Chapters 10–12 Summary and Analysis
Chapter 10:
Mr. Lockwood reveals that he has been sick for a month since his excursion to Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff comes to visit, and Lockwood is so glad to have company that he decides not to bring up the fact that his illness was partly Heathcliff’s doing. Afterward, Lockwood feels up to hearing the rest of Heathcliff’s story and summons Nelly Dean. He asks her how Heathcliff became a gentleman, but Nelly replies that she does not know, as Heathcliff acquired his fortune and education during the three years he was away. Nelly picks the story back up, revealing that Catherine and Edgar get along well as a married couple. Edgar and Isabella are very accommodating of Catherine, which makes her pleasant in turn. One day, Heathcliff suddenly shows up at Thrushcross Grange and requests to see Catherine. Though Catherine is overjoyed to see him after three years, she scolds him for leaving her. In contrast, Edgar is not at all pleased to see Heathcliff, but Catherine insists that he be cordial. After Heathcliff leaves, Catherine and Edgar have an argument about her friendship with Heathcliff. Nelly advises her not to try to force a friendship between the two men, and Catherine replies that Edgar and Isabella are spoiled. Nelly tells Catherine that it is she who is coddled by Edgar and Isabella and warns her that there are some things they may not be willing to accommodate (implying Heathcliff).
After hearing that Heathcliff is staying at Wuthering Heights, Nelly believes that he is trying to do the Christian thing by forgiving Hindley. However, Catherine informs her that the nearly destitute Hindley has invited Heathcliff to stay in the hopes that he can win some of Heathcliff’s fortune by gambling with him. Heathcliff claims that he wants to lodge at Wuthering Heights to be close to Thrushcross Grange, where he soon becomes a frequent visitor. Edgar’s younger sister, Isabella, begins to develop feelings for Heathcliff. Jealous of Heathcliff and Catherine’s close relationship, Isabella accuses Catherine of getting in the way. Catherine retaliates by telling Heathcliff about Isabella’s feelings to embarrass her. Heathcliff does not appear interested in anyone but Catherine, though he muses aloud that Isabella is Edgar’s heir. Suspicious of his motives, Nelly vows to keep an eye on him.
Chapter 11:
Nelly ventures to Wuthering Heights to have a talk with Hindley and runs into little Hareton. Though he has been out of her care for less than a year, he does not recognize her and shocks her by cursing. Nelly learns that it is Heathcliff who has put a stop to Hareton’s education and taught him to swear. When Heathcliff, rather than Hindley, appears in the doorway, Nelly runs away. The next day, Heathcliff comes to visit, and Nelly, suspicious, hides to watch him. Thinking no one is around, Heathcliff embraces Isabella, though Catherine walks in and catches them. Catherine tells Heathcliff that she would persuade Edgar to let him marry Isabella if she thought he really loved her. Heathcliff angrily rejects her “charity,” declaring that Catherine has treated him “infernally” by choosing Edgar over him. He announces that his revenge will be to marry Edgar’s sister.
Nelly fetches Edgar, telling him about Catherine and Heathcliff’s fight. Enraged, Edgar orders Heathcliff to leave, intending to have the servants force him out of the house. Catherine, however, locks the door and throws the key in the fire, saying that Edgar should be brave enough to confront Heathcliff one-on-one. Intimidated, Edgar covers his face while Catherine and Heathcliff mock him for his cowardice. Unexpectedly, Edgar punches Heathcliff in the throat and leaves to get reinforcements while Heathcliff is incapacitated. While Edgar is gone, Catherine urges Heathcliff to leave and he escapes.
Distraught, Catherine tells Nelly that she will hurt herself to punish Edgar should he try to make her give Heathcliff up. Not wanting to give in to Catherine’s dramatics, Nelly does not relay this information to Edgar, and he soon confronts Catherine, demanding that she choose between Heathcliff and himself. Enraged, Catherine has a fit, locking herself in her room and refusing to eat. Meanwhile, Edgar speaks to Isabella and warns her that he will disown her if she encourages Heathcliff’s romantic advances.
