Wuthering Heights Chapter Summaries

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Chapter One	The first chapter of Wuthering Heights is set in 1801, towards the end of the overall story arc. It introduces the narrator, Lockwood as a man from the town who has just moved into a home in the country. It follows him as he visits his new neighbor Mr Heathcliff.
Chapter Two	Lockwood is driven to walk to Wuthering Heights and meets Mrs Heathcliff, who he eventually learns is the widow of Heathcliff's son. He is also introduced to a young man, Hareton, but is not told who he is in relation to Heathcliff. He is forced to stay in the house due to the snow, and a harsh nosebleed.
Chapter Three	The housekeeper takes him into a room which Heathcliff does not normally allow to be used and tells him to hide his candle. He finds the diary of Catherine Earnshaw, which tells of her rather unhappy situation at he hands of Hindley. He goes to sleep and first has a nightmare about a preacher. The ghost of Cathetine comes to the window when he seems to wake and begs to be allowed in, saying she has been lost for twenty years. He wakes, and wakes the house with him. Heathcliff is later seen begging the ghost to enter. He is also seen towards the end of the chapter mistreating Mrs Heathcliff.
Chapter Four	Lockwood convinces his housekeeper Nelly to entertain him with Heathcliff's story while he is ill. She takes over narration, telling him about how Heathcliff was adopted into the Earnshaw family after he was found on the streets. She also tells him about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his adopted brother, and the way he used this to his advantage, threatening to tell on him.
Chapter Five	As his health fails Mr Earnshaw shows more favoritism towards Heathcliff, though Hindley goes away to school and Catherine and Heathcliff are allowed to become very close. Mr Earnshaw dies.
Chapter Six	Hindley returns with his wife Frances and they make the children's lives miserable, taking away Heathcliff's education and reducing him to a servant. Heathcliff and Catherine enjoy their childhood still until they attempt to spy on the Linton family. Catherine is attacked by one of their dogs and is taken into the Grange and treated like a princess where Heathcliff is thrown out.
Chapter Seven	Five weeks later, Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights, composed and acting like a lady. She embarrasses Heathcliff about how dirty he looks. The Lintons are invited to Wuthering Heights and Nelly Dean sets out to clean up Heathcliff. He meets Edgar Linton, and throws hot apple sauce on him when he joins in Hindley's torment. Heathcliff is banished to his room for the rest of the night. Heathcliff vows revenge on Hindley.
Chapter Eight	The narrative skips a few years, to where Frances gives birth to Hareton. She dies and Hindley breaks down, becoming even more tyrannical and driving most of the servants away. Hindley orders Nelly to chaperone Edgar and Catherine, who pinches and slaps the housekeeper. When Edgar tries to reason with her, Catherine hits him as well.
Chapter Nine	Hindley comes home drunk, Nelly tries to shield Hareton and Hindley puts a knife in her mouth. Hindley drops Hareton from the top of the stairs and Heathcliff catches him. Catherine confesses to Nelly that Edgar has proposed. She admits that even though she loves him, it would degrade her to marry Heathcliff, so she accepted. Heathcliff overhears and runs away before he can hear her confess her love. Catherijne becomes ill and goes to Thrushcroft Grange to recover, though while there Edgar's parents catch her illness and die. Three years go by and Catherine and Edgar marry.
Chapter Ten	Heathcliff returns to settle the score with Hindley, visiting Catherine and Edgar. He has gained money, though no one knows how. He stays at Wuthering Heights, since Hindley is in massive debt. Edgar's sister, Isabella falls for Heathcliff, which upsets Catherine.
Chapter Eleven	Heathcliff continues to visit Thrushcross Grange and begins making advances on Isabella, telling Catherine she has no right to object. Edgar shows up and tries to kick Heathcliff out of the house, but Catherine mocks him as a coward. Edgar tells Catherine that she must choose between him and Heathcliff. She flies into a rage and locks herself in her room.
Chapter Twelve	Catherine becomes ill while locked in her room. Edgar goes to see Catherine. Nelly goes to seek medical attention. In the garden, she finds Isabella's pet dog hanging by the neck, nearly dead. Mr. Kenneth tells Nelly that Isabella has eloped with Heathcliff. Nelly is scared to tell Edgar, but he finds out.
Chapter Thirteen	Isabella takes over the narrative in a letter to Nelly. She calls Heathcliff a devil and says that the house is hell, she has no servants or allies. Hindley shows Isabella his gun and warns her to lock her bedroom door because he is planning to murder Heathcliff, since now in his debt. She closes the letter by begging Nelly to send help.
