Chapters 4-6 Synopsis:

When Lockwood returns from his visit at Master Heathcliff’s he is brimming with curiosity of the gentleman’s past, and enlists the help of Mrs. Dean who used to be the housekeeper for the Earnshaws at Wuthering Heights.

Many years ago the Earnshaws lived at Wuthering Heights.  This nuclear family included two children, Cathrine and her older brother Hindley.  After a trip to Liverpool Mr. Earnshaw brings home a young boy he found in the streets  — Heathcliff.  At first, the Earnshaw children ban together in great dislike for the newcomer, especially after they see how favorably he is seen in their father’s eye.  But as time goes on Heathcliff begins to grow on Cathy and the two soon become thick as thieves, leaving Hindley out in the cold.  After Mr. Earnshaw dies, leaving Hindley master of Wuthering Heights Heathcliff is demoted and treated as nothings less than a servant despite his father’s wishes.

The only pleasure Heathcliff finds, is spending time with Cathy and all that changes after he and Cathy take a “detour” on to the rounds of Thrushcross Grange, at the time home to the Lintons.  The two start spying through a window, and begin mocking the two children occupying the home, Edgar and Isabella.  Soon after this realization, Cathy is chased and bitten by the dog on the property and is promptly taken in by the Lintons to be treated, but Heathcliff is turned away, being seen as nothing than a ragamuffin.

My Thoughts:

I’m enjoying the novel, but forgot how disagreeable all the characters are, with no redeeming qualities to speak of.  Putting that aside, Bronte has done such a wonderful job developing her characters and opening their stories to the reader, especially since this is a more character driven novel.  I think the best way to describe Wuthering Heights is to a train wreak, a horrible tragedy, but yet you can’t peal your eyes away.