Meticulous Study & Analysis of Chapters 2-6 of Wuthering Heights – SS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Chapters 2 to 6 of Wuthering Heights cover Lockwood’s second visit to the Heights and his strange night there, then Ellen Dean’s account of Heathcliff’s childhood, Mr Earnshaw’s death, Hindley’s cruelty and the dog bite at the Grange.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe what happens to Lockwood during his second visit to Wuthering Heights (chapter two);
2. explain what Lockwood reads and dreams in the chamber, and how Heathcliff reacts (chapter three);
3. say how Heathcliff came into the Earnshaw family and why Hindley resented him (chapters four and five);
4. describe how Mr Earnshaw’s death changes life for Heathcliff and Cathy (chapters five and six);
5. explain what happens at the Grange and how Hindley responds (chapter six).

Who are the main characters in chapters 2 to 6?

The main characters are Lockwood, Ellen Dean, the Earnshaw family, Heathcliff and the Linton children.

Chapter two: what happens during Lockwood’s second visit?

In chapter two, Lockwood walks through snow to Wuthering Heights and is treated rudely by everyone in the house.

1. Lockwood is annoyed by the housework going on at the Grange and sets out for the Heights.
2. Snow is falling and the weather is cold.
3. He shouts for Joseph to open the door. A young man (Hareton) finally lets him in.
4. The kitchen is warm. Lockwood meets a young, beautiful woman and thinks she is Heathcliff’s wife.
5. She scornfully refuses to talk with him.
6. She also refuses to make tea for him unless Heathcliff says so.
7. The young man suspects Lockwood of making advances to the girl.
8. Heathcliff demands tea savagely, and Lockwood dislikes him.
9. Lockwood guesses wrongly that the young man is Heathcliff’s son. He is rudely corrected.
10. The young woman is Heathcliff’s daughter-in-law. Her husband is dead, and the young man is Hareton Earnshaw.
11. Because of the heavy snow, Lockwood asks for a guide. Heathcliff refuses and says Hareton must look after the horses.
12. Joseph argues with the girl, who pretends to be a witch. Lockwood is left stranded and ignored.
13. Lockwood tries to take a lantern. Joseph accuses him of stealing it and sets dogs on him.
14. Heathcliff and Hareton laugh at him. Zillah, a servant, offers him a place to spend the night.

Chapter three: what does Lockwood read and dream in the chamber?

In chapter three, Lockwood reads Catherine’s old diary in a closed-up chamber and has two frightening dreams.

What does Lockwood find in the chamber?

• Names on the window edge: Catherine Linton and Catherine Heathcliff are written there.
• Old books: they are packed in the room, and Lockwood reads the notes in them.
• Catherine’s childhood diary: it describes Catherine and Heathcliff as playmates living like brother and sister.
• Bullying: the diary shows how Joseph and Hindley bullied the two children.
• Heathcliff’s history: he was a vagabond (wanderer) rescued by Catherine’s father and raised as one of the family.
• After the father’s death: Hindley made Heathcliff a servant and threatened to send him away. Catherine never liked this.

What does Lockwood dream?

• First dream: he falls asleep over a religious book and dreams of a religious fanatic leading a violent mob.
• Second dream: a little ice-cold hand grabs his arm and begs to be let in.
• The voice: it says she is Catherine Linton and has come home because she lost her way on the moor.
• The injury: Lockwood sees a child’s face and is afraid. He tries to draw her in through the window and her wrist is wounded. Blood stains the sheet.

How does Heathcliff react?

• On entering: he comes in looking disturbed and confused, not knowing Lockwood is there.
• On hearing the name: the name Catherine worries and angers him.
• His plea: Lockwood overhears him begging Cathy to come in at last. Lockwood is embarrassed by his agony.
• Next morning: Lockwood sees Heathcliff argue with the girl who is reading. She resists his bullying before she sees Lockwood off.

Chapter four: how did Heathcliff come into the Earnshaw family?

In chapter four, Ellen Dean tells Lockwood that Mr Earnshaw brought Heathcliff home as a starving child and that Hindley was jealous of him.

Why does Lockwood ask Ellen to tell the story?

