability is shat...
Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Bitter Harvest
Through servant Zillah's gossip, we learn how Heathcliff's cruelty extends to his own household. Catherine Linton, now trapped at Wuthering Heights, f...
Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Lockwood visits Wuthering Heights and observes the tense dynamics between Catherine and Hareton. Catherine appears sullen and dismissive, while Hareto...
Chapter 32: Return to the Heights
Mr. Lockwood unexpectedly finds himself near Gimmerton during his travels and decides on impulse to visit Thrushcross Grange. The journey back stirs m...
Chapter 33: Chapter 33
Catherine and Hareton work together in the garden, planning improvements and sharing quiet moments that show their growing bond. Nelly watches nervous...
Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Heathcliff begins his final spiral, avoiding family meals and wandering the moors at night. When Catherine and Hareton see him, they're shocked by his...
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