nd and his at the same time: and I absolutely require to know which you choose.” (Goodlett 125) Catherine is unable to choose between the psychological security offered by Edgar and the “passionate intensity in the addiction” with Heathcliff. She becomes ill due to Edgar’s ultimatum. Catherine becomes ill at the threat of losing Heathcliff. (Goodlett 125)Catherine’s death is exceptionally hard on Heathcliff. He says, “And I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as I am living! You said I killed—you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murders, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! Only be not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! I cannot live without my soul!” Hindley thinks of Heathcliff as a rival for Mr. Earnshaw’s affections. Hindley fights with Heathcliff over his own insecurity of losing his position in the family. Hindley’s treatment of Heathcliff is horrible. Heathcliff is “the recipient of violence: violence which his arrival has provoked in that defensive, exclusive family unit.” (Holderness 30) When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley is left as the master of Wuthering Heights. “He {Hindley} drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should labor out of doors instead.” (Bronte 87) Hindley seeks his revenge on Heathcliff when Heathcliff cannot do anything to stop him. Mr. Earnshaw is gone and can no longer protect Heathcliff. Heathcliff doesn’t think that he is as good as Edgar Linton because he didn’t come from money, like Edgar did. Heathcliff thinks that Edgar is more desirable because of his “birth, money and status”. (Berg 61) Heathcliff dislikes Edgar for what he is and what he has. Heathcliff ...
