Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë & Emily Brontë
Contents
Wuthering Heights — CHAPTER XI
Overview
Nelly impulsively visits Wuthering Heights, finds Hareton foul-mouthed and neglected, and hastens to guard Isabella at the Grange. Heathcliff brazenly embraces Isabella, provoking a confrontation. Edgar bans Heathcliff after a brief fight. Catherine flies into a manipulative frenzy, retreats to her room, and refuses food, straining all relationships.
Summary
Nelly, troubled by thoughts of Wuthering Heights, detours there and meets Hareton at the gate. He curses her, revealing Heathcliff’s influence and Hindley’s neglect. Startled by Heathcliff appearing, Nelly flees, resolving to protect the Grange from his corruption, especially regarding Isabella.
Soon after, at Thrushcross Grange, Nelly witnesses Heathcliff surreptitiously embracing Isabella. Catherine confronts Heathcliff about disobeying her warning to leave Isabella alone; Heathcliff accuses Catherine of treating him "infernally" and hints at revenge through others rather than Catherine directly.
Nelly informs Edgar. Edgar confronts Catherine and Heathcliff in the kitchen, declares Heathcliff’s presence intolerable, and orders him out. Catherine locks the door to force a fair fight, taunts Edgar’s courage, and enrages both men. Edgar strikes Heathcliff once and withdraws to summon servants; Heathcliff smashes the inner lock and escapes before they enter.
Shaken, Catherine rushes upstairs with Nelly and vows to frighten Edgar by feigning serious illness if he persists. When Edgar later demands she choose between him and Heathcliff, Catherine explodes into a violent fit, then bolts to her room and refuses food or company.
Meanwhile, Edgar tries, and fails, to dissuade Isabella from encouraging Heathcliff, warning that any encouragement will sever their sibling bond. The household remains divided: Catherine isolated, Edgar resolute against Heathcliff, and Isabella evasively enthralled.
Who Appears
- Nelly (Ellen) DeanNarrator; visits the Heights, discovers Hareton’s degradation, witnesses Heathcliff courting Isabella, informs Edgar, and observes Catherine’s ensuing crisis.
- HeathcliffCorrupts Hareton, brazenly embraces Isabella, quarrels with Catherine, defies Edgar, is struck once, then escapes before servants arrive.
- Catherine Linton (née Earnshaw)Tries to manage Heathcliff and Isabella, taunts Edgar, triggers confrontation, then stages a frenzy and self-isolates, refusing food.
- Edgar LintonConfronts Heathcliff, bans him from the Grange, lands a single blow, demands Catherine choose, and warns Isabella against Heathcliff.
- Isabella LintonInfatuated with Heathcliff; receives his embrace, evades Edgar’s warnings, heightening family tensions.
- Hareton EarnshawFound at the Heights gate; curses Nelly and reveals Heathcliff’s influence and Hindley’s neglect.