Chapter 12:
After three days, Catherine, convinced she is about to die, finally begins to eat again. Nelly pays no mind to Catherine’s claims and assures her that she will recover as soon as she eats and rests. When Catherine learns that Edgar has been going about his normal routine while she has been starving herself, she is initially bewildered. However, this bewilderment soon turns into a type of madness. Catherine tears a pillow apart with her teeth and demands that the window be opened even though it is the middle of winter. After being startled by her own reflection in a mirror, Catherine begins to talk about her childhood at Wuthering Heights. Throwing open the window, she imagines she can see Wuthering Heights from her room and wildly declares that even if she dies, she will never be at rest without Heathcliff.
At this point, Nelly no longer feels that Catherine is putting on an act and fears that she has actually gone mad. As Nelly tries to pull her away from the window, Edgar walks in and is shocked by the state of his wife. Edgar threatens to dismiss Nelly for having kept Catherine’s condition secret, and Nelly runs out to fetch a doctor. The doctor gives the family some hope that Catherine will recover but warns Nelly that he has heard a rumor that Isabella Linton and Heathcliff are planning to elope. Nelly dashes to Isabella’s room only to find that she is too late—the couple has gone. Knowing that she left of her own accord, Edgar refuses to try to bring Isabella back. Resigned, he tells Nelly that it is Isabella who has disowned him by eloping and that she is now his sister in name only.
Analysis:
Heathcliff appears drastically changed upon his return to Wuthering Heights, but this is quickly revealed to be a superficial transformation only. Heathcliff now looks and behaves like a gentleman, but it's clear that his purpose in returning is to achieve revenge rather than make amends. Heathcliff’s growing control over Wuthering Heights echoes the way Hindley took over after Mr. Earnshaw died. Just as Hindley halted Heathcliff’s education, Heathcliff has now denied Hareton an education, encouraging his wild behavior.
As he gets revenge on Hindley by turning Hareton against him, Heathcliff also lays the groundwork for his revenge against Edgar Linton. Though it is obvious why Heathcliff wants revenge on Hindley, his grudge against Edgar is perhaps a little less clear. For Heathcliff, Edgar represents not only the upper-class society that has constantly rejected him but also the loss of the only person Heathcliff values: Catherine. Heathcliff is enraged that Catherine has chosen the cowardly Edgar over him, and though his revenge should arguably be directed at her, Heathcliff declares,
The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don't turn against him; they crush those beneath them. You are welcome to torture me to death for your amusement, only allow me to amuse myself a little in the same style.
By this, Heathcliff means that people torture their inferiors, and though it is Catherine who has tortured him, he will exact his revenge upon Edgar. This remark not only shows that Heathcliff considers Edgar his inferior but also indicates that Heathcliff still sees Catherine as above both him and Edgar; even in his anger, he cannot help but revere her.
These chapters reveal just how much Catherine’s refusal to choose between Edgar and Heathcliff hurts all three of them. Edgar cannot handle seeing Catherine’s obvious love for Heathcliff, and instead of reassuring him, Catherine makes the situation worse by goading Edgar into a physical confrontation with Heathcliff. Indeed, Catherine’s decision to throw the key into “the hottest part of the fire” represents the heated confrontation between these three characters. Like the fire, this encounter is destructive and will forever alter Edgar’s, Catherine’s, and Heathcliff’s lives.
Though the showdown between Heathcliff and Edgar is undoubtedly driven by Catherine’s selfishness, it also stems from each of the characters’ fundamentally different views of love. Catherine sees her love for Heathcliff as a natural and unalterable part of herself, so deeply ingrained in her being that a mere marriage to someone else cannot threaten it. That Catherine feels her and Heathcliff’s love is beyond jealousy is clear when she offers to set him up with Isabella. Heathcliff, however, does not share Catherine’s view of their love and sees her decision to marry Edgar as a true betrayal. Edgar married Catherine, but Heathcliff’s reappearance makes it all too clear that he does not fully possess her heart. Catherine imagines that Edgar is too weak and passionless to be bothered by her deep devotion to Heathcliff, just as she believes that Heathcliff is too passionate and wild to be hurt by something so conventional as her marriage to another man. In the end, Catherine’s misjudgment of both men brings about a violent confrontation from which she never mentally recovers.
