I cannot decide whether to put notes here or on a "Word" document and file in my Brontë folder.
For now, the blog.
Female Gothic links:
- The Female Gothic: An Introduction;
- The Cambridge Companion to the American Gothic;
- Gothic fiction, wikipedia;
- Horrifying Sex: essays on sexual difference in Gothic literature;
- Selfless, innocent women in Gothic literature?
- Introduction: Defining the Female Gothic;
- first marriage: Cathy to Linton Heathcliff; they are cousins; Cathy's uncle is Edgar Linton
- second marriage: Cathy to Hareton; they are cousins; Cathy's aunt is Catherine
The very opening line:
1801 -- I have just returned from a visit to my landlord -- the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with.
Let's parse that short opening sentence.
- "my landlord" -- the narrator (Lockwood) has just leased for one year, Thrushcross Grange -- Thrushcross Grange will turn out to be Heathcliff's childhood home, raised by the Lintons.
- has anyone ever raised the question of Catherine Earnshaw's only child, Cathy Linton, said to be the daughter of Edgar Linton and Catherine Earnshaw; Heathcliff was 20, and Catherine 19 when Cathy was born; I believe Heathcliff ran away at age 16 and did not return until after Cathy had been born;
- Thrushcross Grange: "stolen" by Heathcliff from his "step"-cousin Edgar Linton, by marrying Edgar's sister Isabella and he loses his inheritance to alcohol and gambling;
- the solitary neighbor: Edgar had died in 1801; Isabella had died long before, in 1797; Heathcliff and Isabella had married in 1784; she died in 1797 (13 years of marriage); so Heathcliff should be living alone, an old curmudgeon alone in Wuthering Heights
- "that I shall be troubled with": a foreshadowing of how "awful" Heathcliff will turn out to be
A ghost story.
Wuthering Heights: published, 1847
he calls himself a "misanthropist" -- how accurate is that; being disingenuous?
but then this:
".. and Mr Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us." Compare that line with the opening line in which Lockwood says he will be "troubled" with Heathcliff.
He immediately refers to Heathcliff as a "capital fellow!"
and then suggests that Heathcliff swore "go to the devil (Deuce)" under his breath -- we seem to have a mixed message from Lockwood regarding his first impressions of Heathcliff.
Joseph; a Yorkshireman, Heathcliff's main (only?) manservant; farmer house servant
very, very early, Emily refers to hawthorns: "... and by a range of guant thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun." Is there a relationship between "Haworth" and "Hawthorne"? From the internet:
The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th century 'haga', meaning hedged enclosure or hawthorn hedge, plus 'worth', homestead. The surname 'Haworth' can also be found as a variant of the locational name 'Howarth', from a place so called in the parish of Rochdale, Lancashire.
It is interesting that its derivation stretches back to "haga." Haworth. Hogarth? Virginia Woolf's publishing house.
Detected a date over the door of Wuthering Heights: "1500 Hareton Earnshaw."
Numerous dogs in Heathcliff's Wuthering Heights.
Attacked by the dogs, Emily uses this scene to introduce a female "inhabitant of the kitchen."
Heathcliff actually breaks into a grin -- page 49 of this version.
All of a sudden, Heathcliff turns 180 degrees; now a gracious host.
'laconic style" -- so Yorkshire...
The chapter ends with Lockwood departing, hoping to return the next day. It is Lockwood's impression that Heathcliff does not want to see him again (at least so soon).
[August 9, 2019: it just dawned on me -- where did Lockwood go after that first day at Wuthering Heights to see his landlord at Thrushcross Grange? Ah, that makes sense: he went back to the Thrushcross Grange where he had already moved in for the year.]
Lockwood, the narrator, is at his rental, Thrushcross Grange, and had planned to stay there that day but seeing the servant girl he couldn't take it and instead walked the four miles to Wuthering Heights.
