Brief synopsis of each chapter http://wuthering-heights.co.uk/chapters.htm Chapter 1:(I) A Visit to Wuthering Heights 1801. Mr Lockwood visits Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights who is leasing him Thrushcross Grange. He describes Heathcliff and the sitting room of the the Heights, and briefly has an altercation with the dogs before returning to the Grange. Chapter 2:(II) A Singular Family Lockwood returns to Wuthering Heights the next day. He encounters the rest of Heathcliff's family ― sullen Cathy and rough Hareton. The weather turns bad and, after being injured by the dogs, Lockwood is forced to remain at the Heights overnight. Chapter 3:(III) The Ghost at the Window Lockwood is shown to a room to sleep which used to belong to Cathy's mother, Catherine. He has a restless night and is apparently woken by a tree branch tapping on the window. As he reaches out to stop it, his wrist is grasped by a cold hand, the ghost of Catherine. He wakes and rouses Heathcliff. Unable to sleep, he moves downstairs until Heathcliff escorts him back to Thrushcross Grange. The Childhood of Heathcliff Chapter 4:(IV) Arrival of a Foundling In Thrushcross Grange, Ellen begins to tell Lockwood of the story of Heathcliff. She explains how he was brought to Wuthering Heights as a child and spread discord among the Earnshaw family. Chapter 5:(V) The Death of Mr Earnshaw Mr Earnshaw sends Hindley off to college. Several years later, he goes into decline and dies. Chapter 6:(VI) New Acquaintances Hindley returns to Wuthering Heights with a new wife. Catherine and Heathcliff grow more rebellious and wild. They sneak into Thrushcross Grange and Catherine is injured by their dogs. Chapter 7:(VII) Catherine Becomes a Lady Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights having been taught to look and act like a lady at Thrushcross Grange. She acts aloof from Heathcliff who briefly tries to smarten himself up to impress her but fails, throwing apple sauce over Edgar. Chapter 8:(VIII) The Disintegration of the Earnshaws Hareton is born to Hindley and Frances but the latter soon dies of tuberculosis, causing Hindley to gradually fall apart. Catherine continues her friendship with Edgar, moving further from Heathcliff and closer to Edgar. Chapter 9:(IX) The Disappearance of Heathcliff In a drunken state, Hindley returns and drops Hareton from the landing; the child is saved by Heathcliff. Catherine talks with Ellen and reveals that she has accepted an offer of marriage from Edgar. She says that she couldn't marry Heathcliff because he is too poor and rough but that, really, her heart belongs to him. He overhears the first part of this but not the second and runs away from Wuthering Heights. Catherine goes on to marry Edgar and Ellen leaves with her as her maid. Chapter 10:(X) Mr Heathcliff Returns Three years after Heathcliff's departure, six months after the marriage, Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange, now improved in physique and manner. He is staying with Hindley at Wuthering Heights and taking advantage of his alcoholism and gambling. Isabella falls in love with Heathcliff and is teased by Catherine. Chapter 11:(XI) "The Milk-Blooded Coward" Ellen walks to Wuthering Heights to see Hindley but she meets Hareton at the gate who has become coarse and foul-mouthed under Heathcliff's tutorage. Heathcliff goes to Thrushcross Grange to see Catherine and Isabella, and clashes with Edgar. Chapter 12:(XII) Delirium Catherine falls ill from fever and delirium, and Ellen gets into trouble for not telling Edgar. With their minds occupied by this, they are unaware that Isabella has eloped with Heathcliff. Chapter 13:(XIII) Isabella Learns Her Fate Under Edgar's care, Catherine recovers from her fever. Ellen receives a letter from Isabella describing her arrival at Wuthering Heights and the poor treatment she received there. She writes how she wishes to hear from her brother. Chapter 14:(XIV) The Mediator Ellen visits Wuthering Heights with the news that Edgar no longer wants any communication with Isabella or Heathcliff. Heathcliff wants to see Catherine again and refuses to let Ellen leave until she agrees to act as mediator. Chapter 15:(XV) The Final Meeting While Edgar is