Heathcliff's return

Heathcliff's return to the neighborhood after a three-year absence, appearing at Thrushcross Grange one September evening in 1778, is the pivotal event that reopens the central wound of the novel and sets in motion the final phase of his revenge against Hindley Earnshaw and Edgar Linton. The man who had fled as a degraded, illiterate ploughboy returns as a tall, athletic, well-formed gentleman, his countenance intelligent and his manner dignified, yet with a half-civilised ferocity still lurking in his depressed brows and eyes full of black fire. His reappearance shatters the fragile peace Catherine Earnshaw has built as Mrs. Linton of Thrushcross Grange, and it immediately rekindles the old rivalries that will lead to catastrophe.

The Circumstances of the Return

Nelly Dean, returning from the garden with a heavy basket of apples on a mellow September evening, hears a deep, foreign-sounding voice behind her speak her name. Turning fearfully, she distinguishes a tall man dressed in dark clothes, with dark face and hair, leaning against the porch with his fingers on the latch. He has waited an hour, he says, daring not enter, and the whole time all round has been as still as death. When a ray of light falls on his features, Nelly sees sallow cheeks half covered with black whiskers, lowering brows, and deep-set, singular eyes that she remembers. She cries out in amazement, uncertain whether to regard him as a worldly visitor, and raises her hands. He replies simply, "Yes, Heathcliff," glancing from her up to the windows that reflect a score of glittering moons but show no lights from within. He asks immediately whether "she" is there, and demands that Nelly go and say some person from Gimmerton desires to see her. When Nelly exclaims that the surprise will put Catherine out of her head, he interrupts impatiently, "I'm in hell till you do!"

The Transformation of Heathcliff

The physical change in Heathcliff is so profound that Nelly is amazed more than ever to behold it. He has grown into a tall, athletic, well-formed man, beside whom Edgar Linton seems quite slender and youth-like. His upright carriage suggests the idea of his having been in the army. His countenance is much older in expression and decision of feature than Edgar's; it looks intelligent and retains no marks of former degradation. A half-civilised ferocity lurks yet in his depressed brows and eyes full of black fire, but it is subdued, and his manner is even dignified, quite divested of roughness, though stern for grace. Edgar Linton's surprise equals or exceeds Nelly's; he remains for a minute at a loss how to address the "ploughboy," as he had called him. Heathcliff drops his slight hand and stands looking at him coolly till he chooses to speak. Edgar, recalling old times at his wife's request, gives a cordial reception, and Heathcliff takes a seat opposite Catherine, who keeps her gaze fixed on him as if she fears he would vanish were she to remove it. He does not raise his to her often, but a quick glance now and then suffices, each time flashing back more confidently the undisguised delight he drinks from hers.

Catherine's Reaction and Edgar's Discomfort

Catherine's response to Heathcliff's return is immediate and overwhelming. She flies upstairs breathless and wild, too excited to show gladness; by her face one would rather have surmised an awful calamity. She flings her arms round Edgar's neck, panting, "Oh, Edgar, Edgar! Heathcliff's come back—he is!" and tightens her embrace to a squeeze. Edgar, crossly, tells her not to strangle him for that, saying Heathcliff never struck him as such a marvellous treasure. Catherine, repressing a little the intensity of her delight, insists that for her sake Edgar must be friends now. When Edgar suggests the kitchen as a more suitable place for Heathcliff, Catherine eyes him with a droll expression, half angry, half laughing at his fastidiousness, and proposes setting two tables: one for Edgar and Isabella, being gentry, and the other for Heathcliff and herself, being of the lower orders. Edgar, vexed, bids Heathcliff step up and tells Catherine to try to be glad without being absurd. When Heathcliff enters the parlour, Catherine springs forward, takes both his hands, leads him to Linton, and then seizes Linton's reluctant fingers and crushes them into Heathcliff's. She laughs like one beside herself, declaring she shall think it a dream tomorrow. Heathcliff murmurs that he heard of her marriage not long since and had meditated a plan—just to have one glimpse of her face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure; afterwards to settle his score with Hindley, and then prevent the law by doing execution on himself. Her welcome, he says, has put these ideas out of his mind. Edgar, growing pale with pure annoyance, interrupts to say they will have cold tea unless they come to the table. The meal hardly endures ten minutes; Catherine's cup is never filled, she can neither eat nor drink, and Edgar has made a slop in his saucer and scarcely swallowed a mouthful.

The Immediate Aftermath and Heathcliff's New Position

Heathcliff does not protract his stay that evening above an hour longer. When Nelly asks if he goes to Gimmerton, he answers, "No, to Wuthering Heights," adding that Mr. Earnshaw invited him when he called that morning. Nelly ponders this painfully after he is gone, musing whether he is turning out a bit of a hypocrite and coming into the country to work mischief under a cloak; she has a presentiment in the bottom of her heart that he had better have remained away. That night, Catherine cannot rest and comes to Nelly's chamber, complaining that Edgar is sulky because she is glad of a thing that does not interest him. She explains that Heathcliff called at Wuthering Heights to gather information concerning her from Nelly, supposing she resided there still; Joseph told Hindley, who came out and fell to questioning him, and finally desired him to walk in. Hindley lost some money to him at cards, and finding him plentifully supplied, requested that he would come again in the evening. Heathcliff affirms his principal reason for resuming a connection with his ancient persecutor is a wish to install himself in quarters at walking distance from the Grange, and an attachment to the house where he and Catherine lived together. He means to offer liberal payment for permission to lodge at the Heights. Catherine declares herself reconciled to God and humanity by the event of the evening, having risen in angry rebellion against Providence. The next day, Edgar, though his spirits seem still subdued by Catherine's exuberance of vivacity, ventures no objection to her taking Isabella with her to Wuthering Heights in the afternoon. Heathcliff uses the liberty of visiting at Thrushcross Grange cautiously at first, gradually establishing his right to be expected, and Catherine deems it judicious to moderate her expressions of pleasure in receiving him. But the seeds of the coming tragedy are already sown: Isabella Linton soon evinces a sudden and irresistible attraction towards the tolerated guest, and Edgar, appalled, comprehends that Heathcliff's mind is unchangeable and unchanged, and dreads that mind with a revulsion that will prove prophetic.