Hareton Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights

Hareton Earnshaw is a significant character in Emily Brontë‘s classic novel Wuthering Heights, first published in 1847. While Hareton holds an important place within the framework of the story as the last remaining descendant of the Earnshaw family, his beginnings are humble and his upbringing harsh.

The narrative of Wuthering Heights primarily focuses on the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, with Hareton’s story being intertwined with theirs. Born into a legacy of turmoil, Hareton’s development is influenced by Heathcliff, an enigmatic figure whose actions dictate much of the novel’s direction. Despite the challenges Hareton faces, including neglect and mistreatment, he retains an underlying nobility and strength of character. Hareton’s connection to the land and the Earnshaw family name underscores the themes of inheritance and the cyclical nature of social standing and personal growth.

Throughout the novel, Hareton Earnshaw exhibits a remarkable ability to endure and adapt, which becomes especially evident in his interactions with other characters, including Catherine Linton. His evolution from an uneducated and unruly young man to a character capable of great loyalty and affection is a testament to Brontë’s exploration of human resilience and the transformative power of personal connections.

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1. Hareton Earnshaw Character Analysis

Hareton Earnshaw’s development from a deprived child to a compassionate adult parallels thematic elements of social hierarchy and personal growth in the novel.

From Neglect to Compassion

Initially, Hareton is depicted as an uneducated and neglected child, reminiscent of Heathcliff’s beginnings. Hindley Earnshaw subjects him to abuse and neglect, causing him to grow up illiterate and unrefined. However, throughout the novel, Hareton undergoes a dramatic transformation as he embraces the opportunity to learn, with Catherine Linton’s encouragement and his determination playing crucial roles in his education. This change is not merely academic but also one of character, as he becomes more compassionate and gentlemanly — a striking contrast to the cruelty he once knew.

• Traits before change:
  • Illiterate
  • Neglected
  • Abused
• Traits after change:
  • Educated
  • Compassionate
  • Gentlemanly

Relationships and Interpersonal Dynamics

His interactions with other characters are pivotal to his development. Hindley’s treatment of Hareton mirrors Heathcliff’s childhood struggles, fostering a bond between them, although it is strained by Heathcliff’s quest for revenge. Hareton’s relationship with Cathy (Catherine Linton) is foundational to his transformation; she influences his pursuit of education and stokes his innate capacity for love. Despite beginning with mutual animosity born of misunderstanding, Hareton and Cathy’s bond deepens, eventually turning into a romance that redeems their familial legacy.

• Key relationships:
  • Hareton and Hindley: Bond over shared mistreatment
  • Hareton and Heathcliff: Complex, with shades of paternal bond and rivalry
  • Hareton and Cathy: Evolution from hostility to deep affection

Symbolism and Literary Significance

Hareton symbolizes the possibility of change in a rigid society. His shift from an illiterate and abused individual to a compassionate gentleman signifies the victory of personal development over societal constraints. He reflects on Heathcliff’s story but with a different outcome, suggesting that the cycles of abuse and degradation can be broken.

Additionally, Hareton’s character serves as a foil to Heathcliff, highlighting the different paths their lives take despite their similar beginnings. Hareton’s eventual happiness and redemption contrast with Heathcliff’s tragic end, underscoring the novel’s themes of the cyclical nature of violence and the possibility of breaking free from it. The character of Hareton challenges the notion of fixed social status and underscores the power of education in altering one’s destiny within society.

• Symbols and significance:
  • The struggle for education: Overcoming social and familial obstacles
  • The rise to gentlemanly status: Personal growth triumphing over societal limits
  • The mirrored journey with Heathcliff: Shared beginnings but divergent paths

2. Hareton Earnshaw’s Role in the Conclusion

Hareton Earnshaw emerges as a pivotal character in the resolution of Wuthering Heights, embodying transformation and influencing the fates of others.

Transformation and Redemption

Initially depicted as rough and uneducated, Hareton is the quintessential “diamond in the rough.” Throughout the novel’s conclusion, he undergoes a significant change. Once unable to read or write, he begins his journey towards education, significantly influenced by Cathy’s encouragement and support. This is not a mere scholarly pursuit but also a personal redemption, as he transitions from being a servant of his ignorance to a noble and gentleman-like figure. His transformation is marked by his increasing kindness and gentleness, demonstrating a stark contrast to his former brute persona.

Impact on Other Characters and the Ending

Hareton’s evolution deeply affects Cathy Linton. Her initial contempt for him shifts as Hareton’s kind nature and efforts to self-improve become evident. This fosters a love that culminates in their marriage, symbolizing a happy ending and the healing of old wounds. Their union represents the novel’s theme of cyclical redemption, with Hareton’s ability to change and love serving as critical elements in transforming the story’s trajectory towards a hopeful closure.

Cyclical Redemption and New Beginnings

The relationship between Hareton and Cathy serves as a counterpoint to the destructive relationships and missed opportunities for redemption experienced by the previous generation, particularly between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Their union not only symbolizes a happy ending but also represents the breaking of the cycle of revenge and suffering that has plagued the Earnshaw and Linton families. It is a testament to the power of forgiveness, love, and the possibility of a new beginning, underscoring the novel’s overarching theme of cyclical redemption.