Wuthering Heights Plot Summary

Context: Englands North

Wuthering heights:
- The Earshaws: Mr and Ms, Hindley and Catherine + adopted Heathcliff
First description of Healthcliff pg 5
Healthcliffs past pg 37
- The servant Joseph and Zillah
First Joseph appearance pg 4 and Zillah appearance pg 18
- Ellen Nelly Dean describing Joseph pg 42
- The Nurse/servant Ellen Dean
Her background pg 35
- Description pg4: Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr Heathcliffs

They are four miles apart
Thruschross Grange in Yorkshire:
- The Lintons: Mr and Ms, Edgar and Isabella
- Catherine and Ellen dean join after the marriage of Edgar and Catherine
- Mr Lockwood the tenant
His background pg 6


Relationships:
- First gen
Hindley Earnshaw married a French woman Frances and had Hareton Earnshaw
o First appearance of Hareton pg 10 and description on pg 11
Catherine Earnshaw liked Heathcliff but married Edgar and had Catherine Linton
o Catherine (daughter) first appearance as teenager pg 10
o Description of Catherine (daughter) pg 10 and 11
o Deep relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff shown in pg 42 and 44
last paragraph
o Description of her younger pg 189
Heathcliff and Isabella married and had Linton Earnshaw
o First appearance and description pg 200
- Second gen
Catherine was forcefully married to the now hated Linton
Catherine then married Hareton when Healthcliff died

- The novel Wuthering Heights is a series of narratives told by nurse Ellen Dean to Mr
Lockwood tenant of Thrushcross Grange

