Chapter 8

Hindley’s son Hareton is born but the mother, Frances, dies shorted after from consumption Hindley vowed to see Hareton in good standing but Nelly must raise him Catherine and Heathcliff grow apart as Catherine and Edgar grow closer, they profess their love at the end Hindley begins to drink from depression and often messes around with his gun in that state

Hindley is seen as quick to change his attitude (uncharacteristically happy when his son is born but hot tempered when concerning his ill wife). After her death he becomes much more angry all the time and drives all of the servants, except for Nelly and Joseph, away. He turns to drink and shuns his son, leaving his well being up to Nelly, but will pay for him. The two faced nature of Catherine is seen fully as she changes to a ‘proper’ lady round Edgar and the Linton family but disrespects them with Heathcliff, also pinches and scolds Nelly when Edgar is around. Her and Heathcliff grow apart and she tends to favour Edgar and later professes her love to him. Heathcliff becomes much more lazy and unwilling in this chapter as a result of feeling that he is not on the same level as Catherine anymore, stemming from Catherine becoming educated and the affection from the late Mr Earnshaw wearing off. His riff with Catherine comes from that but also the fact that he thinks she has changed to be more like the Lintons and is trying to change him, also, her connection with Edgar.

The theme of religion is present with many references to God e.g. He neither wept nor prayed-he cursed and defied-execrated God and man Catherine’s insanity/split persona can be seen as a theme, the main section is with her changing treatment of Nelly Heathcliff’s wildness and darker side, he refuses to do work, damning the consequences if Joseph catches him Hindley’s obsession with drink

Page 66, “The master’s badways...notable for savage sullenness and ferocity”, this alludes to Heathcliff’s wild nature and intense rivalry and dislike of Hindley Can the class see any?

Page 65, “I was very sad for Hindley’s sake...His wife and himself”, this quote shows Hindley’s true nature as a closed off, angry man and further support comes from “The master’s bad ways...fiend of a saint” (page 66) and “Mr Earnshaw, provided...himself up to reckless desperation”. But these also show he is capable of extreme emotion as the death of his wife reduces him to a shell of his former self Page 70, “Doubtless Catherine marked...we talk here, and softer.”, this quote is from Nelly about Catherine’s feeling about Edgar and Heathcliff being the same as she does not see the difference in class and attitude; loving Heathcliff even though it is the ‘wrong’ choice. Despite her not seeing the difference, she still acts differently: “For when Heathcliff...any consequence to her.” (page 68)