Heathcliff & Hindley by

Criticisms

lynch_sorcha — 2013-06-27 08:02:51 UTC

Criticism

lynch_sorcha — 2013-06-27 08:03:51 UTC

Terry Eagleton, Myths of Power: A Marxist Study of the Brontes (London:Macmillan, 1975)

lynch_sorcha — 2013-06-27 08:11:19 UTC

[Heathcliff] bears Hindley's vindictive treatment well and tries pathetically to keep culturally abreast of Catherine despite it. The novel says quite explicitly that Hindley's systematic degradation of Heathcliff 'was enough to make a fiend of a saint'; and we should not therefore be surprised that what it does, more precisely, is to produce a pitiless capitalist landlord out of an oppressed child.

Theme

matilda_harkess — 2013-06-28 10:14:42 UTC

ENVY; this is a prominent theme that is explored throughout the novel and is mainly produced by Hindley towards Heathcliff. The main reason for Hindley's jeolousy is due to his fathers love for Heathcliff, who he welcomes into their family as an orphan at the start. This births an abusive cycle of mistreatment and Hindley resents Heathcliff as before Heathcliff's arrival, Hindley was the young man of the house and he finds it a
struggle to share/give up his privileges. Hindley struggles with his father expanding his love and fmaily to a 'stranger' who doesn't 'fit in' with their socio-economic class - going against the codes and conventions of society at the time.
This theme also links in with the theme of RIVALRY.

Heathcliff's influence on Hindley

katherine_aberc — 2013-06-28 10:16:29 UTC

"it was opened by a tall, gaunt man, without neckerchief, and otherwise extremely slovenly; his features were lost in masses of shaggy hair that hung on his shoulders; and his eyes, too, were like a ghostly Catherine's with all their beauty annihilated."

matilda_harkess — 2013-06-28 10:24:24 UTC

"So, from the very beginning, he bred bad feeling in the house; and at Mrs. Earnshaw's death, which happened in less than two years after, the young master had learned to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent's affections and his privileges; and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries."

Notes

katherine_aberc — 2013-06-28 10:31:15 UTC

Any additional notes to be added here

To do: Language and Imagery associated with the relationship

- The impact that each character in the relationship (Hindley and Heathcliff) has on the other

-The impact the relationship has on others

- Views of other characters on the relationship

matilda_harkess — 2013-06-28 10:34:50 UTC

matilda_harkess — 2013-06-28 10:35:05 UTC

CHRONOLOGY OF HINDLEY AMD HEATHCLIFF + KEY QUOTES

lynch_sorcha — 2013-07-01 12:57:38 UTC

Chronological overview of events which have impacted on the relationship between Heathcliff and Hindley, Including important quotes:

CHAPTER 4: Heathcliff arrives at WH with Mr Earnshaw. Child, not certain how old, but "its face looked older than Catherine's"

"Hindley hated him" pg26 Hindley = 14 years old. Cathy=6 years old

"They [Cathy and Hindley] entirely refused to have it in bed with them" pg 26 (nb 'it' - dehumanising heathcliff, a theme continued throughout the novel)

Hindley bitter towards Heathcliff because his fiddle was broken "He blubbered aloud" pg26

Hindley is violent and abusive towards Heathcliff: "he [Heathcliff] would stand Hindley's blows without winking or shedding a tear"pg 26 (nb evokes catharsis)

Jealousy: Hindley jealous of Heathcliff's relationship with Mr Earnshaw: "usurper of his father's affections"

CHAPTER 6: Hindley returns to WH for Mr Earshaw's funeral and brings Frances (his wife). Treatment of Heathcliff gets worse. Cathy=12 Hindley= 20 Heathcliff =13

"He [Hindley] drove him from their company to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate" pg32

CHAPTER 7: Cathy returns to WH after being attacked by the dog at TG. Hindley treats Heathcliff like a servant. (NB Causes distancing between Cathy and Heathcliff) Cathy=12 Heathcliff=13 Hindley=20

"you may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants" pg 37 (NB use of word 'other)

CHAPTER 8: Frances becomes very ill after giving birth to Hareton, which affects Hindley's treatment of Heathcliff. Heathcliff=16 Cathy = 15 Heathcliff=16

"His treatment of the latter [Heathcliff] was enough to make a fiend of a saint" pg 46

CHAPTER 9: Heathcliff saves Hareton's life after Hindley drops him, however Hindley shows no gratitude. Heathcliff=16 Hindley=23

"Heathcliff! Clear you too, quite from my reach and hearing" pg 53

Catherine has to choose between between Heathcliff and Edgar, Hindley doesn't want her to choose Heathcliff:

"I hate him as much as ever...I shall send him about his business, this very morning" pg63

CHAPTER 10: Heathcliff returns (september 1783) and is invited to Wuthering Heights by Hindley (hippocritical) Heathcliff=Young adult-18/19 Hindley=26/27

"Mr Earnshaw invited me, when I called this morning" pg 70

"Heathcliff affirms his principal reason for resuming a connection with his ancient persecutor is a wish to install himself in quarters at walking distance from the Grange" pg 71

"he [Hindley] doesn't trouble himself to reflect on the causes he might have for mistrusting one whom he has basely injured" pg71

"Hindley is too reckless to select his aquaintance prudently" pg71 (NB prudently=justly/intelligently)

CHAPTER 11: Heathcliff tells Hareton to swear at Hindley - turning son against father. Heathcliff=18/19

CHAPTER 13: Isabella just married Heathcliff and goes with him to Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff 18/19

Hindley: "I cannot resist going up with this [knife pistol] every night, and trying his door. If once I find it open, he's done for"pg 102 - violent nature of their relationship

Hindley: "I'll have his gold too, and then his blood, and hell shall have his soul"pg 102

CHAPTER 17: Hindley locks Heathcliff out of Wuthering Heights

"He'll be your death unless you overreach him; and he'll be my ruin. Damn the hellish villain! He knocks at the door as if he were master here already" pg127 (Hindley to Isabella)

Heathcliff and Hindley fight. Hindley is injured: "Heathcliff pulled it [knife] away by main force, slitting up the flesh as it passed on, and thrust it dripping into his pocket" pg 129

Heathcliff not intending to kill: "he exerted preter-human self-denial in abstaining from finishing him completely" pg129

Hindley " Oh, if God would but give me strength to strangle him in my last agony, I'd go to hell with joy" pg131

Heathcliff becomes the owner of WH after Hindley dies- "Earnshaw had mortgaged every yard of land he owned, for cash to supply his mania for gaming, and he, Heathcliff was the mortgagee" pg137 (NB Heathcliff taking advantage, conning Hindley) Heathcliff is 18/19 , Hindley= 26/27when hindley dies 1784

"Hindley...was reduced to a state of complete dependence on his father's inveterate enemy" pg137

Heathcliff goes on to take revenge on Hindley at the expense of Hareton, by denying him education and leaving him oblivious to his natural position of heir to Wuthering Heights.

CHAPTER 21: Heathcliff describes Hareton metaphorically as "Gold out to the use of paving stones" with "first rate qualities ...rendered worse than unavailing" pg 159 (NB evokes catharsis for Hareton"

"If the dead villain could rise from his grave to abuse me for his offspring's wrongs, I should have the fun of seeing the said offspring fight him back again"pg159

HEATHCLIFF AND HINDLEY FIGHT SCENE WATCH

lynch_sorcha — 2013-07-01 14:12:15 UTC