Important Quotations in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Their Meanings

Quote: "Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive o the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather." (Bronte 2).

Speaker: Mr. Lockwood

Explanation: Lockwood defines 'Wuthering,' which suggests that its meaning is key to the story. Though it is not evident this early on, stormy weather comes to play a major role in the character's lives. This begins with Lockwood's forced stay at Wuthering Heights during a blizzard, in which he sees the ghost of Catherine. Heathcliff additionally digs up Catherine's grave in the dead of Winter, witnessing her presence. Stormy weather has a way of bringing people together, which is not necessarily a good thing. Also it can do just the opposite and leave people isolated.

Quote: "But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in address and manners a gentlemen: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose. Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of underbred pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling - to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He'll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of importance to be loved or hated again. No. I'm running on too fast: I bestow my own attributes over liberally on him." (Bronte 3).

Speaker: Mr. Lockwood

Explanation: This quote reveals significant information about Heathcliff. He is a mysterious figure, and his "reserve" is hiding feeling, which Mr. Lockwood knows by instinct. Because Mr. Heathcliff is a gentleman in contrast to his abode and will "love and hate equally under cover," the reader infers that Heathcliff has had a troubled life.

Quote: "She was slender, and apparently scarcely past girlhood: an admirable form, and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding: small features, very fair; flaxen ringlets, or rather golden, hanging loose on her delicate neck; and eyes, had they been agreeable in expression, they would have been irresistible: fortunately for my susceptible heart, the only sentiment they evinced hovered between scorn and a kind of desperation, singularly unnatural to be detected there." (Bronte 8)

Speaker: Mr. Lockwood

Explanation: This quote displays that though pretty, her eyes show an expression of scorn and desperation. Lockwood notes that it is unnatural to have this expression, making the reader question what brought her to this state. Like Heathcliff, she does not seem fit to inhabit Wuthering Heights.

Quote: "The ledge, where I placed my candle, had a few mildewed books piled up in one corner and it was covered with writing scratched on the paint. This writing, however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small - Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton. In vapid listlessness, I leant my head against the window, and continued spelling over Catherine Earnshaw - Heathcliff - Linton, till my eyes closed; but they had not rested five minutes when a glare of white letters started from the dark, as vivid as specters - the air swarmed with Catherines; and rousing myself to dispel the obtrusive name, I discovered my candle wick reclining one of the antique volumes and perfuming the place with an odour of roasted calf-skin. (Bronte 16)

Speaker: Mr. Lockwood

Explanation: The "glare of white letters" shows that ghosts are a recurring theme in Wuthering Heights. The reader does not yet know Catherine, but is introduced only by her name. Just as Lookwood tries to "dispel the obtrusive name," Bronte intends the readers to be haunted by Catherine as well.

Quote: "He got on to the bed, and wrenched open the lattice bursting, as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears. 'Come in! come in! he sobbed. 'Cathy, do come. Oh do - once more! Oh! My heart's darling! Hear me this time, Catherine, at last!' (Bronte 25)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff (narrated by Mr. Lockwood)

Explanation: The reader learns that Heathcliff's love, Catherine Linton, is dead. Heathcliff's superstitious manner reflects the theme of ghosts and haunting. At this point, it is a question why does Heathcliff not sleep in the haunted room if he wants desperately to see Catherine. This question is solved towards the end of the story, when Heathcliff reveals that Catherine is haunting him, and therefore he cannot sleep in that room.

Quote: " 'It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire.'" (Bronte 73)

Speaker: Catherine

Explanation: Heathcliff being "more myself than I am" is a paradox. Because proper love is described as opposite ("moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire"), Catherine feels that she cannot marry Heathcliff. Catherine's love for Heathcliff is to become one with him, not to marry him.

Quote: " 'I seek no revenge on you,' replied Heathcliff less vehemently. 'That's not the plan. The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don't turn against him; they crush those beneath them. You are welcome to torture me to death for your amusement, only allow me to amuse myself a little in the same style, and refrain from insult as much as you are able. Having leveled my palace, don't erect a hovel and complacently admire your own charity in giving me that for a home.'" (Bronte 103)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: Heathcliff explains that revenge travels in a straight line, and does not turn back on itself. Catherine is torturing Heathcliff with their mutual love for each other, and Heathcliff will in turn torment the young Catherine and the young Linton. Catherine and Heathcliff's love for each other never changes, but the people around them progress, pushing them both further into despair.

Quote: " 'You suppose she has nearly forgotten me?' he said. 'Oh, Nelly! You know she has not! You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton, she spends a thousand on me! At a most miserable period of my life, I had a notion of the kind: it haunted me on my return to the neighborhood last summer; but only her own assurance could make me admit the horrible idea again. And then, Linton would be nothing, nor Hindley, nor all the dreams that ever I dreamt. Two words would comprehend my future - death and hell: existence, after losing her, would be hell.'" (Bronte 136)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: Reflecting the theme of haunting, Mr. Heathcliff is already haunted by what he knows will become of him if he loses Catherine. To Heathcliff, Catherine is his soul and they are essentially the same person. With his soul gone, life would be hell.

Quote: " 'You teach me now how cruel you've been - cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and wring out my kisses and tears: they'll blight you - they'll damn you. 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. I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me, that I am strong. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you - oh, God! Would you like to live with your soul in the grave?'" (Bronte 147)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: Heathcliff explains that Catherine only fancied Linton, but she betrayed her own heart by marrying him. With the theme of Heathcliff and Catherine's unity, Catherine has broken her own heart by her own actions, which in turn has broken Heathcliff's heart. This passage also reflects that Heathcliff and Catherine are constrained by social customs of the day. Marriage could only be broken by death, and because Heathcliff is strong, he will have to suffer longer before he can join Catherine in the grave.