Volume 1
Chapter 1
- 1801 Perspective of Mr Lockwood who had just visited his landlord, Mr Heathcliff about
renting the Thrushcross Grange
- His tour of Wuthering Heights and its description and his encounter with the dogs the herd
of possessed swine could have no worse spirits in them than those animals of yours pg 7
- He then goes home to Grange
Chapter 2
- Lockwood then visits Wuthering Heights for the second time and meets Catherine
(daughter) and Hareton
- Relationship established between Mr Healthcliff and Catherine Heathcliff (not yet known
that she is married to Linton) pg 13 daughter- in law and who Hareton Earnshaw is to
Lockwood
- Being Snowed in, Mr Lockwood became sick, dizzy and faint and had to stay the night in
Wuthering Heights
Chapter 3
- Lockwood was shown to a unused chamber with books and writing scratched on the paint
with a name repeated in all kinds of characters Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Heathcliff
and Catherine Linton and falls asleep
- Not 5 mins and he woke up and began to read about Catherine and her diary entries, his
curiosity grows and then falls asleep again
- He begins to have a nightmare of a hand clinging to him and a voice sobbing let me in
- It was Catherine Linton and she was trying to get in through the window
- Unable to sleep again, he is escorted back to the Grange by Heathcliff, as soon as the sun
rises
Chapter 4
- Recovering from his sickness he asks Ellen Dean to tell him the story of Heathcliff and the
strange denizens of Wuthering Heights: Mr Heathcliff appears a gentleman but his manners
and speech suggest otherwise; the mistress in her late teens is attractive by reserved and
even rude; and a young man who appears to be one of the family though he dresses and
talks like a servant
- This begins the story telling of Ellen Dean to Lockwood
- 30 years ago in Wuthering Heights with Hindley of 14 and Catherine of 6, one day, the old
master, Mr Earnshaw travels to Liverpool and brings home a dirty, ragged, gipsy brat
- Mr Earnshaw adopted him and christened him Healthcliff
- Miss Cathy and he were now very thick; but Kindley hated him and to say the truth I (Ellen
Dean) did the same
- Heathcliff was a sullen, patient child, hardened by the ill-treatment from Hindley but
Heathcliff used his influence over Mr Earnshaw to get what he wanted
- Mrs Earnshaw died two years later and feelings became even more sour pg 38
Chapter 5
- Mr Earnshaws health began to fail and Hindley was sent to college for his discord
- However Catherine became more naughty and Mr Earnshaws reproofs and repulsion only
hardened her and woke the naughty delight in her. Her greatest punishment was keeping
her separate from Heathcliff
- Three years later, one October evening, Mr Earnshaw dies
Chapter 6
- Mr Hindley returned for the funeral and brought a wife with him, Frances
- He becomes master of Wuthering Heights and forces Heathcliff to become a servant pg 46
- Catherine and Heathcliffs relationship continues to deepen and one day they went to
Grange to see how Lintons passed their Sunday evenings when a bulldog bit her ankle
- Catherine is forced to say at Thrushcross Grange to recover and be taught by Mrs.Linton to
be a proper young lady while Heathcliff is sent home
Chapter 7
- Five weeks later, Catherine returns with a cured ankle and manners
- The Lintons were invited to Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff decides to dress up to impress
Catherine but fails due to Edgars teasing and sent to the attic by Hindley
- Heathcliff vows revenge on Hindley
Chapter 8
- Summer of 1778, Frances gives birth to a boy, Hareton, but dies soon after
- Hindley descends into a life of drunkenness and waste and treats Heathcliff more cruelly,
however Heathcliff was delighted to witness Hindley degrading
- Catherine begins to spend more time with the Lintons and grows distant from Heathcliff
- One day Edgar comes to visit, Catherine has an argument with Ellen which spreads to Edgar
who tries to leave and soon confesses that they are lovers
Chapter 9 good description of her love pg 82
- Catherines desire for social advancement prompts her to become engaged to Edgar, despite
truly loving Heathcliff
- Catherine talks to Ellen about marrying to Edgar to help raise Heathcliffs standing, but
Heathcliff only hearing the first part runs away and disappears without a trace
- Catherine was pronounced dangerously ill from searching and has delirium
- Mrs Lintion insisted on Catherine recovering at the Grange, Mr and Mrs Linton caught the
fever and died within a few days of each other
- Three years after the deaths of Mr and Mrs Linton, they get married at Gimmerton Chapel
and Ellen was persuaded to move to Thrushcross Grange with Catherine and to leave
Hareton with the curate
Chapter 10
- 6 months later on a mellow evening in September, Heathcliff returns as a gentlemen, having
grown stronger and richer during his absence
Description pg 93 and 96
- Catherine is delighted but Edgar was more annoyed and is even more troubled by the
sudden infatuation Isabella, of 18, has for Heathcliff
- Heathcliff gambles with the drunken Hindley knowing he will increase his debts and fall into
deeper despondency and teaches Hareton bad habits
- Catherine and Isabella argue and Catherine tries to tell Isabella that Heathcliff is not for her
Chapter 11
- Even though Heathcliff despises Isabella he still made love to her, seeing it as a chance for
revenge on Edgar
- An argument breaks out between Heathcliff and Catherine and Ellen Dean with Edgar
listening at the door
- A fight broke out between Heathcliff and Edgar, resutlign in Edgar strucking Heathcliff in the
thoart
- When asked whether Catherine would give up Heathcliff or Edgar she refuses to answer
tnad to be left alone
- Catherine locks herself in her room while Edgar spends his time in the library
Chatper 12
- Ellen Dean didnt care for Isabella, Catherine or Edgar and resumed her duties
- Catherine believes she will die but Ellen Dean doesnt believe so, so she never told Edgar
- Catherine beings to hallucinate but Ellen Dean thinks its fake, however she finally realises
she is ill
- Later, Isabella and Heathcliff run off together causing Edgar to disown his sister pg 133