These chapters also provide further evidence for Nelly’s unreliability as a narrator. Though Catherine is undoubtedly prone to being dramatic and selfish, Nelly shows little concern for Catherine’s health and refuses to consider the possibility that Catherine may truly be ill. Convinced that Edgar is too besotted with Catherine to see reason, Nelly decides that “the Grange had but one sensible soul in its walls, and that lodged in my body.” Nelly's feelings of superiority are evident in her flippant response to Catherine’s sickness. Though Nelly later tries to rationalize her choices to Mr. Lockwood—“I began to defend myself, thinking it too bad to be blamed for another's wicked waywardness”—Edgar rightly chastises her spiteful behavior with regard to Catherine. For the first time, it is quite clear that Nelly not only witnessed these tragic events but may have played a part in them herself. Ultimately, Nelly’s downplaying of the role her own prejudice played in worsening Catherine’s condition calls into question the reliability of her entire account.
Expert Q&A
In Wuthering Heights, what is the significance of Isabella's dog being hung?
The significance of Isabella's dog being hung in Wuthering Heights is to illustrate Heathcliff's brutality and lack of deceitful softness. This act demonstrates how Heathcliff uses others, including Isabella, as mere tools in his vengeful schemes against Linton, showing his cold and calculating nature.
What motivates Heathcliff's elopement with Isabella in Wuthering Heights?
Heathcliff's elopement with Isabella is motivated by his desire to hurt Edgar Linton and avenge Catherine's marriage to Edgar, whom he despises. By marrying Isabella, Heathcliff gains control over her and her wealth, using both as tools for revenge. This act is part of his broader scheme to retaliate against those he feels have wronged him, particularly targeting Edgar for forbidding Isabella's involvement with Heathcliff.
What is the relationship between Nelly and Catherine in Wuthering Heights from chapter 11 to Catherine's death?
From chapter 11 until Catherine's death, Nelly and Catherine have a strained relationship, marked by Nelly's distrust and hostility. Alarmed by Heathcliff's return, Nelly aligns with Edgar Linton and views Catherine's actions as manipulative. Nelly withholds crucial information about Catherine's health and dismisses her pleas, believing Catherine's illness is exaggerated. Despite arranging a final meeting between Catherine and Heathcliff, Nelly's lack of compassion and interference may have hastened Catherine's demise.
What is your interpretation of the given quote from Wuthering Heights?
'Oh, for mercy's sake,' interrupted the mistress, stamping her foot, 'for mercy's sake, let us hear no more of it now! Your cold blood cannot be worked into a fever: your veins are full of ice- water; but mine are boiling, and the sight of such chillness makes them dance.'
This quote from Chapter 11 of Wuthering Heights highlights the contrast between Cathy and her husband, Edgar. Cathy accuses Edgar of being emotionally cold and passionless, which frustrates her volatile nature. Edgar's calm response to her anger only intensifies her fury. The quote underscores Cathy's passionate character and the strained dynamics of her relationship with Edgar, contrasting him with the intense Heathcliff.
Is Isabella's attraction to Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights believable or just a plot convention?
Isabella's attraction to Heathcliff is both a plot convention and believable due to her sheltered upbringing and naivety. Raised in a pampered environment, Isabella is naturally curious about the enigmatic and rugged Heathcliff, whom she has been warned against. This curiosity is manipulated by Heathcliff as part of his revenge against those who wronged him. Thus, Isabella's attraction is plausible and serves a crucial role in advancing the novel's themes of revenge and manipulation.
Is Heathcliff a sympathetic character or a villain in chapter 11 of Wuthering Heights?
By Chapter 11, Heathcliff is both a sympathetic character and a villain due to his motivations stemming from being abused as a child. Even though his designs are evil, the audience can understand how he was driven to them.
