Catherine Earnshaw, from Wuthering Heights, starts her story at age six as the mischievous daughter of Mr. Earnshaw, master of Wuthering Heights. She is introduced to Heathcliff whom her father brought home one day as he was a "poor, fatherless child" (42). Mr. Earnshaw always put Heathcliff above Catherine as she was "too mischievous and wayward for a favourite" (42). Despite this, she was fond of Heathcliff to the point that her greatest punishments were when she was kept apart from him. After watching her father die, Cathy caused more of a ruckus and cared less about being punished until one day it got her and Heathcliff stuck at Thrushcross Grange. During those five weeks, she settled down a bit and "her manners much improved" as she became more of a Lady and less of a brat (55). Even as she started to follow social protocol, she still ignored them when Heathcliff is involved no matter how often her brother reminds them of their place. While she greatly loves Heathcliff, Catherine is - at her core - a social climber and will not allow her feelings to take charge. Hence when Linton asked for her hand in marriage, she said yes without thinking of Heathcliff until after. She brings pain to those whom love her as Linton knows she loves Heathcliff while Heathcliff has to see her marry another man. She started as an innocent, playful child and turned to an arrogant, selfish brat who doesn't care who gets hurt in the process so long as she obtains her favored status. She is also in denial of what she is as shown by her attempts to justify her actions to Nelly. Despite her flaws, she is determined and sticks with her decisions.
Focusing on the marriage between Catherine and Edgar, the novel suggests that Catherine may not have done it purely for social status. Catherine still regards Heathcliff as her first love and part of the motivation for marrying Edgar was so that he could take her new social standing to raise Heathcliff's. Though it may seem counter-intuitive now, it makes more sense in context since, back then, women were much more limited in their societal roles.
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Courtney K
10/28/2014 10:17:47 am
I don't think Catherine is merely a "social climber". In this time period a woman had to depend on a man for her financial support. Women couldn't create their own lives and have jobs. So Catherine's reason for choosing Edgar makes sense. And though she loves Heathcliff he cannot provide for her. Once he becomes "proper", she still can't be with him because a divorce would have her shunned. So no I don't think she is entirely worried about her status; she's just trying to do what's best at the time. She even said she wanted to help Heathcliff with Edgars money. She was thinking of someone other than herself.
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Lindsay Byron
10/28/2014 12:26:45 pm
I agree that Catherine really changed within her stay at Thrushcross Grange, I feel that the things the Linton's taught overtook her original personality. But, I still feel that the "old" Catherine is still inside her, which comes across when she is in contact with Heathcliff. Which is why I don't feel that Catherine's marriage is entirely based on social climbing I feel she did what she needed to do. Even to the point where she married Edgar in part to help her true love, Heathcliff. Everything she does even, if it does not translate well is because of her deep love for Heathcliff.
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Noah Poirier
10/28/2014 11:01:18 pm
I agree that Catherine is a "social climbing brat." I hate everything her character stands for; she is a manifestation of lust greed and jealousy all rolled into one. Anyone who is able to put money and power above their own raw human emotion is not worthy of human life. Our emotions define us, ignoring those emotions for something so materialistic is sickening and artificial. As fine as she might be in throwing away her humanity for money, she does not realize the torment she brings upon others who have the misfortune of loving her.
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