- BEING CURED BY NATURE PG 135
Chapter 13
- Two months had past and Isbella and Heathcliff married and returned back to Wuthering
Heights
- Ellen Dean receives a letter from Isabella and tells how her life has been torture and the
state of the house is deteriorating
Chapter 14
- Edgar still will not forgive Isabella and goes to Wuthering heights
Description pg 145
- Heathcliff learns that Catherine is ill and arranges with Ellen Dean to visit her in Secret
- Heathcliff expresses his love for Catherine and Ellen Dean finally agrees
Volume 2
Chapter 1
- Heathcliff finally met with Catherine
Chapter 2
- Catherine (daughter) was born premature and two hours later Catherine died
- Heathcliff begs her spirit to remain on Earth- she may haunt him or drive him and, just as
long as she doesnt leave him alone
- Catherine was buried in a green slope, in a corner of the kirkyard with heath and bilberry
plans have climbed over it from the moor
Chapter 3
- Isabella has run from Wuthering Heights to the Grange
- Isabella tells of the story of how Hindley tried to murder Heathcliff, only for Heathcliff to
almost murder him instead and how she ran for Grange to Ellen Dean
- Isabella feels to London pg 183 where she eventually gives birth to Linton Heathcliff
- Twelve or more years later Isabella dies
- Hindley Earnshaw dies 6 months after his sister Catherine and Heathcliff finds himself the
master of Wuthering Heights and the guardian of Hareton
Chapter 4
- 12 years on, Catherine (D = daughter) grows up to be beautiful and head strong like her
mother, but influenced with the gentler touch of her fathers who has rarely passed outside
the borders of the Grange
- Isabella informs Edgar that she is dying and wants to deliver Linton into his hands and Edgar
leaves to pick him up
- One day, Catherine (D) meets Hareton on the moors and learns of her cousin and Wuthering
Heights existence
Chapter 5
- Isabella has died and Edgar was due to return with Linton to the excited Catherine (D)
anticipating their arrival
- A bond quickly forms between Linton and Catherine (D) However Linton is to live with his
father Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights
Chapter 6
- Heathcliff receives his property who laughs at him for he sees none of his resemblance in
him
- Catherine (D) woke up to find her cousin gone was sad but continued her life
Chapter 7
- Ellen Dean hears from other servants that Heathcliff dislikes Linton but does take some
trouble to conceal it and that Linton is constantly coughing
- 20
th
of march, Catherine (D) reached 16, she and Ellen Dean strayed onto Heathcliffs ;ands
and Heathcliff invited them into Wuthering Heights to see Linton
- Heathcliff plans for Linton and Catherine (D) to marry so that he would inherit Thrushcross
Grange
- Hareton cant read
- The next morning, Catherine (D) recounts her visit to Edgar who then forbids her visiting
anymore
- Catherine (D) began a secret romance with Linton conducted through letters and when Ellen
Dean burns discoveries these letters, she burns them
Chapter 8
- Edgar becomes sick from catching a cold that settled on his lungs
- Catherine (D) cries on a stroll thinking of Edgar and Ellen Dean dying and leaving her all
alone
- As they talked they came to a door and Catherine (D) sat on a wall to pick flowers resulting
in her hat falling. Catherine (D) then becomes stuck on the other side of the door
- Suddenly approaches Heathcliff who explains that Linton is dying for you (Catherine)
unless Catherine (D) restores him
- Catherines (D) heart is now clouded in double darkness
- The next day they began their journey to Wuthering Heights to confirm their suspicions
Chapter 9
- Linton and Catherine (D) argue over the topic of their parents however it was quickly over
when Catherine (D) tended to Lintons needs
- Ellen Dean refused to let Catherine (D) come again, but she intends to anyways
- Ellen Dean became unable to attended her duties for three weeks and during then Catherine
(D) was an angel whose days were divided looking after Edgar and her
Chapter 10
- When Ellen Dean got better, she wished Catherine (D) to read to her, however she
complained of a headache and left
- We find that Catherine (D) has been secretly going to Wuthering Heights and tells of how
