In Wuthering heights, Catherines death is seen as an escape from suffering, discuss.

In this novel, Catherine’s death is seen as a release from suffering – discuss.
Catherine Ernshaw’s life was one of suffering interspersed by short periods of content. The cause suffering cannot be attributed to any one aspect or person in her life but rather to a combination of various factors, partially self-inflicted but mainly due to other individual’s control of her life and to the wider pressures of societies’ expectations of a female both in the 1840s when it was written, and in 1801 when it was set. Regardless of the sources of her suffering, her attempts to escape from it resulted in an untimely death which did not release her spirit from suffering until reunited with that of Heathcliff’s following his death some eighteen years later.
In analysing Catherine’s suffering, the trustworthiness of the narrator, Nellie Dean must be considered. Never neutral or objective regarding anyone in the story, regarding Catherine, she admits “I own I did not like her after infancy was past.” (W.H,p.65) However she continues, “she [Catherine] never took an aversion to me” illustrating a favourable aspect to Catherine’s nature, further compounding Catherine’s capacity for goodness, she mentions Catherine had a “wondrous constancy to old attachments.” (W.H p.65)
Throughout life Catherine experiences three types of suffering – emotional, physical and mental. As a female she was powerless in law to change her situation to any great effect, likewise her ally Heathcliff would have limited power to help her due to his illegitimacy. Catherine’s attempts to ease her suffering would be by coercion and manipulation of people around her, failing that, her only recourse would be to remove herself physically from the source of distress whether by escaping to the moors, or by marriage or eventually by death.
As a young child, Catherine suffers emotionally from a lack of parental affection. Little mention is made of her mother other than she dies when Catherine is aged eight. Mr Earnshaw endures failing health, resulting in his becoming irritable and impatient. Viewed by the young Catherine, her father’s perceived lack of love would have caused emotional suffering - her bad behaviour could be attributed to her striving for attention regardless of it’s type “she was never so happy as when we were all scolding her at once.” (W.H, p41) This method of coping with suffering only exerabated matters with her father “Nay Cathy… I cannot love thee.” (W.H, p.41).
Following her father’s death, Catherine endures emotional suffering, and in attempting to escape it, turns more to Heathcliff for comfort. This childhood love for each other is pure and chaste, likened to the strong love and attachment twins hold for each other. Catherine and Heathcliff suffer mentally and physically at the hands of Joseph and Hindley, the former causing mental anguish through his sanctimonious preaching and physically through the latter’s control of their everyday life.
Catherine’s life is disclosed via Lockwood’s reading of her journal (W.H, p.18) it is easy to discern the feeling of imprisonment both she and Heathcliff suffer at Hindley’s hand, the only place they can find happiness is in their escape to the moors. For Catherine, the worst suffering she must endure in childhood is her separation, at Hindley’s behest, from Heathcliff. This causes her to suffer on all levels, mentally, physically and emotionally “How little did I dream that Hindley would make me cry so.” (W.H, p.20)
As a child Catherine would have had no control over her life, her only escape from her suffering at this time is to run to the moors, free of all constrictions, a child of the elements. This form of escape will return at various stages in her life repeating itself as a temporary relief. In adolescence, she and Heathcliff have escaped to the moors when they have their first encounter with the inhabitants of Thrushcross Grange, resulting in an extended stay for Catherine. This sojourn, while comfortable and civilised is never the less, the longest separation Catherine and Heathcliff have endured. Although disguised in good manners and gentility, being apart from Heathcliff and her beloved moors, Catherine experiences physical and emotional distress. On returning to Wuthering Heights, Catherine, outwardly a young lady still regards Heathcliff with the same strength of feeling as before. Her suffering greatly increases as she witnesses first Heathcliff’s seeming rejection of her caresses and then his further degradation and beatings at her brother’s hands. As a young woman, Catherine has no power to ease her or Heathcliff’s suffering, trying to please everyone she is pulled in two directions – when Heathcliff expresses contempt for Linton she agrees, yet when Linton is disparaging regarding Heathcliff, she does not disagree. Heathcliff her only ally in childhood appears to be abandoning her, recoiling from her physically and ceasing to express in words any fondness he might feel for her. Attempting to ease her pain at Heathcliff’s seeming rejection of her, Catherine turns to Edgar for comfort and release, viewing him as a means of escaping her sufferings at Wuthering Heights. When questioned by Nellie on her (Catherine’s) feelings for Linton she makes some interesting observations “he will be rich and I shall like to be the greatest woman in the neighbourhood.” (W.H, p.78) This is Catherine obeying the rules of society, she knows she cannot marry Heathcliff “ If the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low …It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now.” (W.H, p.80). Catherine believes that in marrying Linton, she can help Heathcliff escape his sufferings, “If I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise and place him out of my brother’s power.” (W.H, p.81). She knows she is accepting this proposal for all the wrong reasons, “In my soul and heart, I’m convinced I’m wrong! (W.H, p.79) “I’ve no business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven.” (W.H, p.80). According to Watson (1949), this is one of the great ironies in the story, that in her vain attempt to improve both her life and that of Heathcliff, in reality she only increases both their suffering. (Watson,1949,p.91)