Quote: " ' May she wake in torment!' he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. 'Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there - not in heaven - not perished - where? Oh! You said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer - I repeat it till my tongue stiffens - Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living! You said I killed you - haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe - I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul! (Bronte 153)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: In this passage, Mr. Heathcliff's soul is Catherine. This reflects the recurring theme of ghosts and haunting, which will torment Heathcliff for the rest of his life. Twenty years later, Mr. Lockwood will come across Catherine's ghost, which has driven Heathcliff more into madness. This point is a landmark in the story of Wuthering Heights, because the chronology had come nearly full circle. The readers can now link this to the beginning of the story when Mr. Lockwood stays in the haunted room.

Quote: " 'Because they are a great deal higher up than we are,' replied I; 'you could not climb them, they are too high and steep. In winter the frost is always there before it comes to us; and deep into summer I have found snow under that black hollow on the north-east side!'"

Speaker: Mrs. Nelly to young Catherine

Explanation: Catherine is already desiring to explore the moors, just as Heathcliff and Catherine played in them when they were young. The moors represent the dangers of nature and eventually become symbolic of Heathcliff and Catherine's love for each other. Later, the young Catherine will encounter the young Linton in the moors and learn about Wuthering Heights.

Quote: " 'He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; I wanted all to sparkle, and dance in a glorious jubilee. I said his heaven would be only half alive; and he said mine would be drunk: I said I should fall asleep in his; and he said he could not breathe in mine, and began to grow very snappish. At last we agreed to try both, as soon as the right weather came; and then we kissed each other and were friends.'" (Bronte 225)

Speaker: young Catherine

Explanation: Young Linton, weak and constantly ill, wants all to be peaceful and quiet. In contrast, young Catherine, who has been a recluse most of her life, sees heaven where everything is alive and happy. Catherine later is disappointed by Linton's inability to keep a conversation, and the two characters contrast greatly in their personalities.

Quote: " 'Catherine's face was just like the landscape - shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient; and her poor little heart reproached itself for even that passing forgetfulness of its cares.'" (Bronte 243)

Speaker: Mrs. Dean

Explanation: In Wuthering Heights, Bronte frequently describes the landscape. The landscape symbolizes the threat of nature on the people. With the shadows resting longer on Catherine's face, Bronte suggests that the alive and happy time of her life is coming to an end.

Quote: " 'I'll tell you what I did yesterday! I got the sexton, who was digging Linton's grave, to remove the earth off her coffin-lid, and I opened it. I thought, once, I would have stayed there, when I saw her face again - it is hers yet-he had hard work to stir me; but he said it would change, if the air blew on it, and so I struck one side of the coffin loose, and covered it up: not Linton's side, damn him! I wish he'd been soldered in lead - and I bribed the sexton to pull it away, when I'm laid there, and slide mine out too. I'll have it made so, and then, by the time Linton gets to us, he'll not know which is which!'" (Bronte 263)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: Heathcliff now realizes that he cannot access Catherine's true presence by capturing people and objects associated with her. Ever since Catherine's death, he has obtained power over everything associated with her memory including Thruscross Grange and young Catherine. When he opens the coffin, he says that he "saw her face" not her real being. Cutting out the coffin on the opposite of Linton's side and combining his coffin with hers will ensure that the two souls can be reunited after death. This action seems to be a last resort to his madness.

Quote: " 'Nelly, there is a strange change approaching: I'm in it's shadow at present, I take so little interest in my daily life, that I hardly remember to eat and drink. Those two, who have left the room are the only objects which retain a distinct material apperance to me; and, that appearance causes me pain, amounting to agony. About her I won't speak; and I don't desire to think; but I earnestly wish she were invisible: her presence invokes only maddening sensations. He moves me differently: and yet if I could do it without seeming insane, I'd never see him again! You'll perhaps think me rather inclined to become so,' he added, making an effort to smile, 'if I try to describe the thousand forms of past associations, and ideas he awakens, or embodies - But you'll not talk of what I tell you; and my mind is so eternally secluded in itself, it is tempting, at last, to turn it out to another.'" (Bronte 295)

Speaker: Mr. Heathcliff

Explanation: Heathcliff, being open and revealing with his feelings, is becoming more mad and weak. He observes that for the first time in the family that young Catherine and Hareton are progressing. Catherine treats Hareton nicely, and Hareton learns to read, while they are both becoming fond of each other. But Heathcliff is continually haunted by the past, and young Catherine and Hareton's resemblance to Catherine is the reason why he despises the two. If Heathcliff is in a shadow at the present, he is suggesting that the haunting will end in the future.

Quote: " 'I sought, and soon discovered, the three headstones on the slope next the moor: the middle one gray, and half buried in heath; Edgar Linton's only harmonized by the turf, and moss creeping up its foot; Heathcliff's still bare. I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumber for the sleepers in that quiet earth.'" (Bronte 308)

Speaker: Mrs. Dean

Explanation: Heathcliff's bare headstone is symbolic of him being the strongest. He was the last to die, and when he did, all his madness collapsed with him. All that remains is an eternal peace. Heathcliff and Catherine are buried in the moors, where they played together as children. Now they can walk the earth as ghosts for enternity. It is the perfect conclusion to the great struggle that Heathcliff, Catherine, and Linton had to endure.