Chapter Fourteen	Edgar tells Nelly he will have nothing to do with Isabella. Nelly decides to go up to the Heights herself to check on Isabella.The house is a mess, and Isabella is making no effort to keep up her appearance. Nelly tells Isabella that Edgar will not be contacting her. She tells Heathcliff not to visit Catherine, but he forces her to set up a meeting.
Chapter Fifteen	Several days go by, and Nelly tells Catherine of Heathcliff's visit. Catherine repremands him when he arrives, saying he is killing her. She says that she wants to die and take Heathcliff with her. Heathcliff demands to know why Catherine betrayed him by marrying Edgar. Edgar storms in but ignores Heathcliff because Catherine is such a mess. Heathcliff leaves but waits in the garden.
Chapter Sixteen	Catherine has a baby, Cathy, and dies. Nelly goes out to the garden to break the news to Heathcliff, but he already knows, he cries out for her to haunt him. Heathcliff sneaks into the house to say one final goodbye to Catherine in her coffin. As a parting gesture, he replaces Edgar's hair in the locket around her neck with his own.
Chapter Seventeen	Isabella runs all the way from Wuthering Heights in the snow and throws her wedding ring into the fire. Isabella takes over the narrative. Hindley locks Heathcliff out of the house and shows Isabella his gun again, resolving to murder Heathcliff. Isabella warns Heathcliff. Heathcliff beats the living daylights out of Hindley. Isabella until she provokes him by talking about Catherine and he throws a knife at her. Six months later, Hindley dies. Heathcliff is now master of Wuthering Heights, which Hindley mortgaged to fund his gambling habit.
Chapter Eighteen	Cathy is not allowed to leave the grounds and does not know about Heathcliff or Wuthering Heights. Dying, Isabella begs Edgar to come and take her son, Linton. Nelly and Cathy are alone, and one day Cathy takes off to Wuthering Heights. Nelly finds her happily chatting with Hareton. She thinks it's his house, but when she finds out it isn't, Cathy starts treating him like a servant. Nelly tells her he is her cousin but she will not accept it.
Chapter Nineteen	Edgar sends a letter from London announcing that Isabella is dead and that he will be returning with her son. Joseph comes down from the Heights to take Linton home to his father. Edgar feels bad, because he had promised Isabella that he would watch Linton. But he has no choice—Heathcliff is the boy's father.
Chapter Twenty	Nelly wakes Linton up at 5am to take him to Heathcliff. Isabella never mentioned his father so Linton is confused. Heathcliff refers to Linton as property and announces that the only reason he will put up with his son is that he is the heir to everything. Linton begs Nelly not to leave him, but she has to.
Chapter Twenty One	Linton is said to be selfish and disagreeable at the Heights, and Cathy is annoyed to have lost him. On her sixteenth birthday, Cathy and Nelly run into Heathcliff, who invites Cathy to come see Linton. He announces his plan to have them get married, pitting Linton against Hareton so she will think he is attractive and intelligent in comparison. Edgar tells Cathy the story of what Heathcliff did to Isabella. She continues to write to Linton until Nelly discovers her stash of letters and burns them, even after discovering that she loves Linton.
Chapter Twenty Two	Edgar is ill. Nelly takes Cathy out for a walk on the moors. Heathcliff comes along and reprimands Cathy for stopping her correspondence with Linton. He says Linton is heartbroken and dying. Nelly agrees to take her to Wuthering Heights the next day.
Chapter Twenty Three	At the heights they find Linton, shivering and ignored. He scolds Cathy for ignoring him and complains about his Heathcliff. The cousins fight about their parents' relationships. Cathy pushes his chair, and Linton can't stop coughing and whining. Nelly becomes sick for three weeks. With both of them sick, Cathy is not controlled.
Chapter Twenty Four	Nelly finds out that Cathy has been sneaking to the Heights. Cathy takes over the narrative. She goes every night while Nelly is sick. She and Linton talk, finding out how little in common they have. She mocks Hareton, who tried to impress her by reading his own name above the door. Attacks Linton, who blames Cathy for the scene, but they make up. Nelly tells Edgar about it and she is forbidden to go there.
Chapter Twenty Five	Nelly and Lockwood discuss the possibility of Cathy falling in love with him before Nelly resumes her narrative. Edgar asks her if Linton is as bad as his father. He is ready to die and would be okay with Cathy marrying Linton if he wasn't controlled by Heathcliff. Linton sends a letter to Edgar but Nelly believes Heathcliff actually wrote it. Edgar allows Cathy to see Linton as he would like Cathy to live at Wuthering Heights when he dies. He has no idea that Linton is as sick.
