General Post 1

The most beautiful part of this entire novel to me is the ending love, between young Catherine and Hareton. Though Catherine was trapped by Heathcliff, it ended up being a positive experienc. If not for this she would have never met Hareton and never fallen in love with him. This in a way is foreshadowed by how older Catherine and Heathcliff became lovers, because if not for Catherine's father bringing home stranded Heathcliff they would have never met. To me these things seem to by fate, like the butterfly effect, without a small event happening (A person being trapped or even taken in by another.) These great, well-known loves could have never happened.

General Post 2

A major theme in this novel is the destructiveness of a love that never changes. This is an extremely sad idea, because though deep down and maybe only unconsciously, the reader is hoping that somehow Heathcliff's and Catherine's love will find each other. This love destroys everything in its path; friendships, trusts, lives in general. The destined lovers never seem to have the right timing nor the right company of those around them. Everything and everyone, except for Nelly, seem to be against even the thought of Catherine and Heathcliff being together. If I had any ability to change this story I would make it a happy ending with Catherine and Heathcliff having no obstacles in their way, or at least they would overcome them before death.

General Post 3

That, however, which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination, is actually the least, for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped on the flags! In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day, I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!

 This quote to me is tragic. Placing myself in Heathcliff's position, I would go crazy (figuratively). This reminds me of that on person you are IN LOVE with. The "in love" feeling that when you are in the same room, it's as if you were both attracted to each other, like magnets, you could not fight it, no matter if you wanted it or not. The type of "in love" that you could tell that person anything. Then as if in an instant, that person was taken away from you and you had no control to stop it. Like a break up that you wish never happened. Everywhere you turn you see their face, everything you touch reminds you of some moment with them. It's as if the worst part isn't losing them, but losing yourself... This made Heathcliff my favorite character, because anyone can relate to this.

General Post 4

“‘An unfeeling child,’ I thought to myself; ‘how lightly she dismisses her old playmate’s troubles! I could not have imagined her to be so selfish.’ She lifted a mouthful to her lips, then she set it down again: her checks flushed, and the tears gushed over them. She slipped her fork to the floor, and hastily dived under the cloth to conceal her emotion.” (p.74)

The beginning of this quote leads you to believe that Catherine’s feelings for Heathcliff are gone, because she does not do anything to act out or visit him, she just sits and eats while he is in pain from the flogging. But later, as Nelly is watching her a bit longer, she realizes that Catherine starts to cry and slips under the table to hide it. She does not want her brother nor her guests to see her feelings for Heathcliff and say something or worse, flog him again. I really like how at first you think you believe to see a change of character in Catherine, but you realize shortly after that she is still the little girl in love with Heathcliff and she will try to protect him from floggings anyway possible. 

General Post 5

“I asked what was the matter? answered, she didn’t know; but she felt so afraid of dying!” (p.56)
This quote made me think to myself, how afraid of dying am I? How afraid is everyone else? If I was in this little girl’s position, I would be just as terrified, if not more. The loss of one parent (her mother) is bad, but the loss of two at a very young age, that is tragic. I do not know how I would get on with life, how I would function without my mother to wake me every morning, or my father not be able to take me to school. In the setting of the story it would seem worse because you basically completely rely on your parents until you are married. A few questions I ask myself up to this point are; How will Catherine’s character change? How will the entire story change? What will Heathcliff do without his ‘protector’ from Hindley?