At Wuthering Heights. Characters there (on page 61, Cathy Linton gives a nice list of those who live at the Heights: old man Heathcliff (father-in-law); cousin Hareton Earnshaw whom she will marry in a year or so; Zillah, Joseph; and herself. Cathy Linton, herself, is Mrs Heathcliff, but a widow. Her husband Linton Heathcliff died the same year (1801) they were married. That's it:
- Heathcliff, the old man, of course, but with just one more year to live;
- Heathcliff's and Isabella Linton's son Linton Heathcliff, master of the Heights
- Isabella Linton had died in 1797, well before 1801 when Lockwood first arrives
- Linton Heathcliff, son of Isabella and Heathcliff, had died in 1801, just after Lockwood arrived? [that's why they are still in mourning when Lockwood arrives; Linton has just died; he died the same year he married Cathy Linton;
- Linton Heathcliff had married his cousin Cathy Linton, Heathcliff's niece, only that summer, 1801
- So, Linton Heathcliff and Cathy Linton were married just before Lockwood arrived; and Cathy Linton died shortly thereafter and shortly before Lockwood arrived
- Hareton lives at Wuthering Heights with Heathcliff; Hareton's birthright to Wuthering Heights somehow went to Heathcliff; Heathcliff also stole Edgar's birthright to the Grange (I believe that's all correct) -- Heathcliff inherited/stole WH through his marriage to Isabella, sister to Edgar who owned WH, but died; when Edgar died, Isabella inherits WH but the husband, Heathcliff, gets the title; there are articles about how Emily Brontë really studied/understood hereditary law in England; she would have been pointing out how unfair it was that a non-family member inherited the home, and the rightful descendants (Hareton, in this case, lost out);
- so if it's 1801, Cathy Linton (age 19 or so) is at the Heights along with Hareton, her cousin, whom she will marry in 1803; Lockwood calls her Mrs Heathcliff -- she was married less than a year to Linton Heathcliff, but officially Mrs Heathcliff; Lockwood would not know that Mrs Heathcliff (Cathy) would be marrying Hareton;
- Hareton: b. 1778, six years junior to Linton Heathcliff who will die in 1801; cousin of Cathy Linton Heathcliff (Mrs Heathcliff, age 19); they will marry in 1803; Hareton is son of Frances and Hindley Earnshaw;
- Thomas: the old manservant, butler, farmhand
- Zillah: the newly arrived housemaid; and,
- a bunch of dogs (Gnasher, Wolf -- p. 62); Juno, p. 77.
- Grimalkin: a cat (p. 78)
The symmetry would not have worked had Heathcliff not been brought into the mix.
Lockwood spends the second day at the Heights. Starts to learn of the family dynamics.
Had planned to return to the Grange but the weather turned nasty and Lockwood had to stay overnight at WH. Attacked by the dogs (but not badly).
Lockwood led to his room by Zillah; she said the master, Heathcliff, would generally not let folks sleep in this room. Was this Catherine Earnshaw's room? I bet. Catherine: Heathcliff's childhood sweetheart/step-sister.
The chapter ends with Lockwood being allowed to stay overnight ... but ...
... but ... interestingly, the next chapter begins with Zillah leading Lockwood up to the "forbidden" bedroom.
Zilla says she had only been part of the household for "a year or two." Very imprecise. So, Zilla is an outsider. She only met Heathcliff long after he had become an adult and inherited the two estates.
Large oak case: Catherine Earnshaw. Catherine Heathcliff (Linton?). Catherine Linton.
[check the order: in chronology, should it not be: Catherine Earnshaw (Heathcliff's childhood sweetheart); Catherine Linton (Heathcliff's childhood sweetheart marries Edgar Linton); and then Catherine Linton, daughter of Edgar Linton and Catherine Earnshaw Linton?]
One wonders whether "Catherine Heathcliff" was a wish; an alternate outcome; a sister-step-brother? a sister-stepbrother crush?
Catherine Earnshaw: the mother; the love interest (unrequited) of Heathcliff.
Catherine, the daughter of Catherine and Edgar Linton becomes a Heathcliff by marrying Linton
Heathcliff (son of Heathcliff and Isabella) -- but this is way too late -- didn't happen until 1801.
[When Heathcliff I is spurned by his true love Catherine, he marries Isabella to spite her. Isabella and Heathcliff I have a son, Linton Heathcliff.]
It's hard to imagine Heathcliff marrying anyone based on Emily's story, but if one watched the classic movie from 1939 where Heathcliff grows into a dashing, suave, debonair adult ....
