Heathcliff is a despicable man, not matter what way you look at it . He keeps up a constant stream of threats to those around him, constant manipulation, and in the end he doesn't even have any redeeming qualities except hate.
When Heathcliff is talking about Isabella and says, "If I lived alone with that mawkish, waxen face; the most ordinary would be painting on its white the colours of the rainbow and turning the blue eyes black, every day or too" (Bronte 107).This quote was right after Isabella revealed that she was in love with Heathcliff. His response to this was that if they lived together he would beat her everyday. The surprising part is that I wouldn't even be shocked if he had killed her in the book. Also he said this when she was in the room, he doesn't care about the people he hurts.
As the novel progresses Heathcliff begins to spiral into a world of absolute hate, which would most likely be referred to as an extreme form of depression . He put himself in a position he cant come out of. As much as he hates Hindley, he accepts his punishments and perseveres through the hardships with his happiness fully enthralled by Catherine. It isn't until Catherine denies her love towards Heathcliff and marries into the Linton family, that Heathcliff hits a point where he is unable to find happiness in anything that he does, not the death of his enemy Hindley, not the birth of his own child, and not even the death of Edgar Linton, the man who stole the woman he loves.
“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you--haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe--I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” (Bronte, 163). This quote describes the love that Heathcliff had for Catherine, and that her being there by his side was what kept him alive. Without her, Heathcliff feels that he has and is nothing, and seeks revenge on anyone who was involved in his loss of Catherine as his own. Catherine was the only character that truly loved Heathcliff, the only one that stood by his side, and while he had her he was not as much a despicable character. Her leaving him drove him mad and he could not imagine a world without her.
His actions did have good reasons due to his mistreatment but it is evident in many ways that his actions weren't of a wounded man but of a spiteful, vengeful, and deceiving man. Who would do anything to see all the wrong things happen to the people who have wronged him. So maybe he is wounded. But his actions are in spite, not wound. He truly is despicable and shouldn't be portrayed ever as a good man.
When Heathcliff is talking about Isabella and says, "If I lived alone with that mawkish, waxen face; the most ordinary would be painting on its white the colours of the rainbow and turning the blue eyes black, every day or too" (Bronte 107).This quote was right after Isabella revealed that she was in love with Heathcliff. His response to this was that if they lived together he would beat her everyday. The surprising part is that I wouldn't even be shocked if he had killed her in the book. Also he said this when she was in the room, he doesn't care about the people he hurts.
As the novel progresses Heathcliff begins to spiral into a world of absolute hate, which would most likely be referred to as an extreme form of depression . He put himself in a position he cant come out of. As much as he hates Hindley, he accepts his punishments and perseveres through the hardships with his happiness fully enthralled by Catherine. It isn't until Catherine denies her love towards Heathcliff and marries into the Linton family, that Heathcliff hits a point where he is unable to find happiness in anything that he does, not the death of his enemy Hindley, not the birth of his own child, and not even the death of Edgar Linton, the man who stole the woman he loves.
“Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you--haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe--I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” (Bronte, 163). This quote describes the love that Heathcliff had for Catherine, and that her being there by his side was what kept him alive. Without her, Heathcliff feels that he has and is nothing, and seeks revenge on anyone who was involved in his loss of Catherine as his own. Catherine was the only character that truly loved Heathcliff, the only one that stood by his side, and while he had her he was not as much a despicable character. Her leaving him drove him mad and he could not imagine a world without her.
His actions did have good reasons due to his mistreatment but it is evident in many ways that his actions weren't of a wounded man but of a spiteful, vengeful, and deceiving man. Who would do anything to see all the wrong things happen to the people who have wronged him. So maybe he is wounded. But his actions are in spite, not wound. He truly is despicable and shouldn't be portrayed ever as a good man.