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Dilectical Journals


Chapter 3

This writing however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small- Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton. (16)

Q: What is the significance of these three names, and their order?

seventy times seven (19)

Q: Could this be a biblical illusion?

bad tea and bad temper! (19)

Q: Could this be a literary illusion to Alice in Wonderland with the tea with the Mad Hatter?

...his face as white as the wall behind him. The first creak of the oak startled him like an electric shock...his agitation was so extreme that he could hardly pick it up. (23)

Q: Why is Heathcliff so jumpy upon entering the room?

I was surprised to see Heathcliff there also. (26)

Q: What cartoon cat was possibly named after Lockwood's landlord?

Q: Why would he have been named after him?

Lockwood dreams of “Seventy times seven” and the first of the Seventy First.

Q: What is the first of the seventy first? Why is this theme of forgiveness introduced this early in the novel?

CHAPTER 9

Hindley comes home in a drunken rage threatening to kill people living in the house (66)

Q: Is this foreshadowing, Bronte’s way of introducing a coming conflict or plot line.

Catherine marries Edgar, takes Nelly with her, and gets upset at the mention of Heathcliff’s name.(79)

Q: Is Cathy so in love with Heathcliff ,that the very mention of his name brings back immense pain? Is she trying to live a lie, by pretending to not love him?



Oh don’t, Miss Catherine! I cried. We’re dismal enough without conjuring up ghosts and visions to perplex us. Come, come, be merry and like yourself! (72)

L3—Why does Catherine choose to tell Nell all of this, and how does this reflect ideas of the time period?

However, Catherine would not be persuaded into tranquility. She kept wandering to and fro…in a state of agitation which permitted no repose.. (77)

L2—What does Catherine’s behavior imply?

L2—How, do you think, this scene will affect the rest of the book?

I felt some sentiment that it must be a judgment on us also. The Jonah, in my mind, was Mr. Earnshaw.(77)

L3—What is the allusion within this passage?

Catherine has a dream of what is to come. (73)

Q: Could this be a biblical allusion to the dreams that Joseph said represented what was to come? (L3)

...you become Mrs. Linton, he loses a friend, and love, and all. (74)

Q: Could this be an allusion to Shakesphere in Love or Romeo and Juliet? (L3)

CHAPTER 13

I should mention that Isabella sent to her brother, some six weeks from her departure, a short note, announcing her marriage with Heathcliff. (124)

L2—Why is Isabella doing this?

L3—What is the worst type of betrayal?

Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? (125)

L2—Why would Isabella marry Heathcliff if she feels this way?

I approached, and attempting to take his chubby fist, said—How do you do my dear? He replied in a jargon I did not comprehend. (126)

L3—Does Isabella feel this way because of the way the society she lives in is structured?

I expostulated, and desired that he should have his in a mug; affirming that I could not taste the liquid treated so dirtily. (130)

L2—How does this reflect how Isabella was brought up?

Edgar brings Catherine flowers in attempt to bring her back to health (123)

Q: Does this action show the true love of Edgar? Is it possible that he may actually love Catherine just as much if not more than Heathchliff?

Joseph and Hareton react harshly and rudely to Isabella joining their household (127)

Q: Is this hateful attitude hereditary in the Earnshaw family, or has it been induced upon them from Heathcliff’s own behavior?

Hindley observes Cathy as she struggles in bed over her illness. (122)

Q: Could this be an allusion to the Exorcist; Catherine's obsession with Heathcliff is the devil within her? (L3)

Isabella writes to Nelly Dean questioning her marriage to Heathcliff. He is not the man she thought he was. (125)

Q: Could this be an allusion to the Great Gatsby? Daisy marries Tom, but does not know the man he really is. (L3)

Hindley's appearance has altered to that of a hermit. (126)

Q: Could this be an allusion to Dr, Jekyl and Mr. Hyde? The evil Hindley has becomes phsically visable. (L3)

CHAPTER 17

That Friday made the last of our fine days, for a month. In the evening, the weather broke; the wind shifted from south to north-east, and brought rain first, and then sleet and snow. (154)

L2—Why is this significant to the plot of the book?