And then, when Linton Heathcliff dies, two years later, Catherine Linton marries Hareton Earnshaw but that would not have been marked in the large wood case. Catherin Linton is simply the name of Catherine, daughter of Catherine (Heathcliff's childhood sweetheart) and Edgar Linton) before she got married.
So the order is correct:
Catherine Earnshaw (the first Catherine) --> daughter Catherine marries (Linton) Heathcliff --> becomes widow Heathcliff/Linton and re-marries.Except I don't think the timing works ... still confused on this one.
Back to the story: Zilla (short for Priscilla) is taking the tenant up to the "hidden" bedroom.
"Lean type": in a printed document, if a standard line is long enough to include all 26 letters of the alphabet it's called "lean type." If it cannot contain the standard alphabet, then it is considered "fat type."
Hindley confusion: p. 66. Catherine Earnshaw (b. 1765) writing at about the age of 35? She says Hindley has married. Catherine Earnshaw is writing in margins of a book; she detests her brother Hindley; she has decided, along with Heathcliff, to rebel. -- p. 66. Edgar, her husband, has just died, 1801. She will not re-marry. Catherine and Edgar have a daughter Cathy will marry Hareton in 1803.
Frances, the wife of Hindley -- Catherine's brother; Frances, her sister-in-law? -- p. 67.
"palaver": unnecessary or idle talk. English sailors learned the word from Portuguese traders on the west coast of Africa, who used the word to denote their conversations with the natives. It passed from nautical slang into colloquial use in the 18th century (1700s).
Family still in mourning; Edgar had just died (1801).
This is all happening at the Heights; the tenant has rented the Grange for a year. The Grange represents the civilized, social world better than the Heights but Hindley is now master of the Heights, even though Heathcliff the old man still lives there.
Age difference between Hindley and Catherine?
the tenant is reading this in 1801?
the marginalia written some years earlier
when written, Hindley was the master; he had died in 1784 (about 16 years earlier)
Hindley, b. 1757, was eight years older than Catherine, b. 1765
let's say Hindley becomes master of the Heights about age 20 (1777), then Catherine would be 12 years old, and thus "playing" with Heathcliff -- actually probably about 17 years of age, so Catherine would be closer to nine years old.
Edgar, b. 1762, married Catherine in 1783, and Cathy was born 1784, one year later. Edgar died in 1801 when his daughter Cathy was 18 years old. Cathy's mother, Catherine, had died in 1784, the year her daughter was born -- died in childbirth?
First dream: Lockwood, the tenant, the outsider, and James going to church in a snowstorm
Second dream: awokened by tree limb scratching at window; hears a voice and sees the face of a young child, Cathy Linton - this would be the last Cathy, daughter of Catherine, the Cathy that married Heathcliff.
Cathy -- the phantom -- says she has been a waif (driven by the wind) for the last 20 years). So the dates work: died 1784, now it's 1801 -- about 17 years.
Lockwood's yell wakes up the household. Heathcliff (again, Linton Heathcliff, son of the "original Heathcliff") rushes to the room where Lockwood is sleeping/dreaming/staying.
So, to recap: knowing very little of what has been going on, Lockwood actually has a pretty remarkable dream.
On page 75, there are suggesting that the Brontë girls had read Frankenstein, 1818. [Wuthering Heights published 1847.]
Page 76: a ghost story. Does remind me of Frankenstein
Linton Heathcliff goes to window; cries to have the phantom Catherine Linton come in through the window. Catherine Linton would have been the Catherine madly in love with the "original" Heathcliff, Linton Heathcliff's father. Linton was born the year Catherine Linton died (1784). Linton Heathcliff would have heard stories about Catherine from his father, Heathcliff.
Hareton Earnshaw was 6 years junior to Linton.
So, after the dream, morning, and the three adults:
Linton Heathcliff, will die in 1801
wife Cathy Linton, will re-marry after Linton dies;
Hareton: will marry Cathy Linton in 1803 Linton Heathcliff dies in 1801
Lockwood, eager to leave, quickly returns across the moors to the Grange; Linton Heathcliff accompanies him back to the Grange; if not, it is likely Lockwood would not have made it.
