Meticulous Study & Analysis of Chapters 7-13 of Wuthering Heights SS2 Literature-in-English Lesson Note

Chapter Seven

Cathy stays at Thrushcross Grange for five weeks until Christmas. By the time she returns home, she has become a transformed lady trained to keep certain restrictions. As of now, he can hardly kiss Ellen without worrying whether she will stain her clothes with flour.

To Heathcliff, she hurts his feelings by comparing his darkness and dirtiness to Edgar’s and Isabella’s fair complexions and clean clothes. In her absence, he has been over-neglected. Cathy’s new polished lifestyle and cruel treatment of Hindley hurt him the more. Still, Cathy’s love for Heathcliff has not changed but Heathcliff does not know, rather, he runs out and refuses to come to the iftar supper. Sorry for the way he is treated.

When Linton’s children are invited to a Christmas party, Heathcliff politely begs Ellen to make him decent, promising that he is going to be good. Ellen accepts his promise and also reassures him that Cathy still loves him. Heathcliff wishes he could be more like Edgar both in good looking, rich and good manners. Ellen tells him that he can be handsome if he smiles and is trustworthy. As Heathcliff becomes clean and cheerful, he comes to join the party but Hindley sends him out declaring that he is not fit for the occasion. Edgar mocks his long hair which makes Heathcliff throw hot apple sauce on him. Because of this, he is taken away and flogged by Hindley. Cathy is angry at Edgar for mocking Heathcliff and getting him into trouble, but she holds herself to avoid ruining her party. Cathy was not herself throughout the party. She thinks of how Heathcliff is beaten and left alone. When her guests leave, she sneaks into the garret (unfinished room) where Heathcliff is confined. Out of compassion, Ellen offers Heathcliff night food remembering that he has not eaten all day. He eats little and Ellen, being worried, asks him why, he says that he is thinking of how to get revenge against Hindley. Ellen stops her narratives at this point and goes on to get things done.

Chapter Eight

Hindley’s wife, Francis, delivers a baby Hareton. Believing that she will recover despite the doctor’s warning, she dies after some weeks. Hindley being shattered in his hope grows in sorrow and desperation to the extent that he curses both God and man. Ellen is happy to care for the baby. The entire household degenerates into violent confusion. Notable people begin to shun their visit except Edgar who visits Wuthering Heights because of Cathy. She dislikes Edgar coming to their house because Edgar’s presence used to make her think that she has to behave like Linton which she is not comfortable with,

Once upon a time in the absence of Hindley, Heathcliff was offended to see Cathy dressing for Edgar’s visit. He asked Cathy to shun the visit and come to stay with him but she refused. When he comes, Heathcliff departs, leaving Ellen with them. Inside the house, Catherine shows her bad character by secretly pinching Ellen. Ellen is happy to use the chance to show Edgar how Catherine behaves, Catherine out of anger slaps Ellen and also slaps Edgar for reproving her. For this, Edgar decides to go but Catherine stops him. Being too weak, he is overcome by Catherine’s strong will and the two of them reconcile and become lovers. Later, Hindley returns home drunk and unloads his gun out of precaution.

Chapter Nine

Hindley, fully drunk, shouting and swearing in anger catches Ellen as she tries to hide Hareton in a cupboard for safety. He takes up Hareton and says he will crop his ears like a dog to make him look fearful. As he holds the baby over the bannister (handrail), he suddenly hears Heathcliff walking downstairs. He drops the baby yet Heathcliff catches him. Heathcliff even wishes that Hindley kills his son by mistake because he hates him. Ellen confirms this by saying that Heathcliff could have remedied the mistake by smashing the baby’s skull on the step if it is dark as revenge. While Hindley is shaking and drinking, Heathcliff whispers to Nelly that he wishes Hindley drink himself to death.

Chapter-ten

Catherine is living well with her husband and Isabella. She has her season of silence and groom which Edgar attributes to her illness. Within one year of her marriage, Heathcliff comes back asking Nelly to inform Catherine of his visit. He looks changed with good manners and educated speech. Catherine is happy to meet him but Edgar refuses to be happy.

Heathcliff’s frequent visit to Linton’s family causes Edgar’s sister (Isabella) to fall in love with him due to the dislike of her brother. Isabella becomes offended at

Catherine for keeping Heathcliff for herself but she shuns her that Heathcliff is not her match. Catherine teases Isabella by telling Heathcliff that Isabella loves him. On hearing this, Isabella shyly runs out. But Heathcliff confides in Catherine that he will marry Isabella because of her money and to make Edgar unhappy.

Chapter Eleven

Nelly goes to Wuthering Heights to see how Hindley and his son Hareton are faring. When she sees Hareton, he begins to throw stones at her not knowing that she is his former nurse. Nelly realizes that his father teaches him how to curse. When Heathcliff visits Thrushcross Grange, Nelly sees him kissing Isabella. She told Catherine what she saw and Heathcliff defended himself by saying that he has a right to do whatever he wants since Catherine has married another person.

As Edgar comes in, he meets Catherine scolding Heathcliff. Edgar also scolds Catherine for having time to talk with “that blackguard” His comment makes Catherine feel angry before Edgar orders Heathcliff to leave but he stubbornly ignores him. Then, Edgar asks Nelly to call the servants to send Heathcliff out, but his wife angrily locks the door and throws the key into the fire. When the husband tries to collect it from her, both Catherine and Heathcliff mock Edgar before he beats Heathcliff and goes out to get help. While left alone with Nelly, Catherine expresses her anger at her husband and Heathcliff. Later, Edgar comes inside and wants to know whether Catherine will quit her friendship with Heathcliff. Instead, Catherine runs into her room and refuses to either come out or eat for many days.

 Chapter Twelve

Catherine, having stayed alone for three days in her room, requested food and water from Nelly. She is annoyed that Edgar is not even worried about her. Given the situation, Ellen concludes that Catherine is not happy and she thinks of going back to her room at Wuthering Heights. Catherine opens the window and begins to talk to Heathcliff who has left in their childish manner before as if he is there to the surprise of the husband who goes out to bring a doctor for her. Again, Doctor Kenneth informs Ellen that he sees Isabella walking with Heathcliff in the park confirming the rumour that Isabella and Heathcliff are planning to run away together. Ellen rushes back to the house and finds that Isabella has disappeared with Heathcliff. Edgar shows no concern for this.

Chapter Thirteen

After two months, Catherine is diagnosed with a brain fever while being« pregnant. By this time, Heathcliff and Isabella have returned to Wuthering Heights. She sends an apology letter to her brother asking for forgiveness but Edgar refuses to reply to her. Again with her experiences with Heathcliff, she sends another letter to Ellen asking whether Heathcliff is a demon or a madman. In Wuthering Heights, she sees the places e very dirty, uncivilized and unwelcoming. According to Isabella, Joseph is rude to her, Hareton is disobedient, Hindley is a semi-shattered madman and at worst, Heathcliff treats her cruelly to the extent that he refuses to allow her to sleep in his room. Again, she discovers that Hindley has a pistol with which he plans to kill Heathcliff. In a nutshell, she feels miserable and regrets her marriage.