[WH] - Oh, you're bad.

"Is Mr. Heathcliff a man?  If so is he mad?  And if not, is he a devil?" (pg 118).

This was in Isabella's letter to Ellen and I'm embarrassed to say this, but I was wondering the same thing for awhile now.  I mean, let me remind you of the direct characterization from earlier in the novel.

"But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living.  He is a dark-skinned gypsy aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire" (pg 3).

I cannot help but see the word "gentleman" and laugh.  Did he not just almost pull and Othello and crush the life out of Cathy after she told him how much she loved him?  Heathcliff can be described in so many ways that he reigns supreme thus far as the most confusing character that I have ever had the misfortune to read about.  I suppose that is the definition of a round character, so congratulations Heathcliff, you won a literary term in your honor that was not hubris, but if you did get one of those it would be jealousy.

Heathcliff reminds me a bit of the Frankencreature (yes, I have now made two references in the same blog) in that I cannot really decide if I find his evil qualities kind of exciting since without them the story would be absolutely awful or if I hate him because he clearly has a heart, but chooses to put it on the back burner to be a blood thirsty monster.

Let me explain (cause you know, that's what I am being graded on... wit and analysis)

• Heathcliff clearly has much hate after sending dogs at Lockwood and nearly physically killing Catherine after she said that she had so many feelings for him.  He also had the indecency of putting Nelly in such an awkward position probably would have gnawed her head off in the garden had she stayed any longer afterwards.
• He is obviously a very loving person though judging by his pure emotions that he showed for Catherine (I think).  Not only did he love her so much that it drove him to insanity that he could not have her (like a teenager when she realizes she can't be with Justin Beaver), but he stood outside her window and knew before being told that she had died.  Obviously I do not know his true motive, but I like to give all evil people who were thought to be devils a benefit of the doubt that his intention was out of love and not revenge to kill her if she lived.

Now is it ironic that she just happened to have her baby two months premature and name it Cathy later or is this what the rest of the plot will be because both seem like a pretty lame cop out to add another 150 pages to this boring story.

Here is an entire song dedicated to my favorite literary term to think that any sentence is (Note: This is a cover because covers are more fun than the original).