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Section 10 of 34
·
Page 4 of 4
CHAPTER X
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Chapter 10 — CHAPTER X
Central question
How does isolation change the emotional atmosphere of the Heights?
Main argument
Nelly’s illness and withdrawal leave the house more exposed to its own disorders, while...
AI Summary
Wuthering Heights
Section 10 of 34
Chapter 10 — CHAPTER X
Central question
How does isolation change the emotional atmosphere of the Heights?
Main argument
Nelly’s illness and withdrawal leave the house more exposed to its own disorders, while Catherine’s connections outside the Heights become increasingly important. The chapter helps prepare the shift from childhood conflict to adult choice.
Key ideas
Domestic structure is fragile.
Emotional dependence spreads across the house.
The novel is moving toward adult romance and its consequences.
Key takeaway
The house grows more unstable just as the children grow older.
be painting on its white
the colours of the rainbow ,
and turning the blue eyes black ,
every day
or two :
they detestably resemble Linton’s.”
“
Delectably !”
observed Catherine. “
They are dove’s eyes —
angel’s !”
“
She’s her brother’s heir ,
is she not ?”
he asked ,
after a brief
silence .
“
I should be sorry to think so ,”
returned his companion . “
Half a dozen
nephews shall erase her title ,
please heaven !
Abstract your mind from
the subject at present :
you are too prone to covet your neighbour’s
goods ;
remember _
this _
neighbour’s goods are mine .”
“
If they were _
mine _,
they would be none the less that ,”
said
Heathcliff; “
but though Isabella Linton
may be silly ,
she is scarcely
mad ;
and ,
in short ,
we’ll dismiss the matter ,
as you advise .”
From their tongues they did dismiss it ;
and Catherine,
probably ,
from
her thoughts .
The other ,
I felt certain ,
recalled it often in the
course of the evening .
I saw him smile to himself —
grin rather —
and lapse
into ominous musing whenever Mrs . Linton
had occasion to be absent from
the apartment .
I determined to watch his movements .
My heart invariably cleaved to the
master’s ,
in preference to Catherine’s
side :
with reason I imagined ,
for he was kind ,
and trustful ,
and honourable ;
and she —
she could not be
called the _
opposite _,
yet she seemed to allow herself such wide
latitude ,
that I had little faith in her principles ,
and still less
sympathy for her feelings .
I wanted something to happen which might
have the effect of freeing both Wuthering
Heights and the Grange of Mr .
Heathcliff,
quietly ;
leaving us as we had been prior to his advent .
His
visits were a continual nightmare to me ;
and ,
I suspected ,
to my master
also .
His abode at the Heights was an oppression past explaining .
I
felt that God had forsaken the stray sheep there to its own wicked
wanderings ,
and an evil beast prowled between it and the fold ,
waiting
his time to spring and destroy .
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