It is, if I may take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; for every wrench of agony return a wrench: reduce him to my level. (165)

L3—What is the universal truth in this statement?

Isabella smashes her wedding ring, and tells Nelly that Heathcliff will have to buy another if he wants her back. (156)

Q: Why does Isabella make the statement “buy another one”? Does she still have a love for Heathcliff deep down inside? Maybe she hasn’t truly left him in her heart?

Heathcliff states that Hindley should be buried at the crossroads (171)

Q: This reminds me of the old ghost legend I used to read. Murderers and criminals were buried at the crossroads so that their souls could not find their way back to haunt the living. Does Heathcliff fear that he is responsible for Hindley’s death and that he will probably be haunted by him?

Isabella continues to warn Heathcliff of the fate that awaits him inside. (162)

Q: Is pride that important that Heathcliff is willing to risk his life? (L3)

CHAPTER 24

Cathy and Linton argue over the best way to spend a summer day (227)

Q: These are two totally opposite people, yet they have created a bond. Does this follow the old saying that opposites attract or have they just formed a bond out of mutual need for companionship?

Hareton pushes Linton out of the room when he is insulted by Catherine (228)

Q: Hareton reacts as many males do when humiliated in front of women. This is stronger however. Is Hareton using his physical strength to counter the superior intellect of Linton and Cathy?Chap ter 24 Heathcliff makes a speech to Catherine about Linton’s well-being (262) L2—What is the parallel to this speech in the first half of the book?

One was marked C., and the other H.; I wished to have the C., because that stood for Catherine, and the H. might be for Heathcliff, his name… (228)

L2—What is the symbolic nature of this-in accordance with the generations of this book?

and dreaded to hear that Linton was dead (232)

L2—Is this foreshadowing?

I heard him abusing poor Linton, cruelly, for his conduct of the night before (233)

L3—Was child abuse acknowledged back in those days?

Mr. Linton will not allow Cathy to go to Wuthering Heights anymore (234)

L2—What, do you think, will happen to Cathy and Linton’s relationship?

on ball "C" and "H"(228)

Q: This symbolizes balls that Hindley and Catherine played with, but did Heathcliff use the "H" one instead? (L3)

Chapter 29

Disturbed her? No! She has disturbed me, night and day, through eighteen years (264)

L3—In Psychology, what is his condition referred to as?

she was either outside the window, or sliding back the panes, or entering the room (265)

L2—What part of the book does this remind you of?

Heathcliff becomes upset when Cathy tells him that no one loves him (263)

Q: Heathcliff is supposed to be hard and bitter, yet this upsets him. Maybe he really wishes that he had the love of others, but he has built up a wall around his heart due to the pain of losing Catherine?

Heathcliff tells how he is constantly haunted by the memory of Catherine but never physically sees her. (265)

Q: The haunting of Heathcliff is probably deeply psychological. Did Heathcliff’s love for Catherine leave a void in side that he has tried to replace by imagining ghost haunting him?

Catherine convinces Hareton to plant flowers where Joseph used to have his trees (290)

Q: Is Bronte metaphorically trying to illustrate the change in the lives of the characters living at the Heights, by this change in the setting?

Throughout pages 263 and 264, Heathcliff rambles about Cathering haunting him.

Q: Does she really haunt him, or is he continually in denial that she did not choose him? (L3)

that devil Heathcliff (261)

Q: Could he actually be the devil? (L3) Chapter 33

They lifted their eyes together, to encounter Mr. Heathcliff: perhaps you have never remarked that their eyes are precisely similar, and they are those of Catherine Earnshaw. (294)

L3—“Eyes are the window to the soul”-who said this?

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS