Ryan Lloyd
13KW
Miss Morgan
Wuthering Heights Chapter Summary.
Chapter 12
Lead up…
In previous chapters, Nelly finds the many letters that Cathy and Linton
had been exchanging. When Nelly tells Edgar that the two teens are
still in contact, Edgar banishes Cathy from visiting Wuthering Heights,
but allows Linton to visit Thrushcross Grange.
After a few weeks, Edgar’s health starts to deteriorate, and he worries
about the future. He realizes that it could be for the best if Linton and
Cathy were to marry. He allows Cathy to meet up with Linton (within
the lands of Thrushcross Grange) and so they meet, in the company of
Nelly…
Chapter 12, quick summary…
Cathy and Nelly go to the arranged meeting point, where they meet a
herd boy. He had been sent by Linton to tell them to travel slightly
further towards Wuthering Heights. As it turns out, it is about a quarter of
a mile from Wuthering Heights.
When Nelly and Cathy meet Linton, they both realize that Linton is not
well despite Linton insisting that he is better than usual. Cathy goes to
sit next to Linton, and starts a conversation. Linton seems to have no
interest in Cathy, and finds it difficult to listen. It is almost as if it were a
chore to meet Cathy, rather than his own choice.
When Cathy notices that things have changed over the last few
months and that Linton isn’t particularly interested, she insists on
departing. Linton is adamant that they stay a little longer, and then falls
to sleep.
While Linton sleeps, Cathy and Nelly discuss his health. Cathy seems to
think that Linton seems better than last time they met, while Nelly
perceives him to be considerably worse. Linton suddenly awakes from
his sleep, after hearing his name called. Nelly and Cathy don’t hear
anything, but when Linton tells them he believes Heathcliff is on his way
down to the meeting point, they quickly arrange to meet in the same
spot the following Thursday, then Cathy and Nelly leave Linton, and
ride back to Thrushcross Grange.
Ryan Lloyd
13KW
Miss Morgan
Developments in characters and relationships…
This chapter sees the deterioration in relationships, not the
developments. Cathy is keen to meet up with Linton, but Linton doesn’t
seem interested. Of course, there is the factor that Linton is dying,
which could be a reason why he doesn’t feel up to it, but there seems
to be something else that is affecting Linton: Heathcliff.
“His lack of interest in the subjects she started, and his equal incapacity
to contribute to her entertainment, were so obvious that she could not
conceal her disappointment.”
This quote that I pulled out is from Nelly, which explains her observations
of the situation. Cathy was looking forward to meeting Linton, but now
he just doesn’t seem interested, and obviously Cathy is disappointed.
“An indefinite alteration had come over his whole person”
“Catherine perceived, as well as I did, that he held it rather a
punishment, than a gratification, to endure our company;”
These two quotes show the changes that have overcome Linton. It is
clear that he has changed; earlier on in the novel he couldn’t see
Cathy enough. But evidently, something has come over Linton and
now he doesn’t seem to be too interested.
“The pettishness that might be caressed into fondness, had yielded to a
listless apathy; there was less of the peevish temper of a child which
frets and teases on purpose to be soothed, and more of the selfabsorbed moroseness of a confirmed invalid, repelling consolation,
and ready to regard the good-humoured mirth of others as an insult.”
Cathy and Nelly seem to criticize Linton directly for his manner towards
them; however, from the clues I will explain in 2 secs, I believe that
Heathcliff has done such horrific things to Linton that Linton is now
“haunted” or scared of Heathcliff, therefore changing Linton,
changing his relationship with Cathy, and also explaining why his health
has deteriorated so rapidly.
Quote 1 “'Is he severe to you, Master Heathcliff?' I inquired. 'Has he
grown weary of indulgence, and passed from passive to active
hatred?'
Linton looked at me, but did not answer.”
Quote 2 “'I thought I heard my father,' he gasped, glancing up to the
frowning nab above us.”
Ryan Lloyd
13KW
Miss Morgan
Quote 3 “'Hush,' murmured Linton; 'for God's sake, hush! He's coming.'
And he clung to Catherine's arm, striving to detain her;”
Quote 4 “And so we left him, scarcely conscious of our departure, so
absorbed was he in anticipating his father's approach.”
These quotes seem to give us the impression that Linton is terrified of
Heathcliff. When Nelly asks Linton if Heathcliff beats him, (Quote 1)
Linton does not answer and looks away, which indicates that he has
been beaten but would rather not discuss it.
When Linton wakes up suddenly (Quote 2) after hearing Heathcliff’s
voice, he seems terrified. Why would any son be terrified of their father,
unless they are being mistreated? So this quote is also a significant clue
that Heathcliff is mistreating Linton.
And then we have quote 3. The use of the exclamation mark in “hush!”
allows the reader to hear the desperation and terror in Linton’s tone,
and so by observing this, we can empathise with Linton and
understand his fear. The way that he grabs Cathy’s arm as if dreading
her leaving also gives the reader the impression that he doesn’t want
to be left alone. As we know, Heathcliff is approaching, and so we can
chance a guess that Linton is scared of what is going to happen when
Heathcliff arrives.
This is also cleared up by quote 4. Linton doesn’t even realise that
Cathy and Nelly have departed because he is awaiting Heathcliff,
almost as if waiting for a beating, or something bad to happen.
After reading this chapter however, I couldn’t help but notice that
there is no evidence that Heathcliff IS actually coming. Because Linton
was sleeping, there is a strong possibility that he was dreaming, and the
quote “and he uttered nothing except suppressed moans of
exhaustion or pain” suggests that he could have been dreaming about
being beaten by Heathcliff.
As I mentioned earlier, he could be haunted by memories of Heathcliff,
which links in with the overall theme of Gothic Fiction. The fact that he
heard his name being called by Heathcliff, and neither Nelly nor Cathy
heard it, suggests that Linton is either loosing the plot a bit, or was
dreaming. Either way, the fact that he could be haunted, or having
nightmares, and that he is slowly dying, links in with the overall theme of
gothic fiction, and also the underlying theme that Emily Bronte always
seemed to write about: Death.
Ryan Lloyd
13KW
Miss Morgan