• Lockwood’s state: he is bored and weak after his adventure.
• His request: he asks Ellen to tell him about Heathcliff and the old families of the area.
• Heathcliff today: Ellen says he is rich and stingy, and has had no family since his son died.
• The girl at the Heights: she is the daughter of Ellen’s former mistress, Catherine Linton. Ellen is fond of her and worries about her unhappiness.
• Ellen’s background: she grew up at Wuthering Heights, where her mother worked as a nurse.

How did Heathcliff arrive?

1. Mr Earnshaw returns with a dirty-haired child found starving on the street.
2. The boy is named Heathcliff and adopted into the family.
3. Mrs Earnshaw and Hindley do not fully welcome him.
4. Catherine and Heathcliff become very friendly, and he becomes Mr Earnshaw’s favourite.
5. Hindley is jealous, thinking Heathcliff has taken his place.
6. Hindley ill-treats him, and Heathcliff threatens to report him to Mr Earnshaw.

Chapter five: what happens when Mr Earnshaw becomes old and dies?

In chapter five, the sick Mr Earnshaw favours Heathcliff more, Hindley is sent away and Mr Earnshaw dies.

• Earnshaw’s fear: as he grows old and sick, he is troubled that people do not like Heathcliff, his favourite.
• Hindley: he grows more bitter and is sent away to college. Earnshaw thinks him useless.
• Joseph: the self-righteous old servant uses his religious influence to turn Earnshaw against his children.
• Cathy: Earnshaw dislikes her playfulness and high spirits. He is harsh with her, and she becomes more hardened to his reproofs.
• Heathcliff and Cathy: she likes to order people around, and he will do anything she asks.
• The death: Earnshaw dies one evening. Cathy finds out when she goes to kiss him good night.
• Cathy’s words: “I shall bid father good-night first,” said Catherine. She then screams, “Oh, he’s dead, Heathcliff, he’s dead!” [p. 30]
• Comfort: the two children cry, then console themselves by believing the old man is in heaven.

Chapter six: how does Hindley treat Heathcliff, and what happens at the Grange?

In chapter six, Hindley returns as master and degrades Heathcliff, and a dog bite at Thrushcross Grange separates Heathcliff from Cathy.

How does Hindley treat Heathcliff?

• His return: he comes home for his father’s funeral and unexpectedly brings a wife.
• New rules: he brings strange manners and orders the servants to live in inferior quarters.
• Heathcliff’s treatment: he treats Heathcliff like the other servants and stops his education.
• Farm work: he makes Heathcliff work in the field like any farm boy.
• Cathy’s help: at first Heathcliff does not feel it much, because Cathy teaches him what she learns and plays with him in the field.

What happens at the Grange?

1. Heathcliff and Cathy run off to the moors after being punished, then go to Thrushcross Grange (the Lintons’ house).
2. They find Edgar and Isabella Linton crying over who will hold a pet dog.
3. Heathcliff and Cathy are amused, and the Linton children go to call their parents.
4. Cathy and Heathcliff make frightening noises and try to escape.
5. A bulldog bites Cathy and holds her still.
6. She tells Heathcliff to escape, but he comes to her rescue and tries to open the dog’s jaws.
7. Mr and Mrs Linton take them for thieves.
8. Edgar recognises Cathy as Miss Earnshaw.
9. The Lintons frown at their wild behaviour, especially at Heathcliff for keeping company with Cathy.
10. They treat Cathy with care and drive Heathcliff out.
11. Heathcliff returns to the Heights after making sure Cathy is in safe hands.

How does Hindley respond?

• Separation: Hindley accepts the idea of separating Cathy from Heathcliff.
• Cathy: she stays a long time with the Lintons while her bite heals.
• Heathcliff: he is banned from speaking to her.

Evaluation

1. Why is Lockwood confused about the young woman in the kitchen in chapter two, and who is she?
2. What does Lockwood find in the chamber, and what happens in his second dream in chapter three?
3. How did Heathcliff come to live at Wuthering Heights, according to Ellen Dean?
4. How does Hindley treat Heathcliff after he returns for his father’s funeral?
5. What happens to Cathy at the Grange, and what does Hindley decide afterwards?

Assignment

In one page, describe how the relationship between Heathcliff and Hindley changes from chapter four to chapter six.