From the gate to the Grange: two miles.
He left the Heights about 6:00 a.m. Arrives at the Grange exactly at noon. Six hours? Lockwood says the number of hours equalled exactly the number of miles between the Heights and the Grange.
Greeted at the Grange by "his human fixture" and her satellites. "Human fixture": lead servant? Page 81.
Servants at Thrushcross Grange.
This is pretty cool. The first three chapters set the stage. It's as if the "first act" (first three chapters) have set the stage.
Lockwood returns to the Grange.
Eager to speak with the woman in charge: Mrs Dean, Ellen or Nelly. He wants to learn from her what is going on over at Wuthering Heights: a very strange older man (40s -- referred to as Heathcliff); a young daughter-in-law, Cathy Linton, recently widowed (barely in her 20s); and, an Earnshaw, a male six years senior to Cathy (and who, by rights, should own Wuthering Heights, but doesn't).
Mrs Dean had been there 18 years; arrived when her mistress, the first Catherine Earnshaw married, to wait on her, and after she died, the master retained her for his housekeeper over at the Grange.
Catherine Earnshaw (Heathcliff's childhood love; Wuthering Heights) married Edgar Linton (Thrushcross Grange), March 1783. Catherine moved to Thrushcross Grange, and Nelly moved with her to Thrushcross Grange.
"... that pretty girl -- widow..." --- p. 83 -- the young 20-ish Cathy Linton Heathcliff (to be Earnshaw in a few years).
Nelly was the housekeeper for Edgar Linton / Catherine Earnshaw Linton.
Lockwood: upon hearing "Catherine Linton" at first thinks it's the ghostly "Catherine Linton" then realizes it cannot be. Catherine Linton, Nelly referred to, is the 20-ish y/o widow, alive and well.
Hareton and Catherine -- who will marry -- are first cousins. This is so confusing that the Annotated Wuthering Heights actually spells this out in the margin.
And get this, her first husband was also her cousin. Wow.
Hareton Earnshaw: is the last Earnshaw (WH)
Cathy Linton: is the last Linton (born at WH; moved to TG when married)
Very, very interesting backstory to Wuthering Heights; where it might have originated: note 11, page 84.
Narration embedded in narration, see note 15, page 85.
Nelly's embedded narration begins.
Nelly's mother had nursed Hindley Earnshaw (the brother of Catherine, Heathcliff's childhood sweetheart. So Nelly's mother nurse the Hindley/Catherine/Heathcliff kids, and Nelly followed by arriving when Catherine married Edgar and moved to the Grange. So, Nelly's mother was at the Heights while her daughter Nelly was at the Grange. Nelly also played with the children.
So, there were actually four children in that household: Hindley, Catherine, Nelly, and Heathcliff.
The story of how old man Earnshaw brought Heathcliff home from Liverpool, starts on page 86. Huge slave trade; centered in Liverpool.
Heathcliff arrived in 1771. Christened Heathcliff after a child that had died in childhood; both a Christian name and his surname.
Hindley was 14 years old (p. 88).
Mrs Earnshaw died two years later.
The story of how badly Hindley treats Heathcliff.
A curate was hired to teach the children.
The curate taught both the little Earnshaws (WH) and the Lintons (TG).
Curate felt that Heathcliff should be sent away to attend college. Think of Heathcliff as a bright young man like Alexander Hamilton.
Hindley was not sent to college.
Chapter ends with Mr Earnshaw dying.
Mr Earnshaw died four years after his wife; died in 1777.
At Mr Earnshaw's funeral, folks were surprised to see his son Hindley show up.
Hindley had a wife; In 1777, Hindley was he was 20 years old; his wife Frances was 17 years old.
Nelly describes symptoms of tuberculosis in Frances; at the time, it was fashionable to marry, thin, pale young women, often a sign of tuberculosis. Most of Emily's family died of tuberculosis.
Hindley had been gone for three years; now suddenly appears with his wife.
Heathcliff was also there and Hindley drove him away from the family gathering.
In 1777, Catherine was twelve years old; Heathcliff was thirteen years old, one year older. They would run out on the moors to get away from Joseph and the curate.
