When one starts reading Wuthering heights I’m sure they think to themselves that the book will be just another romantic novel. They wait for Heathcliff to come around the whole story, and for him and Catherine to end up together, but it doesn’t happen. This causes Heathcliff to get progressively, more and more alienated by the people around him. He only wants what he can’t have and this is why he is referred to as a Byronic Hero. It is my intention to prove Heathcliff as a Byronic Hero by classifying him under the six attributes of the archetype.
The first major sign of a Byronic Hero is he is often alienated from humanity. In the beginning of the story Heathcliff is adopted by Earnshaw. Earnshaw eventually ends up loving Heathcliff
She ended up having Heathcliff’s son Linton and when she died Linton moved back to Wuthering heights to live with Heathcliff. Now Heathcliff got Linton to marry young Catherine so that he would have full control over Thrushcross Grange. Soon after being married Linton died and Heathcliff had full control of Thrushcross Grange. As you can see almost all of Heathcliff’s actions after he realized he couldn’t have Catherine were to seek revenge against those who had come between them.
Due to Hindley’s jealousy towards Heathcliff’s relationship with his father, Hindley torments Heathcliff relentlessly until his death. Hindley hated Heathcliff so bad that he tried to kill him. He aimed his pistol with a knife out the window right at Heathcliff and ended up shooting himself in the arm. Heathcliff then beat him severely. There is also many times when Edgar gets jealous of Heathcliff. Edgar knew that deep down that Catherine loved Heathcliff. When Catherine was very sick she was begging Heathcliff for forgiveness while Edgar was at church. She told Heathcliff not to leave even thou Edgar is walking in from the church service. Catherine faints and Heathcliff catches her just as Edgar walks in. Seeing this, one could be sure that Edgar would be furious. Heathcliff rushes to say “Unless you be a fiend, help her first – then you shall speak to me!” After helping her gain consciousness Edgar had