Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë
Contents
Chapter 7
Overview
Catherine returns from the Lintons transformed into a more polished young lady, creating a painful contrast with Heathcliff’s neglected state. Hindley exploits that divide to humiliate and exclude Heathcliff, and Edgar’s harmless remark provokes Heathcliff into violence.
Catherine remains emotionally attached to Heathcliff and secretly seeks him out, but the chapter marks a clear widening of social and emotional distance between them. Heathcliff’s final declaration that he is planning revenge against Hindley becomes a crucial turn in his character arc.
Summary
Catherine Earnshaw remains at Thrushcross Grange for five weeks, until Christmas, recovering from her ankle injury and absorbing the Lintons’ polished manners. When Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights finely dressed and praised as a young lady, Hindley and Frances watch closely, hoping her new refinement will separate Catherine from Heathcliff.
Heathcliff, neglected during Catherine’s absence, appears dirty and sullen beside Catherine’s new elegance. Catherine joyfully embraces Heathcliff but then laughs at his appearance, unintentionally wounding Heathcliff’s pride. Heathcliff refuses to shake hands, declares that Heathcliff will be as dirty as Heathcliff pleases, and storms away while Hindley and Frances are amused.
On Christmas Eve, Nelly reflects on old Mr. Earnshaw’s kindness and his fear that Heathcliff would be mistreated after his death. Nelly tries to help Heathcliff by inviting Heathcliff to clean up and spend time with Catherine, but Heathcliff refuses. The next morning, after learning that Catherine was hurt by Heathcliff’s absence, Heathcliff asks Nelly to make Heathcliff decent and admits envy of Edgar Linton’s appearance, wealth, and manners.
Nelly washes and encourages Heathcliff, but the Lintons arrive with the Earnshaws from church before Heathcliff can rejoin Catherine. Hindley, determined to keep Heathcliff away from Edgar and Isabella, orders Joseph to confine Heathcliff. When Edgar innocently mocks Heathcliff’s long hair, Heathcliff throws hot apple sauce in Edgar’s face, and Hindley drags Heathcliff away to punish and lock up Heathcliff.
Catherine is distressed by Heathcliff’s punishment, though Nelly first mistakes Catherine’s self-control at dinner for indifference. During the evening music and dancing, Catherine slips away to the garret where Heathcliff is confined, reaches Heathcliff through the skylights, and persuades Nelly to let Heathcliff come down to the kitchen. Weak from fasting and punishment, Heathcliff eats little and tells Nelly that Heathcliff is thinking only of how to repay Hindley someday.
In the frame narrative, Nelly notices Lockwood is still awake and interested despite the late hour. Lockwood urges Nelly not to skip ahead, reflecting that life at the Heights seems intense and inward compared with town life. Nelly agrees to continue more gradually, moving next to the summer of 1778 rather than leaping over three years.
Who Appears
- HeathcliffNeglected boy humiliated by Catherine’s refinement, punished by Hindley, and begins planning revenge.
- Catherine EarnshawReturns polished from the Lintons, wounds Heathcliff unintentionally, then secretly comforts him.
- Nelly DeanNarrator and servant who tries to help Heathcliff reconcile with Catherine.
- Hindley EarnshawMaster of Wuthering Heights who excludes, humiliates, and punishes Heathcliff.
- Edgar LintonVisiting Linton child whose remark about Heathcliff’s hair triggers Heathcliff’s violent outburst.
- Frances EarnshawHindley’s wife, pleased by Catherine’s refinement and wary of Catherine growing wild again.
- Isabella LintonEdgar’s sister and holiday guest, frightened by the disturbance at Wuthering Heights.
- JosephServant whose religious severity contrasts with the Christmas music and household festivities.
- LockwoodFrame narrator who urges Nelly to continue her story in detail.