One Sunday, Catherine and Heathcliff ran to TG. Heathcliff returned to the Heights but Catherine remained. Remember, Catherine will eventually marry Edgar Linton, TG.
Heathcliff describes TG much more luxurious than the Heights. [This was also noted by Mr Lockwood in the opening chapters.]
Isabella was either a year younger than Catherine, or the same age (p. 102). According to the genealogy table at the front of the book, Catherine and Isabella were the same age, both born 1765 (King George III, colonies in US; a few years before revolution).
Edgar was three years older. About this time (1777), Edgar would have been fifteen years old, three years older than his sister Isabella and Catherine.
Nelly said Isabella was eleven years old at this time, one year younger than Catherine (p. 102). Inaccurate; born same year but could have been born as much as almost twelve months apart, depending.
The manservant at TG was Robert. The dog that caught Catherine was Skulker.
Turning point in the novel for Catherine: has run away from WH to the Grange and freedom.
Heathcliff now back at the Heights, having told Nelly the story. The family will go to TG the next day to get Catherine. Mrs Earnshaw in this chapter is now the young immature, tuberculosis-ridden young 17-year-old, Frances.
So, the first three chapters set the stage; the second three chapters, lead up to the death of the old Earnshaws and the next generation of Earnshaws (Hindley and Frances) becoming the master/mistress of the Heights.
Catherine has run for freedom to the Grange. Heathcliff is young, debonair, well-educated.
Nelly has told most of the story in this chapter.
Cathy stayed at TG for five weeks, until Christmas, until her ankle heeled (mauled by a dog). This was not a one-night lark. She really wanted her freedom. The chapter begins with Nelly resuming the story (although at first it sounded like Lockwood narrating; but it was Nelly).
I read this quickly; need to re-read again some day -- the conversations between Catherine and Heathcliff now that they are back. Catherine has matured into a high-society woman (while at the Lintons); Heathcliff seems to be move devilish than ever.
Heathcliff and Hindley get into a big fight. Isabella and Catherine rush to see what was going on.
Again, these are "children." The Earnshaws and Lintons are still all alive.
It gets confusing to remember how old everyone is.
Page 117. Nelly now talks to Mr Lockwood in the present.
Lockwood wants Nelly to continue her tale.
At the end of the chapter, Nelly says she will begin with the next summer, the summer of 1778, twenty-three years ago (it's 1801 when Lockwood is at TG). In 1778:
- old man Mr Earnshaw had died the year before, in 1777
- his wife, Mrs Earnshaw had died several years earlier, 1773
- both old man Linton and his wife were alive; would both die in 1780
- Hindley was 21 years old
- 1778: important -- Frances -- Hindley's wife dies
- 1778:
- Catherine: 13 years old
- Heathcliff: 14 years old
- Edgar: 16 years old
- Isabella: 13 years old
June, 1778 (ages of characters noted above)
Begins with the birth of Hareton (Earnshaw), and the knowledge that Frances will die this year due to tuberculosis.
Frances cannot survive another winter at WH where it is much more harsh than TG, for example. Again, WH is much more harsh than TG.
Catherine continues to keep up her "acquaintances"with the Lintons since her five-week stay there.
Catherine visits Edgar a lot, but her older brother, Hindley, is very protective. Hindley demands that Nelly be in attendance every time Catherine and Edgar are together.
Mentions that Edgar Earnshaw had come home rabid drunk -- p. 129. -- foreshadowing drunkenness and gambling that will cause him to lose his inheritance.
Nelly removes the shot from Edgar's gun so that no one is injured if he fires it.
Chapter ends with Hindley's arrival (at the Heights). His sister Catherine rushes to her chamber. Edgard Linton rushes to his horse to ride home. Nelly grabs Hareton to protect him -- Hareton has just lost his mother.
A lot happened in this chapter:
- Hareton born, 1778
- Hareton's mother dies of TB
- Hareton's father Hindley is distraught; over-protective of his sister Catherine who is "dating" Edgar Linton (Thrushcross Grange; high society)
- Heathcliff in background; not sure exactly where he stands
- Isabella Linton: far into the background
Chapter 9
1783?
Chapter begins with Hindley storming into house at the Heights. Hindley plans to murder Nelly.
