poor Heathcliff...

...and I say poor Heathcliff because, so far, his life seems pretty wretched. As an adopted "gypsy" child, Heathcliff faces torment from his new brother Hindley from the moment he steps into the house. Heathcliff, however, bears the torture without tears; in fact, he remains a seemingly unfeeling character during the first few "chapters" of his childhood. He is hardened against the cruelties, and responds to Hindley only with cunning, non-physical threats. Now, this description thus far paints Heathcliff as a pathetic character on whom we should take unquestioning pity. As Heathcliff grows older, however, it gets more and more difficult to excuse his sullenness and general actions of rash conceit. By the time Mr. Lockwood encounters forty-something Heathcliff, the man is still handsome and in "good" health, but he is perhaps even more morose than in adolescence. He has a temper that seems quite difficult to control, and is not of the mind that guests should be spared from his oscillations between melancholy and fiery moods. Still, I feel sorry for Heathcliff...as I read on, I discover more and more reasons for his unhappiness, and can only help that Heathcliff will find some sort of consolation by the novel's end.