The Supernatural and Haunting

Explores the role of ghosts and the supernatural in the novel, reflecting the characters' unresolved passions.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Catherine's Ghost Appears

The First Haunting Lockwood's Dream Lockwood dreams of Catherine's ghost trying to enter through the window. She says she has been a waif for twenty years. This introduces the supernatural element. Heathcliff's Reaction Heathcliff is devastated by Lockwood's story. He begs Catherine's ghost to come in. He has been haunted by her for years. The Supernatural as Symbol The ghost represents unresolved love and guilt. Catherine cannot rest because her story is unfinished. The supernatural reflects the intensity of the characters' emotions.

Heathcliff's Haunting

A Life of Torment Constant Presence Heathcliff feels Catherine's presence everywhere. He cannot sleep in her room. He opens her coffin to see her face. The Vision Heathcliff tells Nelly he has seen Catherine's ghost. He is both tormented and comforted by her. His obsession keeps her spirit alive. The Final Reunion Heathcliff dies believing he will join Catherine. Their ghosts are said to walk the moors. The supernatural provides a resolution to their love story.

The Legend Lives On

The Enduring Myth Country Folklore The local people claim to see Heathcliff and Catherine's ghosts. They are a part of the landscape. The supernatural becomes legend. The Peaceful End Lockwood visits the graves and wonders how anyone could imagine unquiet slumbers. The dead seem at peace. The haunting may be over. The Power of Story The supernatural elements add depth to the novel. They show that love and hate can transcend death. The story itself becomes a kind of haunting.

1801

1784-1802

after 1802