With Heathcliff’s abandoning her, Catherine becomes ill, suffering from depression. Once married to Linton, outwardly Catherine appears to experience a certain amount of gentle happiness, Nellie describes them as “wondrously peaceful”(W.H, p.93) but “suffering seasons of gloom and silence” (W.H, p.91) suggesting an underlying unhappiness with her situation. Marriage to Linton has not been the escape she had hoped for, rather it was suffering in a more gentile guise, this is revealed in Catherine’s comment to Nellie “I’ve endured very, very bitter misery” (W.H, p.99).
Heathcliff’s sudden and unexpected arrival rouses Catherine from her depressive state and again she sees a chance of happiness, this does not last as Catherine soon recognises the two men’s hatred for each other. In an effort to control the situation, Catherine implores Edgar “for my sake, you must be friends now.” When finally asked by Edgar to choose, “It is impossible for you to be my friend and his at the same time” (W.H, p.118) Catherine finally accepts that the two rivals will never be amicable, and in despair retreats to the only haven left to her, a depression induced madness as she cannot bear any more suffering at the hands of the two people she cares most about. Gilbert and Gubar see this madness as a result of Catherine’s perceived imprisonment (Booth, 2004, p.45). Davies (2008) argues that Catherine uses her only available tool, “women’s weapons” of tantrums and self-harm to combat her growing loss of power (Davies, 2008, p.188). In a moment of lucidity, Catherine states, “If I cannot keep Heathcliff for my friend…I’ll try to break their hearts by breaking their own.” (W.H, p.117). Macmillan study guides remark that “She [Catherine] has given her body to Linton, but Heathcliff has her soul. She pays the price.
As a married, pregnant woman, Catherine has few if any options in changing her situation. Leaving her husband would be unthinkable; divorce was unheard of and would force her into poverty along with her unborn child. Catherine could accept her comfortable, yet suffocating life with Edgar and concentrate on her child but throughout the novel she has never exhibited any maternal instincts, barely registering the needs of her young nephew Hareton, even separating him from his surrogate mother, Nellie when she insists on the servant accompanying her to a new life at Thrushcross Grange. This life may have been bearable for Catherine prior to Heathcliff’s reappearance and his subsequent marriage to Isabella, but now it offers only constant anguish. In Catherine’s mind, Heathcliff has deserted her in favour of Isabella, and with nowhere to escape from her suffering, loses the will to live. Catherine believes the only way to ease her suffering is death. While Blaming Heathcliff and Edgar for her death, “you and Edgar have broken my heart…you have killed me” (W.H, p.158) Catherine still acknowledges death will not procure the release from suffering she craves “I shall not be at peace…I only wish us never to be parted. For 20 years Catherine’s spirit roams the moors waiting and still suffering. Her turmoil is evident when her spirit appears at the window, although yearning for Heathcliff she still recognises herself as Catherine Linton, acknowledging her recognition of her marriage vows (W.H p.23). Her spirit was not at rest even after the death of her husband, validating her disclosure to Nellie, “my love for Linton is like foliage in the woods. Time will change it. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath…a source of little visible delight, but necessary” (W.H, p.82) Catherine Linton’s death cannot be seen as an escape from suffering. Having unsuccessfully attempted escape from her suffering by various means throughout her life, in her final attempt to flee via death, Catherine only succeeded in ending her physical suffering. Her emotional and mental suffering remained, causing her spirit to wander lost until once more reunited with Heathcliff’s spirit, free on their beloved moors together at last.

Bibliography
Booth, A. (2004) “York Notes: Wuthering Heights.” London, Longman.
Bronte, E. (1998) “Wuthering Heights.” Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Davies, S. (2008) “Emily Bronte: Heretic.” Bronte Studies 33. (Nov. 2008) P.188.
Gilbert, S. & Gubar, S. “The Madwoman In The Attic.” London, Yale University Press.
Glen, H. (2007) “The Cambridge Companion to the Brontes.” Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Watson, M.R. (1949) “Tempest in the Soul: Wuthering heights.” California, University of California Press.

Bibliography: Booth, A. (2004) “York Notes: Wuthering Heights.” London, Longman. Bronte, E. (1998) “Wuthering Heights.” Oxford, Oxford University Press. Davies, S. (2008) “Emily Bronte: Heretic.” Bronte Studies 33. (Nov. 2008) P.188. Gilbert, S. & Gubar, S. “The Madwoman In The Attic.” London, Yale University Press. Glen, H. (2007) “The Cambridge Companion to the Brontes.” Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Watson, M.R. (1949) “Tempest in the Soul: Wuthering heights.” California, University of California Press.