The Self-destructive Relationship in Wuthering Heights Essay

On the face of it, it would seem that the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff is self-destructive to an extreme. Due to the lovers’ precarious circumstances, passionate personalities and class divisions, it seems that fate transpires to keep them apart and therefore the hopelessness of their situation drives them to self destruction. However, although the relationship is undeniably self-destructive, there are elements within it that suggest the pain Heathcliff and Catherine put each other through is atoned for to an extent when they share their brief moments of harmony. Catherine is trapped between her love of Heathcliff and her love for Edgar, setting the two men down a path of destruction, a whirlwind of anger and resentment†¦show more content†¦The metaphor of â€Å"eternal rocks† is used to describe Heathcliff, never changing and powerful, whereas her loved for Edgar is â€Å"like the foliage in the wood.† This metaphor suggests that the fo liage could change, like her feelings, but the tree’s soar high, like his social class- he is after all, â€Å"handsome† and â€Å"rich.† Competing for Catherine’s love brings the two men into conflict, making Catherine feel desperately guilty and torn between the two. She tries to reconcile the two men, but when this is clearly impossible, she vows to â€Å"break their hearts by breaking her own.† Her vow is carried out, and as the â€Å"violent, unequal throbbing of her heart† stops she has truly completed the most horrific of self-destructions. Because Heathcliff and Cathy cannot be together, yet desire it so strongly, it seems inevitable they will blame the other, and push away from each other, while simultaneously being drawn together, wrenching their hearts impossibly painfully. Heathcliff says to Catherine â€Å"You loved me--then what right had you to leave me? What right--answer me--for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? Because misery, and degradation and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it.† The power of the betrayal Heathcliff feels is represented in this quote, portraying his pain very successfully. 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