Nelly is still narrating. Nelly says she is stowing his (Hindley's) son in the kitchen cupboard.
So, Hindley and Nelly in fight for her life, and she spies Heathcliff arriving. Hareton gets away from her grip and from his father.
Nelly tries to warn Heathcliff to stay away.
Hindley refers to Nelly as Ellen. Hindley comes to his senses; worries that he has hurt Hareton.
Hindley sees Heathcliff. Hindley is probably too drunk to hurt anyone.
So, if this is 1778 or thereabouts:
Hindley: 21
Heathcliff: 14
Hareton: infant, born, 1778
If 1783:
Hindley: 26
Catherine: 18
Heathcliff: 19
1787? see below. Nelly says Catherine is 22. I need to check transition from Chapter 8 to Chapter 9.
Heathcliff had walked "through" to the barn. Were the barn/house colocated?
Catherine, 13 years old, peaks her head in, asking where Heathcliff was?
Answer from Nelly: in the stable, working, at his work in the stable.
Kenneth is mentioned in this chapter; I need to go back and see where servant Kenneth first mentioned.
page 135: "flags" ?? napkins; towels?
Catherine tells Nelly that Edgar Linton has proposed marriage; Nelly is the first to know; Catherine wants Nelly's advice.
It turns out Catherine has already accepted.
Nelly says Catherine was 22 years old, so the year is 1787.
But Catherine is unsure; has dreams. To tell Nelly of her dreams. Nelly doesn't want to listen.
Her dreams: cast out of Heaven; no more business being in heaven than marrying Edgar.
Catherine says she and Heathcliff are soulmates.
Apparently Heathcliff had heard the first part: to marry Edgar would degrade Catherine; he had not heard the rest.
Nelly reminds Catherine how she will lose all if she married Edgar. She will lose Heathcliff as a friend and a love.
The legend of Milo, p 140.
What a great legend, Milo, as a metaphor, a great warrior trying to separate a wedge (ax) from a tree that had been partly split.
Catherine explains why she is going to marry Edgar, p. 140 -- she rationalizes as a rich woman, she can help Heathcliff rise from being a beggar.
A must read: the annotation on page 142 -- "I am Heathcliff."
Catherine "nursed" Hareton? Hareton is not her infant.
"settle" -- top of p. 144; a crib? settle to sleep?
They went looking for Heathcliff; can't find him.
The next morning. Hindley Earnshaw sober? Still no Heathcliff.
Catherine becomes deathly ill.
"Old Mrs Linton" -- p. 148. Mrs Linton died 1780.
Taken to Thrushcross Grange to convalesce. So even though her home is Wuthering Heights, she is taken to Thrushcross Grange.
The two elderly Lintons also become ill and die. Page 149.
Catherine recovers quickly; returns to WH. Heathcliff hasn't been seen since the night of the storm.
Edgar and Catherine married, three years after his father's death: 1783 but the genealogy chart says he died 1780.
Nelly was asked by Catherine to leave WH and accompany her to TG -- where Mr Lockwood is staying and that explains how he ends up talking to Nelly. Hareton is five years old in 1783. It was hard for Nelly to leave Hareton. Nelly refers to herself as Ellen Dean -- they were joined at the hips and so sad to see them separated.
So, at TG, Mr Lockwood, Nelly.
Nelly retires. Ends her story.
Chapter Ten
Begins with Mr Lockwood narrating. Mr Kenneth is the physician in Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff shows up. Wow.
Heathcliff leaves; short visit; leaves a brace of pheasants for Mr Lockwood and Nelly.
Then, after a short full page, Nelly begins her narrative again.
She begins with Catherine and Nelly leaving for TG where Catherine and Mr Linton, married, now live.
Nelly had to leave her beloved WH.
Apparently Catherine and her husband Linton are getting along better.
Then Heathcliff shows up. He had been gone for quite some time (three years?) but no one knew where he had been and how he made his money. Heathcliff had returned to find out what was going on. He had stopped by TG first to find out about things from Nelly.
He was going to rent a room at Wuthering Heights from his former nemesis but Hindley would need the money.
Nelly is aware that Hindley is aware he (Hindley) could lose his property -- p. 163.