she laughed at Haretons attempts to be as accomplished as Linton and the fight between
Hareton and Linton
- Ellen Dean has betrayed Catherines (D) confidence in telling her her secret and she begged
him to have pity on Linton, however Wuthering Heights must no longer expect to see
Catherine (D)
Chapter 11
- Catherine (D) obeyed
- Edgar talks about how he cares nothing about Heathcliffs revenge only that what will
happen after he leaves Catherine (D)
- Edgar thought it would be good for Catherine to marry Linton, not knowing his bad condition
and bad character
- Ellen dean learns of the harsh mistreatments that Linton gets
Chapter 12
- Ellen Dean and Catherine (D) set out to meet with Linton
- However, they leave as Catherine (D) has been disappointed with Linton and their meeting
- Ellen Dean notices Linton has become worse in health and will return next Thursday
- Talk of paradise:
"This is something like your paradise," said she, making an effort at cheerfulness. "You
recollect the two days we agreed to spend, in the place and way, each thought
pleasantest? This is nearly yours, only there are clouds; but then, they are so soft and
mellow, it is nicer than sunshine. Next week, if you can, we'll ride down to the Grange
Park, and try mine."
-
Chapter 13
- On this visit, Linton puts on a tarrying faade and lures Catherine (D) and Ellen Dean into
Wuthering Heights where they are held captive by Heathcliff, preventing her from seeing
Edgar as he nears death, until she marries Linton
- At seven, Catherine (D) was taken away and Ellen Dean was left in the room for 5 nights and
4 days only seeing Hareton once every morning
Chapter 14
- Ellen Dean is allowed to go and Catherine (D) is now married and is still trapped in another
room
- Ellen Dean returns to Grange and is soon joined by Catherine (D)
- Edgar died blissfully kissing Catherines (D) cheek and was buried next to Catherine
Chapter 15
- Catherine (D) is to live at Wuthering Heights to take care of Linton
- Heathcliff then tells Ellen Dean about the love he still has for Catherine and how she was
with him on the earth
- Catherine (D) then leaves Ellen Dean to live at Wuthering Heights
Chapter 16
- Ellen Dean has not seen Catherine (D) since she left
- Linton died and all his possessions as well as Catherines (D) belonged to Heathcliff including
Thrushcross Grange (RIGHT? BUT WHY DOES LOCKWOOD SAY HE IS THE MASTER PG 306?)
- As time passed, she became so lonely that she sought to Hareton for company
- The story catches up to the present and Mr Lockwood will travel to Wuthering Heights to
inform Heathcliff that he will spend the next 6 months in London
Chapter 17
- He goes to the Heights carrying a note from Ellen Dean to Catherine (D)
- Catherine (D) once again laughs at Haretons attempts to read, and being angry Hareton
throws the books into the fire
- Mr Lockwood tells Heathcliff of his choice to leave and then leaves
Chapter 18
- 1802, 6 months later Mr Lockwood decides to visit Ellen Dean in Thrushcross Grange but
learns she no longer lives there and goes to Wuthering Heights
- Mr Lockwood meets Ellen Dean who then fills him in with new developments
- Ellen Dean moved to the Heights to replace the housekeeper who left
- Due to an accident Hareton had been condined to the farmhouse, where during this time a
friendship developed between Catherine (D) and him and teaches him to read with a book
she gives to him
Chapter 19
- Catherine (D) has persuaded Hareton to clear a large space of ground for plants, forgetting
that the bushes removed were Josephs
- Their relationship was beautiful pg 321 322
- Heathcliff begins to act strangely and sees visions of Catherine
Chapter 20
- Heathcliff becomes more and more obsessed with the memory of Catherine to the extent
that he no longer eats
- One night, Heathcliff dies pg 335 and is buried next to Catherine, but there are rumours that
he still walks as people still see his and Catherines ghost
- Hareton and Catherine (D) inherit Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange and plan to
be married on New Years Day
- Mr Lockwoods ends the story with a visit to the graves of Catherine and Heathcliff








- The supertnaural encourter: pg 25 the dream