How is the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff presented by Emily Bronte in the following three passages of ‘Wuthering Heights’?
... relationship will always remain. In the first extract, we visualise a metaphysical and physical comparison of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange and of violence and ‘safety’. Even though their appearance is different (Thrushcross Grange being the ‘safer’), the people contained inside still feel the pain. The only other difference is that the occupants of Thrushcross Grange try to veil their violent exterior with a strong sense of social etiquette. Wuthering Heights is seen as a prison as Heathcliff and Cathy must ‘escape’ from it to their ‘liberty’. Somehow, the harsh situations which Heathcliff and Cathy are faced with only bring them closer together. Heathcliff and Cathy are seen in a childish situation in this extract and therefore maintain a childish relationship. However, this childish relationship seems now to have more sides to it than we have seen before. In this extract we begin to see the more mature, caring love that has been built up between the two characters, especially in Heathcliff’s concern over Cathy and his passionate response to her nurture in Thrushcross Grange. The imagery which Bronte uses to describe Thrushcross Grange further enhances this idea. The Grange is described as ‘a splendid place carpeted with crimson, and crimson covered chairs...ceiling bordered by gold’. This idea of luxury and the colour imagery of the red represents the love and passion held between Cathy and Heathcliff. When Cathy is captured by one of the dogs set out from the Lintons, she begs Heathcliff to return to Wuthering heights in a rather stoic approach “Run Heathcliff, run”. Heathcliff then refers to the creature who bit his love as the ‘devil’ and refuses to leave her side, instead trying to pry the jaws of the hound open to release Cathy. They are however, are caught and taken inside the Grange. Cathy is coddled by the Lintons and their servants whilst Heathcliff is tr...