Wuthering Heights A Tale of Two Loves - Literature Essay Samples

In Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights, Catherine redeems her mothers inability to love another tenderly with her love towards Linton. Catherines lovingness is not one of intense self-consuming passion where the object of love is over-looked and the love itself is the focus, but rather a love which nurtures the loved, embracing them with compassion. Cathys love for Heathcliff is not a tender love, but rather one of necessity. Cathy loves Heathcliff as one loves a part of ones self: her love is purely self-indulgent. The relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff is one of intense, unmitigated passion. Cathy constantly taunts Heathcliff and often abuses his undying love for her. Heathcliff is harsh to Cathy as well, making it his lifes work to gain revenge on her for marrying Edgar Linton instead of himself. Neither ones love benefits the other and, in fact, their love is a great source of misery for the both of them. Cathy is unable to love in any level of moderation, instead pour ing every iota of her being into her burning obsession. Catherines love, however, is a nurturing love. While Cathys love is purely self-indulgent, Catherines love is described as being never fierce; it was deep and tender. (p187) Cathys capacity for loving is limited to an all-consuming passion whereas Catherines love is one of compassion. Catherines adoration of Linton is a sustaining love. Lintons desires to be enamored by Catherines feelings towards him arent fickle and surpass any conflicts which may arise between the two of them. While Cathy pours every iota of her being into her emotions, Catherine rarely allows herself to be completely overcome by emotion, and if she finds that her previous actions reflect ill-thoughts she hastens to make amends whereas Cathy never takes responsibility for what she has done: while Cathys mercurial behavior seldom undergoes any periods of reflection, Catherine is apologetic for any of her misbehaviors. Linton craves to be in the presenc e of Catherine whereas Heathcliff often goes through elongated periods of wanting nothing less than to be in the presence of Cathy. And while Cathy and Heathcliffs raging love is the source of all major conflict throughout the bulk of Wuthering Heights, Catherines love for Linton is one of the few redeeming traits which any of the characters in Wuthering Heights possess.Even in her earlier years Catherines growing ability to acknowledge her misdeeds is evident. Though throughout their childhood Catherine and Linton are for the most part quite fond of each other there are, as is to be expected with any two youths (or adults for that matter), sporadic conflicts between the two.Cathy [Catherine], beside herself, gave the chair a violent push, and caused him to fall against one arm. He was immediately seized by a suffocating cough that soon ended his triumph.It lasted so long, that it frightened even me. As to his cousin, she wept with all her might, aghast at the mischief she had d one, though she said nothing. (p236)Catherines immediate recognition of her ill behavior distinguishes her from her mother. While Cathy had been able to torment Heathcliff without remorse Catherine is unable to conceal her regret for having harmed Linton. There is no period after her having pushed over Lintons chair where Catherine is not overcome with grief and remorse. So taken aback by her own misconduct is Catherine that she cannot speak. This degree of regret, or even any degree of apologetic nature is rarely if ever found with Cathys many mischievous deeds.As Lintons condition grows worse, the compassion in Catherines love seems to grow. Now confined to his bed, Linton has kept insisting that his cousin visit him, despite her being forbidden to do so. Catherine has been sneaking out of her house to be with her cousin for the purpose of providing some form of comfort to him while he lingers in his sickly state. Catherine has the maturity to treat Linton with even more ge ntleness sayingI knew I mustnt tease him, as he was ill; and I spoke softly and put no questions, and avoided irritating him in any way. (p247)Catherine is using restraint and judgment which would not have been present in her mothers actions. Whereas Cathy never allowed any sense of sorrow to affect the way she treated Heathcliff, Catherines behavior seems to be governed by her almost maternal instincts towards Linton. Catherine realizes the condition which Linton is in and how to act accordingly. In consciously deciding to avoid pestering and instead speaking pleasantly towards Linton, Catherine is demonstrating a level of maturity never present in her mother.Later on in the novel, Catherine further demonstrates her selflessness in her love towards Linton. When Catherine visits Linton at Wuthering Heights, Linton and she begin to quarrel. Linton refuses to tell Catherine what he really wants from her (marriage), instead dangling and then retracting information pertaining to hi s true desires. Though this is of the utmost annoyance to Catherine, who simply wants to know what Linton wants so she can give it to him and end his suffering, she tolerates his staunch defiance andher magnanimity provoked his tears; he wept wildly, kissing her supporting hands, and yet could not summon the courage to speak out. (p264)Catherines ability to not only tolerate but embrace Lintons short-comings is further evidence of her maturity. Cathy pestered Heathcliff constantly, particularly about his affairs with Isabella, using no restraint and acting with the maturity of a spoiled child. Catherine is able to observe the condition which Linton is in and the importance of what he dare not say, thus allowing her to act accordingly. There is no doubt that she is flustered by Lintons stubbornness, but she acts with magnanimity, thereby eschewing any resentment which she may hold towards Linton for acting in such a way, an ability which her mother lacked.Catherine redeems Cathys limited and brutally intense love of Heathcliff with her own tender, nurturing love of Linton. Catherine hastens to make amends for any wrongful acts she commits whereas Cathy simply ignores the consequences of her misdeeds. Catherines adoration of Linton is shown through compassionate and magnanimous acts whereas her mother is often harsh and cruel in her treatment of Heathcliff. Cathys short-temper is redeemed by her daughters vast tolerance for things which may perturb her. While Cathys love for Heathcliff ate them both away and filled their days with misery, Catherines love was something without which Linton felt his life was not worth living. And so, at the end of the story, we see a Catherine who is ruled by tenderness in stark opposition to her mothers callous-selfishness. While Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange once served as battlefields upon which a war of passionate and violent emotions was waged between Cathy and Heathcliff, it now serves as testimony to a love between Catherine and Linton which withstood trial and tribulation until Lintons parting day.