The story in one page
When Mr. Lockwood rents a house on the Yorkshire moors, he finds his landlord, Heathcliff, living in a state of aggressive isolation. Nelly Dean, the housekeeper, explains why by detailing a thirty-year cycle of obsession. It began when the Earnshaws brought home a dark-skinned orphan, Heathcliff, whose bond with Catherine Earnshaw transcended standard affection. After Catherine married the wealthy Edgar Linton to secure her social position, Heathcliff vanished, returning years later to execute a cold, legalistic revenge. He wins Wuthering Heights through gambling, marries Edgar’s sister to spite him, and eventually imprisons the next generation in his house to ensure he owns every acre of their misery.
Who's who
- Heathcliff
A vengeful landlord who was once a penniless orphan.
- Catherine Earnshaw
A headstrong woman whose choice of husband sparks a generational war.
- Edgar Linton
The gentle master of Thrushcross Grange and Heathcliff's rival.
- Nelly Dean
The long-serving servant who narrates the family history to Lockwood.
- Hareton Earnshaw
Hindley’s son, reduced to an uneducated laborer by Heathcliff.
- Cathy Linton
Catherine's daughter, who eventually breaks the cycle of hatred.
What it's really about
- Revenge
- A multi-decade project involving property law and emotional cruelty.
- Social Class
- The divide between the wild Heights and the refined Grange.
Why it's memorable
- Heathcliff begging the ghost of Catherine to haunt him until he dies.
- The three headstones on the moor being slowly reclaimed by heath and moss.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Heathcliff dies after a period of self-imposed starvation and strange visions, leaving the younger Catherine and Hareton to marry and move to the Grange, finally quieting the house.
For your book club
- Whether the final union of the cousins represents a victory or a compromise.
- If Heathcliff is a victim of his circumstances or a natural villain.