Chapter Twenty Six	Edgar lets them meet as long as they stay in the grounds. Nelly and Cathy leave the grounds and find Linton, sick and delirious. Linton is worried about what Heathcliff thinks of his behavior toward Cathy. He falls asleep and Cathy wants to go back home. They leave as Heathcliff arrives. BACK NEXT
Chapter Twenty Seven	Edgar is dying, and seems to be warming to the idea of Cathy marrying Linton. Nelly doesn't tell him about Linton's health. Cathy and Nelly meet Linton, who is very agitated. Cathy gets angry, and he admits that if he doesn't get Cathy to marry him, Heathcliff will kill him. Obviously Linton is a traitor. Heathcliff arrives and insists Cathy help him take Linton home. Heathcliff locks them in the house. Cathy tries to fight for the key, but Heathcliff slaps her. Linton refuses to help them escape. They spend a night locked in. Heathcliff releases Cathy but keeps Nelly there for four days and five nights.
Chapter Twenty Eight	Hareton gives Zillah the key to let Nelly out. Cathy is locked in a room upstairs and is not allowed to leave. Edgar realizes he needs to change his will so Linton doesn't inherit everything. Cathy escapes out of Catherine's bedroom window hurries to her father's bedside. Edgar dies. Heathcliff has bribed the lawyer, who shows up late. He orders everyone out of the Grange and fires all of the servants except Nelly.
Chapter Twenty Nine	Catherine is brought to the heights while Nelly must remain at the grange. Heathcliff takes over the narrative. He had someone dig up Catherine's grave. He stares at her and bribes the sexton to put his body next to hers when he dies. He says Cathy has been haunting him for eighteen years. He takes down Catherine's portrait from over the hearth at the Grange takes it to the Heights.
Chapter Thirty	Nelly tells Lockwood that she has not seen Cathy since. Zillah takes over the narrative. Heathcliff won't spend the money for a doctor. Linton dies. Cathy doesn't come out of her room for two weeks. Heathcliff goes upstairs to show her Linton's will. Linton has left everything to his him. Cathy tells Hareton that he has been cruel to side with Heathcliff. He tells her that he tried to help. Zillah tells Nelly that no one likes Cathy is prideful. Lockwood plans to go to the Heights and give Heathcliff notice that he will leave the Grange for London.
Chapter Thirty One	Lockwood delivers a note to Cathy from Nelly. Cathy cannot send a response because Heathcliff has taken everything away from her and Hareton has hidden some of her books in his room. Cathy mocks him, Hareton throws her books into the fire. Lockwood stays for dinner, and fantisizes that she is going
Chapter Thirty Two	Some time has passed since Lockwood left. He goes to the Grange to find that Nelly has moved up to the Heights. He visits the Heights and finds the gate is not locked. Doors and windows are open and a fire lights up the chimney. Cathy is teaching Hareton to read. He encounters Nelly who tells Lockwood that Heathcliff is dead. Cathy is now in charge of the Grange. Nelly resumes the narrative. She tells him about what happened since he left. An accident confines Hareton to the fireside. Now he and Cathy are stuck together. He informs her that he had often stuck up for her. Nelly announces that Hareton and Cathy are soon to be married.
Chapter Thirty Three	The story skips back a little, Cathy and Hareton grow close annoying Joseph and Heathcliff. Together they plant a garden, but dig up Joseph's plants to do it. Heathcliff scolds them and Cathy stands up for herself, accusing Heathcliff of robbing her and Hareton. Heathcliff storms out. He confesses to Nelly that he has lost interest in revenge. Heathcliff is struck by Hareton's resemblance to Catherine.He no longer has the will to live.
Chapter Thirty Four	Heathcliff leaves the house all night and then wanders around the garden happily. He goes to spend the night in Catherine's bed. Heathcliff tells Nelly to bring the lawyer to write his will. He reminds her that he wants to be buried next to Catherine. Nelly finds Heathcliff dead, rain pouring down on him from the open window. His eyes are wide open and he has a grotesque look on his face. Nelly cannot close his eyes. They bury him next to Catherine. Some have seen him wandering about with Catherine. Cathy and Hareton get home, and Lockwood leaves. As he walks home, he passes the three headstones of Edgar, Catherine, and Heathcliff.

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	Created by Charley Dugher about 8 years ago