absent, Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange for a final meeting with Cathy. Edgar returns but, with Cathy very ill, he is more concerned with her than his enemy. Chapter 16:(XVI) Life and Death Cathy is born and her mother dies soon after. Heathcliff makes one last visit to see her body before she is buried. Chapter 17:(XVII) The Master of Wuthering Heights Isabella arrives at Thrushcross Grange, having fled from Heathcliff. She eventually moves south near London where she gives birth to Linton. Six months after Catherine's death, Hindley dies as well and Heathcliff becomes master of Wuthering Heights. The Maturity of Heathcliff Chapter 18:(XVIII) The Explorer Cathy grows up in isolation at Thrushcross Grange. With Isabella dying, Edgar travels to London to pick up Linton. While he is away, Cathy goes exploring on the moor and meets Hareton at Wuthering Heights. Chapter 19:(XIX) A Sickly Child Edgar arrives back at Thrushcross Grange with Linton. Before the day is out, Joseph arrives with orders to take the child to Wuthering Heights immediately but Edgar puts him off until the morning. Chapter 20:(XX) Father and Son The next day, Ellen takes Linton up to Wuthering Heights. Although Heathcliff despises the child, he assures Ellen that he will look after him as he has plans for him. Chapter 21:(XXI) Young Love On her sixteenth birthday, Catherine goes with Ellen onto the moor and meets Heathcliff to takes her back to Wuthering Heights to meet Hareton. She is prohibited by her father from seeing either of them again but keeps up a clandestine relationship via mail. Ellen finds out and burns the letters, forcing Catherine to promise to end the relationship. Chapter 22:(XXII) An Invitation from Heathcliff A few months later, Catherine and Ellen are walking around the grounds when they encounter Heathcliff on the boundary road. He explains that Linton is ill and believes that Catherine deliberately stopped writing. Heathcliff notes that he will be away for a week and she could visit in the meantime. Reluctantly, Ellen agrees to accompany her to Wuthering Heights the next day. Chapter 23:(XXIII) The Wiles of Linton At Wuthering Heights, they find Linton who quarrels with Cathy. He feigns illness and she is fooled into sympathy for him. They return home where Ellen is confined to bed with illness for a few weeks. While there, Cathy continues to visit Linton. Chapter 24:(XXIV) Deeper In Ellen learns of Cathy's secret visits to Wuthering Heights to see Linton. The former reveals the information to Edgar who prohibits Cathy from visiting the Heights again (although he allows Linton to visit Thrushcross Grange). Chapter 25:(XXV) Mr Linton Considers the Future As Edgar begins to decline and fear for the future, he reconsiders his opposition to Linton and comes to believe that a marriage between him and Cathy may be the best option so that she will not be left without an inheritance. Chapter 26:(XXVI) An Ominous Meeting Some months later, Edgar allows Cathy to meet Linton again (but not at Wuthering Heights). Linton is visibly more ill and hardly has the energy to meet her. He makes her promise to return the next week. Chapter 27:(XXVII) Prisoners With Edgar dying, Ellen and Cathy make their way onto the moor to see Linton. He is there but very frightened. Heathcliff arrives and persuades everyone to go into Wuthering Heights. Once there, he locks them in and says that they will remain prisoners until Cathy and Linton are married. Chapter 28:(XXVIII) The Last of the Lintons Ellen is set free and returns to Thrushcross Grange after failing to free Cathy. Edgar is on the point of death. She vows to get Cathy freed but, fortunately, the girl arrives after being let out by Linton. She spends a last few moments with her father before he dies and Heathcliff takes control of the Grange. Chapter 29:(XXIX) Heathcliff Triumphant Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange to escort Cathy to Wuthering Heights while Ellen must stay. While Cathy is preparing, he tells Ellen of how he has been tormented by Catherine for the last eighteen years. Chapter 30:(XXX) Catherine Alone Heathcliff does not allow Linton any medical help and he dies. Later on, Hareton tries to start a friendship with Cathy but, because of his previous