I need to read this section again: Catherine (married to Edgar Linton and residing at TG) and Isabelle arguing over Heathcliff. Nelly relates the story.
Discussing inheritance.
Catherine's sons will be Isabella's nephews. Isabella needs a son to keep the estate from going to Catherine's heirs. Not sure I understand all this because Edgar's male heirs would have priority. See note on p. 170. The note in confusing because the editor says "She" without specifying. Now I get it: Edgar will retain Linton's TG if Catherine has a male child, but more readers don't think Catherine / Edgar will remain married. If Catherine / Edgar don't remain married or don't have a male heir, the TG estate will pass to Isabelle's heirs if she has an heir.
That is what this chapter is all about. Foreshadowing Heathcliff's marriage to Isabelle and inheriting TG.
Meanwhile, Heathcliff will move to WH to remain close to all the activity.
Chapter 11
Nelly mentions one of her journeys at this point. Mentions the signpost:
WH on the north side
Gimmerton on the east side
TG on the southwest side
Guidepost on the map at the beginning of the book
Brontë's attention to detail: sees snail-shells and pebbles at the bottom of a little hole.
Mentions that Hindley and Nelly were there twenty years earlier.
She senses an apparition at the guidepost; worried that Hindley might be dead. Rushes to TG. Sees Hareton -- who she had last seen ten months earlier.
This must be about 1803; if so Hareton, about 5 years old.
Hareton is a mean little boy; came from his dad Hindley; maybe like Heathcliff at this age?
Hareton refers to his dad as "Devil Daddy," but excitedly says he likes Heathcliff.
Heathcliff shows up at TG. Isabella, of course, still lives there, as does her brother who is married to Cathy.
Nelly does not like Heathcliff; tries to thwart his advances. Isabella and Cathy at odds with each other over Heathcliff.
Conversation changes to Heathcliff marrying Isabelle and whether her brother Linton would approve.
Note: Isabelle is referred to as Nelly's mistress. In England, mistress usually reserved for oldest daughter, first to get married.
Edgar had been listening in on the argument between Cathy and Isabella and, of course, Nelly and Heathcliff.
Edgar wants Heathcliff to leave.
Cathy lays down the ultimatum: Isabelle must choose Heathcliff or Cathy, as her friend -- p. 183.
Isabella avoiding both his brother and Catherine.
Chapter 12
Nelly continues to narrate the story. Isabella moping; wants to be with Heathcliff. Her brother Edgar hides himself among his books; doesn't like confrontations.
Nelly: I wasted no condolences on miss (Cathy?) nor any expostulations on my mistress (Cathy Linton), nor ... her master (Edgar Linton).
BREAK BREAK
So, the story so far.
Cathy and Heathcliff (WH) grow up together at the Earnshaws, but Heathcliff disappears and Cathy marries Edgar Linton and moves to TG. [Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw married Edgar Linton and became Mrs Catherine Linton. They eventually had a daughter, Cathy Linton.]
Heathcliff returns, to find his childhood playmate / love Cathy married to Edgar. He positions himself to marry Isabelle Linton to a) get close to Cathy; inherit TG estate if Edgar/Cathy have no children.
p. 185. Now back to the story.
Mrs Cathy Linton is sleepwalking / hallucinating.
Nelly tries to get her back to reality.
Apparently this "fit" last several days.
p. 196: apparently the Earnshaws have a history of violent dispositions, insanity, mental health issues, but this "fit" by Cathy Earnshaw Linton was by far the worse.
Apparently Isabelle has run away with Heathcliff. Apparently the house is so big, no one missed her at first.
Cathy says Isabelle is no longer her sister and has no desire for anyone to go after Isabelle and Heathcliff.
The question: what was the tipping point that led Heathcliff at that moment to steal away with Isabelle?
Chapter 13
Isabella and Heathcliff gone for two months.
Mrs Cathy Earnshaw Linton comes down with "brain fever." -- psychotic
She did not leave her room until "the next March."
p. 202: Edgar receives a letter six weeks after her departure from his sister Isabelle stating she and Heathcliff are married.
Two weeks later, Nelly got a letter from Isabella.
The letter takes up the whole rest of the chapter. Wow ---
Isabella's letter: begins p. 203.
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