What quotes in Chapter 10 of Wuthering Heights show Heathcliff's appearance contradicting his intentions?
In Chapter 10, Heathcliff's appearance contrasts with his intentions. He claims to visit briefly to see Catherine, yet plans to stay at Wuthering Heights, raising Nelly's suspicions of his motives. Despite his transformed appearance—tall, athletic, and dignified—Nelly senses potential deceit. His demeanor is civilized, but his "half-civilized ferocity" and "undisguised delight" at Catherine's presence, despite her marriage, hint at underlying intentions.
Describe the scene in Wuthering Heights where Edgar strikes Heathcliff.
In "Wuthering Heights," Edgar strikes Heathcliff during a tense scene at Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff returns unexpectedly, reigniting Catherine's affections and provoking her by embracing Isabella. Edgar, informed by Nelly of the confrontation, demands Heathcliff leave. Catherine locks them in the kitchen, forcing Edgar to confront Heathcliff directly. Encouraged by Catherine, Edgar punches Heathcliff in the throat before escaping through the garden. Heathcliff, realizing he'll be outnumbered, also retreats.
What event is foreshadowed in chapter 12 of Wuthering Heights?
Chapter 12 foreshadows two key events: Catherine's eventual death and her belief in a posthumous union with Heathcliff, as she declares she will not rest until they are together. This hints at Heathcliff's later wandering the moors with her ghost. Additionally, Heathcliff's hanging of Isabella's dog, Fanny, foreshadows his cruel treatment of Isabella after their marriage.
What actions did Nelly take when Catherine was suffering from fever in Wuthering Heights?
Nelly, in Wuthering Heights, dismisses Catherine's illness as dramatic manipulation, failing to recognize its seriousness. Despite Catherine's genuine illness, exacerbated by Edgar's ultimatum regarding Heathcliff, Nelly advises Edgar to ignore her "fit of frenzy." She neglects to inform Edgar of Catherine's condition, falsely claiming ignorance when confronted. Her inaction and deception contribute to Catherine's decline, suggesting complicity in her worsening state.
What is Heathcliff's response to Edgar's threats in "Wuthering Heights"?
Heathcliff responds to Edgar Linton's threats with derision and contempt, showing no intimidation. He mocks Edgar by saying he is not worth the effort of being knocked down and compares him to a lamb threatening like a bull. Heathcliff further insults Edgar by stating he would find satisfaction in kicking him like a dog, indicating that Edgar's threats are meaningless and that he views Edgar as a coward.
In Wuthering Heights, what does Heathcliff's remark "She's her brother's heir, is she not?" indicate?
Heathcliff's remark "She's her brother's heir, is she not?" indicates his interest in Isabella's inheritance, foreshadowing his plan to marry her to gain control of Thrushcross Grange. While he does not reciprocate Isabella's feelings, his comment reveals his strategic thinking about using marriage to achieve his goals. This is confirmed by his later behavior, suggesting he is contemplating how to exploit Isabella's infatuation for his benefit.
Why doesn't Nelly recognize Heathcliff at their first encounter in Thrushcross Grange's garden?
Nelly does not recognize Heathcliff at first because it is nearly dark, and his appearance has changed significantly over the years. Initially, she hears a familiar voice but cannot see him clearly. As Heathcliff approaches, his sallow cheeks, dark whiskers, and deep-set eyes are obscured by shadows, making him unrecognizable until she sees his eyes, prompting her to realize who he is. The scene foreshadows trouble, reflecting the ominous nature of his return.
In Wuthering Heights, volume 1, chapter 11, how does the specific passage reflect attitudes towards Linton and Heathcliff?
This passage portrays Heathcliff sympathetically, highlighting his torment from loving Cathy, who is married to another. Heathcliff describes himself as a slave to Cathy's tyrant, illustrating the depth and extremity of their relationship. In contrast, Edgar Linton appears harsh and determined to expel Heathcliff, showing cruelty towards both Heathcliff and Cathy. Thus, the passage elicits more sympathy for Heathcliff than for Linton, who is depicted unfavorably.
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