WUTHERING HEIGHTS ( CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR)

Heathcliff withdraws from the world and eats just one meal a day.  A few nights later he spends the entire night walking outside. When he returns to Wuthering Heights. Cathy remarks he is actually acting pleasantly . Heathcliff refuse all food and demands he be left entirely alone . The next morning Heathclliff scares Nelly when he seems to see an ghost . She can see nothing but it seems to her Heathcliff is communicating with it. That night Heathcliff again seems to be speaking with a ghost – Nelly hears him say “Catherine.” When Nelly speaks with Heathcliff, he reminds her of his burial wishes.

Heathcliff tells Nelly to summon the lawyer, Mr. Green. It's time to write his will and decide how to leave his property. He reminds Nelly that he made a deal with the sexton to be buried next to Catherine. Having forced her way into his room, Nelly finds Heathcliff dead, rain pouring down on him from the open window. His eyes are wide open and he has a grimace on his face, his teeth sneering. Nelly cannot close his eyes. They bury him next to Catherine. Cathy and Hareton return from their walk, and Lockwood leaves. As he walks home, he passes the three headstones – those of Edgar, Catherine, and Heathcliff

Analysis;

Heathcliff’ fast is extremely similar to Catherine’s in chapter 11. Heathcliffs refusal to eat is identical to Catherine. As he actions mirror Catherine’s he begins to see her and speak with her. He is being haunted by her just as he always wished. In his final act Heathcliff opens the window to connect with nature and with Catherine. Lockwood now see nature as quiet since nothing now stands in the way of Heathcliff or Catherine, who were themselves forces of nature in their incredible and all consuming love for each other from being together.

QOC :

“Last night I was on the threshold of hell. To-day, I am within sight of my heaven. I have  my eyes on it: hardly three feet to sever me”

Heathcliff finally achieves his goal, and his utopia. Heathcliff’s death allows him to be with Catherine and also allows Cathy to be with Hareton. The fact that joy brings Heathcliff so much death adds to the gothic quality of the novel. And although many would argue Heathcliff is going hell for what he has done , even if he does as long as his with Catherine its going to be his heaven