Why does Heathcliff elope with Isabella in Wuthering Heights, and what does she discover about him?
Although Isabella casts Heathcliff as a romantic, Byronic hero whose hard exterior masks a tender heart that loves her, Heathcliff marries her to get revenge on the Lintons. He especially wants revenge on Edgar Linton for despising him and for marrying Catherine. He does not consider him a worthy husband for her and resents deeply his attempts to keep Catherine apart from him. He also despises Isabella as a weakling.
Isabella discovers that Heathcliff is not what she thought almost as soon as they elope. As she writes to Ellen:
The second question I have great interest in; it is this—Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? I sha’n’t tell my reasons for making this inquiry; but I beseech you to explain, if you can, what I have married . . .
By time she writes, Isabella has realized that...
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Heathcliff hates her and will continue to treat her cruelly. She writes:
I do hate him—I am wretched—I have been a fool!
When Ellen goes to visit them at Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff talks to her about his marriage in front of Isabella, explaining what happened and his true feelings:
"She abandoned them under a delusion," he answered; "picturing in me a hero of romance, and expecting unlimited indulgences from my chivalrous devotion. I can hardly regard her in the light of a rational creature, so obstinately has she persisted in forming a fabulous notion of my character and acting on the false impressions she cherished. But, at last, I think she begins to know me: I don’t perceive the silly smiles and grimaces that provoked me at first; and the senseless incapability of discerning that I was in earnest when I gave her my opinion of her infatuation and herself."
Describe Catherine's views on Heathcliff and Isabella's relationship in Wuthering Heights.
Catherine and Heathcliff had often made fun of the Lintons when they were younger. This is what they are doing when Catherine is bitten by their dog and must stay and recuperate at Thrushcross Grange. At this time, she meets Edgar Linton and he falls in love with her. They eventually marry. Heathcliff returns and finds Catherine married to Edgar. Edgar's sister Isabella becomes infatuated with Heathcliff because he is grown up, handsome and rich. Heathcliff plans to take advantage of this, marry Isabella, get her inheritance and also get back at Catherine. Catherine tells Heathcliff that he could not possibly marry a Linton, which is strange because she has done the same thing. Catherine knows that Heathcliff does not really love Isabella. Plus, she wants Heathcliff for herself, even though she is married to Edgar. She has also become fond of Isabella who is now her sister-in-law and she knows that Isabella is a flighty woman with not much sense, so she does not approve of the marriage for Isabella or Heathcliff. It is partly from selfishness and partly from concern for Isabella that Catherine does not approve of their marriage.
In Wuthering Heights, how does Heathcliff discover Isabella's attraction to him?
The answer to this question can be found in Chapter Ten of this excellent novel. Isabella, having confessed her feelings in a very petulant manner to Catherine, then has to endure the shame and embarrassment of Catherine revealing them openly to Heathcliff when he enters the house soon after to be shown in to a room with both Catherine and Heathcliff in it. Note how Catherine greets Heathcliff:
"Come in, that's right!" excalimed the mistress, gaily, pulling a chair to the fire. "Here are two people sadly in need of a third to thaw the ice between them; and you are the very one we should both of us choose. Heathcliff, I'm proud to show you, at last, somebody that dotes on you more than myself. I expect you to feel flattered... My poor little sister-in-law is breaking her heart by mere contemplation of your physical and moral beauty."
Thus it is that Catherine is the one to tell Heathcliff of his ardent admirer. She does this of course with the chief intention of showing Isabella how ridiculous the idea of her union with Heathcliff would be, but actually she underestimates Heathcliff and his desire to gain revenge.
How did Catherine feel about her relationship with Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights?
Catherine loves Heathcliff, but their extreme class and social differences drive a wedge between them, in her mind. She soothes her conscience by telling herself that if she marries Edgar, who she does not love, she can help Heathcliff financially. However, not long after, Heathcliff makes a complete change, physically, at least. He is well dressed and his manners pleasant, and the two are overjoyed to see one another. However, something is not quite right and Catherine senses it.
Here is an excerpt from the character analysis page here at eNotes. You can find out more about Catherine, Heathcliff, Edgar, and others by clicking the link below:
"Although Heathcliff has the looks and manners of a gentleman, the revenge he plans is diabolical, and though she loves him, Cathy is not fooled. "He's a fierce, pitiless, wolfish man.… and he'd crush you, like a sparrow's egg," she tells an infatuated Isabella. When Cathy and Heathcliff meet for the last time, she tells him, "You and Edgar have broken my heart, Heathcliff! … I shall not be at peace." She dies two hours after midnight, having given birth to a "puny, seven months' child."