Heathcliff's rules for visitors at Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff's rules for visitors at Wuthering Heights are less a formal code than a consistent pattern of hostility, suspicion, and outright cruelty that governs every interaction between the household and anyone who crosses its threshold. From the moment Lockwood first arrives, Heathcliff establishes that guests are not welcome: he offers no greeting, his "walk in" is uttered "with closed teeth" and expresses the sentiment "Go to the Deuce," and he makes no effort to ease the discomfort of a stranger. The dogs, which he refuses to restrain, are allowed to attack Lockwood, and Heathcliff's only response is a laconic remark that "the dogs do right to be vigilant." This initial encounter sets the tone for all future visits: the house is a fortress against the outside world, and every visitor is treated as an intruder.

The Rule of Inhospitality and Refusal of Aid

Heathcliff's rules explicitly deny visitors any form of comfort or assistance. When Lockwood is caught in a snowstorm and asks for a guide to return to Thrushcross Grange, Heathcliff flatly refuses: "No, I could not." He offers no alternative, and when Lockwood is forced to stay the night, Heathcliff declares, "I don't keep accommodations for visitors: you must share a bed with Hareton or Joseph, if you do." Even when Lockwood suggests sleeping on a chair, Heathcliff refuses, stating, "A stranger is a stranger, be he rich or poor: it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the place while I am off guard!" This rule extends to the denial of basic necessities: Heathcliff later locks Catherine Linton in a room for days, providing her with only minimal food, and he refuses to send for a doctor for his own dying son, Linton, declaring, "his life is not worth a farthing, and I won't spend a farthing on him."

The Rule of Secrecy and Deception

Heathcliff enforces a strict rule of secrecy regarding visits to Wuthering Heights, particularly when they involve Catherine Linton. He tells her that she must not inform her father, Edgar Linton, of her visits, because "Mr. Linton has a prejudice against me" and would "put a veto on your visits altogether." He instructs her, "you must not mention it, unless you be careless of seeing your cousin hereafter." This rule is part of a larger pattern of manipulation and deception, as Heathcliff uses the promise of meetings between Catherine and Linton to lure her into the house and ultimately force her into marriage. He also enforces a rule of silence about the true nature of his son's health and the conditions within the house, ensuring that no outside help or interference can reach his victims.

The Rule of Violence and Intimidation

Heathcliff's rules are ultimately backed by the threat of physical violence. When Catherine Linton defies him and tries to escape, he slaps her repeatedly, declaring, "I know how to chastise children, you see." He threatens to "knock [her] down" and later tells her, "you shall have plenty of that" if she shows defiance. This violence is not limited to Catherine; he also physically assaults Hindley Earnshaw, kicking and trampling him, and he threatens Lockwood with the dogs. The house itself becomes a prison, with doors locked and windows too narrow to escape through, enforcing Heathcliff's absolute control over anyone who enters. His rules for visitors are thus a manifestation of his desire for total domination, using isolation, deception, and brutality to ensure that no one leaves his domain without his permission.