Spacing in the Setting

I am still a bit unsure of how far things are around the Wuthering Heights Estates. Towards the beginning of the book, I was under the impression that Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange were on the same estate and that Thrushcross was like a guest home. However, it is later made clear that a different family (the Lintons) actually lived there earlier. Also, since it seems it is possible to get lost in the moors between the two manors, I would think the two homes are separated by at least some distance. But then I get confused again when Catherine (the older one) says she sees Wuthering Heights from her window in Thrushcross Grange. I don't know what to make of this all...

Too Many Family Links

As you read the book, you begin to see how many of the main characters actually fall and in love (and some actually marry) their own relatives. I think this is scary and disgusting but apparently, the characters aren't relaly bothered. Young Catherine marries both her cousin Linton and her cousin Hareton (at different times of course). Also, Heatcliff marries Isabella who, to him, is the sister-in-law of the woman he loved. Ew!

Catherine and Linton's relationship

I'm very unsure of what to make of Catherine and Linton's union. They obviously aren't madly in love with each other. Catherine had cultivated an interest in him and used to secretly correspond with him but does she really love him? She reasons with Heathcliff that there's nothing he can do to make Catherine and Linton unhappy. She insists that she has something he no longer has: love. However, I think she really married Linton because she felt bad for him and because he was being forced to court her by his cruel father, Heathcliff. She knew that if she rejected him, Linton would face severe punishment from Heathcliff. Perhaps they grew to love each other. Here is an image of Linton.

Yes, it May Sound Bad ...

Heathcliff sort of brought about his own death because of his sadness for Catherine. However, what confuses me is: why didn't he do this before? Why did he continue to live all those years after Catherine's death? All he did after she died was cause pain to others and spread his anger to those whom he should have loved. I just am surprised that he didn't die of grief earlier becuase ultimately, I think that's what caused him to be killed anyway. Perhaps it took him a long time to figure things out and come to terms with her death. Also, why did he casually stay away while Catherine was dying? He should have come to her (even though that would have angered Edgar). It was surprising to know that when Nelly told him the grave news of Catherine's death, he seemed to expect as much.

Young Catherine's Black Magic

If I'm not mistaken, Catherine threatened Joseph that she would exercise her black magic on him. Was she being serious about it and what does it say about her religious beliefs? She mentioned something about wax figures of the people and other such things. Also, she was called a "witch" by Lockwood in the book as he narrated the small incident. It seemed like Lockwood thought that Catherine was only saying that jokingly but then I was surprised to see that he called her a witch. I was very confused by all this.

Why Two Catherines?

I think there were a few reasons Bronte decided to have both women named Catherine. First of all, I think it was to add irony because the first Catherine went from being an Earnshaw to being a Linton and the second was a Linton and later becomes an Earnshaw. Secondly, they both were strong and independent women. Lastly, they both were associated with Edgar Linton, who was hated by Heathcliff. Here is a picture of Edgar Linton:

Bad Fathers

Why are there so many bad fathers in this book who can't take good care of their children but want to keep them nevertheless? I think an ideal caretaker for Linton and Hareton would have been Nelly. She's capable, amiable and obviously a good housekeeper (since it seems like she's been working at the two manors for ages). But NO! Hindley and Heathcliff must INSIST upon taking care of their own sons and then succeed wonderfully in paying no attention to them. I have a theory that they make sure the children are under their custody and then they can make sure the boys will have a terrible life of neglect and sadness. We know from the book that both Hareton and Linton were not really wanted by their fathers but they still had to live with them and endure their hatred and cruelty. Hareton, who was a direct descendent of the man who built Wuthering Heights should have been a gentleman of sophisticated dispositon and high cultivation in academics and social aspects of life but instead, he was uneducated and unruly because of the way he was raised.