Hindley Earnshaw is the brother and Catherine and spiteful brother of the adopted Heathcliff. Hindley's hatred of Heathcliff had sprung early in their childhood, as his father, Mr.Earnshaw has grown to favor Heathcliff over Hindley. Because Mr. Earnshaw likes Heathcliff, any show of distaste towards Heathcliff on Hindley's part would severley anger his father, "Hindley's manifestations of scorn, while his father was near, roused the old man to fury; he seized his stick to strike him , and shook with rage that he could not do it." (pg. 45) This brutality in Heathcliff's defense only manages to make Hindley hate Heathcliff even more, growing increasingly bitter with age. Upon his three year absence to university, Hindley comes back with a change in demeanor (Although his cruelty has all but vanished), "He had grown sparer, and lost his color, and spoke and dressed quite differently..." (pg. 49) Mr. Earnshaw's death gives Hindley the opportunity to seek revenge on Heathcliff. He takes pleasure in seizing power over Heathcliff's life, even degrading the boy to the satis of farm-hand. Heathcliff, who once lived a life of luxury is no a slave in the house he once thrived in. Hindley's wickedness is only further emphasized through his plan to marry off Catherine to Edgar Linton in order to Unite the Earnshaw and the Linton families, knowing full well of Heathcliff's and Catherine's love for each other. Hindley's ultimate downfall occurs when his wife Francis dies. The death of the only person he loves drives Hindley to become even more evil in nature, becoming an agressive alcoholic to cope with the loss, he is violent and impulsive. At this point in the story, whatever compassion is left in Hindley's heart is gone, "Then physical appearance sympathized with mental deterioration ... his naturally reserved disposition was exaggerated into an almost idiotic excess of unsociable moroseness."
I don't entirely agree with this analysis. I don't think Hindleys wife was the only one he truly loved. He must have loved his father quite a lot to be so emotionally scared by his spiteful words. If he didn't love his father it wouldn't have hurt him so much that Heathcliff was desired more than he.
Hindley also didn't understand why he wasn't allowed to torment Heathcliff. He is a gypsy and Hindley had been taught that they are scum. In Hindley's mind, he was the favorite until this dirt came and claimed his spot in both his father's and sister's hearts.
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Grace Farish
10/28/2014 12:29:06 pm
I disagree that Hindley knew the extent to which Catherine and Heathcliff loved each other. Catherine loves both Edgar and Heathcliff which is obvious to Hindley but I don't think he really put that much thought into destroying Heathcliff.
While I agree that revenge against Heathcliff was one of Hindley's goals, I do not think that he knew of just how much Heathcliff and Catherine loved each other. Catherine and Heathcliff were together a lot during their childhood, but not even they knew how much they loved each other as they were older, nonetheless those around them. Catherine marrying Edgar resulting in Heathcliff's heartbroken anguish was more of a perk than a calculated plan Hindley had from the beginning.
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Collin
10/28/2014 11:46:43 pm
I like how you trace Hindley's development, and your descriptive diction really gives insight on how you view the character. I don't think that Hindley is entirely evil, and in his mind he is justified. He acts like he still tries to act on Catherine's behalf. But as a whole, great characterization of Hindley.