THE CHARACTERS

The characters in Wuthering Heights are sometimes compared
to figures in myths, ballads, fairy tales, or dreams because they
are rarely seen engaged in the more social commonplaces of
everyday life. Edgar Linton, for instance, is said to be fun to
talk to, but you are given no idea what he talks about. Nor are
you shown how characters act when they are outside the tight
knot of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, the two
households that dominate the novel. Each character is generally
of one of two types-the Wuthering Heights type (strong,
passionate, stormy) or the Thrushcross Grange type (passive,
civilized, calm). The obvious contrast is between Heathcliff
and Edgar.

             The Earnshaws           The Lintons                     
                    |                  |                        
                 ___|_____        _____|____                      
                |         |      |          |                   
Frances m. Hindley  Catherine m. Edgar    Isabella m. Heathcliff        
          |                       |                    |           
          |                       |                    |              
          |                       |                    |             
       Hareton       m.       Catherine     m.      Linton          

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