Chapter Six
SparkNotes summary: Hindley and his new wife, a simpering, silly
woman named Frances, return to Wuthering Heights in time for Mr.
Earnshaw’s funeral. Hindley immediately begins to take his revenge on
Heathcliff, declaring that Heathcliff no longer will be allowed an education
and instead will spend his days working in the fields like a common
labourer. But, for the most part, Catherine and Heathcliff are able to
escape Hindley’s notice, and when Heathcliff is free from his
responsibilities they go off onto the moors together to play.
One evening, when Heathcliff and Catherine disappear, Hindley orders
that the doors be bolted and that the children not be allowed into the
house. Despite his charge, Nelly waits for them, and receives a shock
when Heathcliff returns alone. He tells her that he and Catherine made
the trip to Thrushcross Grange to spy on and tease Edgar and Isabella
Linton, Mr. Linton’s children. Before they could succeed in their mission,
Skulker, the Lintons’ guard dog, took them by surprise and chased them,
biting Catherine’s ankle. Unable to return home, Catherine was taken
inside Thrushcross Grange by a servant. However, the Lintons, repelled by
Heathcliff’s rough appearance, forbade her playmate to stay with her. The
following day, Mr. Linton pays a visit to Wuthering Heights to explain
matters to Hindley and upbraids the young man for his mismanagement
of Catherine. After Mr. Linton leaves, the humiliated Hindley furiously tells
Heathcliff that he may have no further contact with Catherine.
Key events:
Hindley becomes master of Wuthering Heights with his wife,
Frances
Heathcliff is denied an education and treated like a servant,
with Hindley being violent
Catherine Senior and Heathcliff spy on Thrushcross Grange
but she gets injured and must stay, causing Heathcliff to
seem protective
Key themes/ideas:
Power- Hindley as new master
Heaven vs Hell- Wuthering Heights vs Thrushcross Grange
Relationships- Heathcliff and Catherine. After being treated
cruelly; “they forgot everything the minute they were
together again”
Heathcliff:
, When spying on Thrushcross Grange he was appalled by
“the petted things” “When would you catch me wishing to
have what Catherine wanted?” This foreshadows how
Catherine will stay with these spoilt children
Heathcliff wishes to stay at Wuthering Heights- “I’d not
exchange, for a thousand lives, my condition here” as he
has desires of “painting the house-front with Hindley’s
blood” It is in this scene that he speaks more than he has in
the past
Is perceived in a contrasting way to Catherine, the Lintons
refer to him as “an out-and-outer” “foul-mouthed thief” “a
wicked boy” “that strange acquisition” whereas Catherine
is “a little girl” The difference may be due to class or
gender- “she was a young lady, and they made a distinction
between her treatment and mine”
His future cruelty and violence is foreshadowed- “hang him
at once, before he shows his nature in acts as well as
features
He is protective over Catherine- “if Catherine had wished to
return, I intended shattering their great glass panes to a
million fragments, unless they let her out”
Appears obsessed with her- “she is so immeasurably
superior to them- to everybody on earth” “You are
incurable, Heathcliff”
The worse punishment that he can receive is not a violent
one, but that he cannot speak to Catherine- “Heathcliff
received no flogging, but he was told that the first word he
spoke to Miss Catherine should ensure a dismissal”
Catherine:
She would attempt to help Heathcliff against Hindley’s
cruelty- “Cathy taught him what she learnt, and worked or
played with him in the fields”
She is attacked by a dog, so must stay at Thrushcross
Grange to be cared for
She shows transgressive behaviour when she tries to help
Heathcliff, as a young girl should respect authority. Her
transgressive behaviour can also be seen through how she
“promised fair to grow up as rude as savages”
Hindley:
SparkNotes summary: Hindley and his new wife, a simpering, silly
woman named Frances, return to Wuthering Heights in time for Mr.
Earnshaw’s funeral. Hindley immediately begins to take his revenge on
Heathcliff, declaring that Heathcliff no longer will be allowed an education
and instead will spend his days working in the fields like a common
labourer. But, for the most part, Catherine and Heathcliff are able to
escape Hindley’s notice, and when Heathcliff is free from his
responsibilities they go off onto the moors together to play.
One evening, when Heathcliff and Catherine disappear, Hindley orders
that the doors be bolted and that the children not be allowed into the
house. Despite his charge, Nelly waits for them, and receives a shock
when Heathcliff returns alone. He tells her that he and Catherine made
the trip to Thrushcross Grange to spy on and tease Edgar and Isabella
Linton, Mr. Linton’s children. Before they could succeed in their mission,
Skulker, the Lintons’ guard dog, took them by surprise and chased them,
biting Catherine’s ankle. Unable to return home, Catherine was taken
inside Thrushcross Grange by a servant. However, the Lintons, repelled by
Heathcliff’s rough appearance, forbade her playmate to stay with her. The
following day, Mr. Linton pays a visit to Wuthering Heights to explain
matters to Hindley and upbraids the young man for his mismanagement
of Catherine. After Mr. Linton leaves, the humiliated Hindley furiously tells
Heathcliff that he may have no further contact with Catherine.
Key events:
Hindley becomes master of Wuthering Heights with his wife,
Frances
Heathcliff is denied an education and treated like a servant,
with Hindley being violent
Catherine Senior and Heathcliff spy on Thrushcross Grange
but she gets injured and must stay, causing Heathcliff to
seem protective
Key themes/ideas:
Power- Hindley as new master
Heaven vs Hell- Wuthering Heights vs Thrushcross Grange
Relationships- Heathcliff and Catherine. After being treated
cruelly; “they forgot everything the minute they were
together again”
Heathcliff:
, When spying on Thrushcross Grange he was appalled by
“the petted things” “When would you catch me wishing to
have what Catherine wanted?” This foreshadows how
Catherine will stay with these spoilt children
Heathcliff wishes to stay at Wuthering Heights- “I’d not
exchange, for a thousand lives, my condition here” as he
has desires of “painting the house-front with Hindley’s
blood” It is in this scene that he speaks more than he has in
the past
Is perceived in a contrasting way to Catherine, the Lintons
refer to him as “an out-and-outer” “foul-mouthed thief” “a
wicked boy” “that strange acquisition” whereas Catherine
is “a little girl” The difference may be due to class or
gender- “she was a young lady, and they made a distinction
between her treatment and mine”
His future cruelty and violence is foreshadowed- “hang him
at once, before he shows his nature in acts as well as
features
He is protective over Catherine- “if Catherine had wished to
return, I intended shattering their great glass panes to a
million fragments, unless they let her out”
Appears obsessed with her- “she is so immeasurably
superior to them- to everybody on earth” “You are
incurable, Heathcliff”
The worse punishment that he can receive is not a violent
one, but that he cannot speak to Catherine- “Heathcliff
received no flogging, but he was told that the first word he
spoke to Miss Catherine should ensure a dismissal”
Catherine:
She would attempt to help Heathcliff against Hindley’s
cruelty- “Cathy taught him what she learnt, and worked or
played with him in the fields”
She is attacked by a dog, so must stay at Thrushcross
Grange to be cared for
She shows transgressive behaviour when she tries to help
Heathcliff, as a young girl should respect authority. Her
transgressive behaviour can also be seen through how she
“promised fair to grow up as rude as savages”
Hindley:
