Continuing Some Thoughtsso Many Use Catherines Obvious Ignorance Of Marriage And Sex In Her Conversation

Continuing some thoughts…so many use Catherine’s obvious ignorance of marriage and sex in her conversation to Nelly about Edgar’s proposal to say her relationship with Heathcliff is platonic. But this ignores that she’s a 15 year old girl in a time when women were kept in the dark as much as possible about anything that happens between men and women. Nelly herself says she is either “ignorant of the duties you undertake in marrying; or else that you are a wicked, unprincipled girl” - I think based on other knowledge of Catherine it should be assumed that she’s ignorant (which is no fault of her own). On Heathcliff’s part - he obviously already desired her as a wife at 16 which is why he ran away when she said she couldn’t marry him. 

By the time we see Catherine and Heathcliff as adults and more experienced, they still consistently choose each other. As we see throughout the novel he still holds his attachment with Catherine as more important than other potential physical/romantic relationships, such as with Isabella. These feelings may not be as clear on Catherine’s side but this could simply be because Heathcliff is alive through more of the novel so we don’t spend as much time with her. When we do though, it should be noted she was already pregnant by the time Heathcliff returns which I think would increase the unlikelihood of their pursuing anything physical. At this time she is being pushed and pulled by various forces into the Linton family and away from Wuthering Heights, her childhood, and Heathcliff. Still I think its safe to assume that she’s more knowledgeable about marital duties during this time period and she would have been taught that her husband should be her main focus, and yet she consistently treats Heathcliff has his equal, if not his superior.

Just because their relationship is never consummated does not mean it was meant to be seen as platonic. From what we know of Emily Brontë I don’t think she would have written about an actually physical adulterous affair; in part because of her own personal morality and that it probably wouldn’t have gotten published. It also (totally my own conjecture) seems to be deliberate to bolster the element of yearning, unfulfillment, and tension that is constant through the book. All of this to say, no, they are not platonic lol. 

does anyone else just randomly smell book pages? me personally, i like it. it’s almost as magical as the book itself. the thicker the aroma, the more memories it holds - an infinite vessel

*squeals* cathy and heathcliff running around the heights and the moors with an half exasperated half angry nelly chasing after them.

I LOVE PURPLE MI AMOR

Saw this pretty cover ❤️

PURPLE

I LOVE IT SO MUCH. It’s such a beautiful edition!!!! I want iiiiit.

Wuthering Heights illustration – Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw as children, by Lady Edna Clarke Hall (c. 1910-11).