neglect, remains aloof. Chapter 31:(XXXI) Mr Lockwood Takes His Leave Deciding to stay no longer in Yorkshire, Lockwood rides to Wuthering Heights to tell Heathcliff. He sees Cathy and Hareton in argument over books and the latter's attempts to improve his education. Epilogue Chapter 32:(XXXII) Many Changes The next autumn, Lockwood visits Thrushcross Grange on a trip north. He finds Ellen has moved to Wuthering Heights. When he arrives there, he finds that Hareton and Cathy are in love and Heathcliff has been dead three months. Ellen tells him of the events since he left, explaining how Cathy gradually broke down Hareton's resistance by offering to teach him to read. Chapter 33:(XXXIII) The Haunted Soul In Ellen's account, Cathy persuades Hareton to dig up some of Joseph's fruit bushes to make a garden. When Heathcliff finds out though, his expected outburst is muted. He is strangely quiet and tells Ellen that he feels a change coming on, that he is haunted by Catherine everywhere. Chapter 34:(XXXIV) Unions Heathcliff grows worse, roaming the moors and neither eating nor sleeping. He sees Catherine everywhere he looks but is strangely happy. Eventually he is found dead in Catherine's room and is buried alongside her. Lockwood leaves with Hareton and Cathy planning to marry and move to Thrushcross Grange. Famous Scenes The right hand column indicates roughly where in the chapter the scene begins, useful if you have a printed copy. The page icon in the left column will take you directly to it in the online version. Catherine's ghost Catherine's ghost appears at a window and begs to be le Heathcliff's arrival Heathcliff's first appearance as a child, brought from Liverpool by Mr Earnshaw. Catherine and Heathcliff visit Thrushcross Grange for t first time and Catherine remains there. Catherine and Heathcliff at Thrushcross Grange Heathcliff runs away Heathcliff returns Catherine accepts Edgar's proposal and pours out her h to Ellen. Heathcliff overhears and runs away from Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff returns after three years away. Edgar and Heathcliff Edgar finds Heathcliff at Thrushcross Grange and they fight briefly fight. Catherine in delirium Catherine tears her pillow apart in delirium and then wishes to be back at Wuthering Heights. The final meeting Catherine's death Heathcliff meets Catherine for the final time before she dies. Catherine dies and her daughter is born. Heathcliff visits Catherine's body Heathcliff visits Catherine's body before the funeral and intertwines his hair with hers in a locket. The clash at Wuthering Heights Meeting on the road Heathcliff fights with Hindley, and Isabella flees. Cathy held captive Cathy and Ellen are held captive by Heathcliff where th former tries to take the key from his hand. Before Edgar's funeral, Heathcliff pays the sexton to uncover Catherine's grave where he removes the side of coffin. Heathcliff digs down to Catherine's coffin to embrace h body but, note, he doesn't actually reach her. Cathy decides that she wants to be friends with Hareton and he accepts a book as a gift. Heathcliff is found dead in his chamber. Heathcliff removes the side of Catherine's coffin Heathcliff digs up Catherine's coffin Cathy and Hareton become friends Death of Heathcliff Heathcliff and Catherine as ghosts Cathy meets Heathcliff on the road at the edge of the pa A shepherd boy sees Heathcliff and 'a woman' as ghosts List of Narrators To help you understand the multiple narrators in Wuthering Heights, here is a list of who is talking and when. Names in (brackets) indicate minor narration. Chap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Narrators Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood Lockwood, Ellen Ellen Ellen, Heathcliff Ellen Ellen Ellen (Lockwood) (Lockwood), Ellen Ellen Chap 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Narrators Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen, Cathy Ellen, (Lockwood) Ellen Ellen Ellen 12 13 14 15 16 17 Ellen Ellen, Isabella Ellen, (Lockwood) (Lockwood), Ellen Ellen Ellen, Isabella 29 30 31 32 33 34 Contents • Chapter List • Famous Scenes • List of Narrators Bookmark this page Ellen, Heathcliff Ellen, Zillah, (Lockwood) Lockwood Lockwood, Ellen Ellen Ellen, Lockwood