Wuthering Heights - Chapter 12
Lintons_Death
Life at Wuthering Heights was miserable for Cathy. Linton was a selfish husband who complained constantly and expected Cathy to take care of him. He was too weak to do anything for himself, and he became angry when Cathy did not obey his every command.
Heathcliff treated them both with contempt. He ignored Linton completely, as if the boy did not exist. When he spoke to Cathy, it was only to mock her or to remind her that she had no home and no money.
Hareton was the only person who showed Cathy any kindness. He was in love with her, though he did not dare to say so. He knew that she was above him in education and manners, and he felt ashamed of his own ignorance.
One day, Linton fell seriously ill. He had always been weak and sickly, but now his condition grew worse. Heathcliff showed no concern for his dying son. He only cared about the inheritance, and with Linton's death, Cathy would become the heir of Thrushcross Grange.
When Linton died, Cathy was devastated. She had not loved him, but he had been her husband, and she had tried to be a good wife. She was now truly alone in the world.
Heathcliff was pleased. Everything was going according to his plan. He now owned Wuthering Heights, and with Linton's death, Thrushcross Grange would also belong to him. He had destroyed both the Earnshaw and Linton families.
But there was one problem: Hareton. The boy was Hindley's son, and under English law, Wuthering Heights would eventually belong to him, not to Heathcliff. This made Heathcliff furious. He had treated Hareton badly, hoping to break his spirit, but the boy was strong and refused to be defeated.
Heathcliff began to treat Hareton even more cruelly, mocking his ignorance and his poverty. He wanted to make Hareton as miserable as possible, just as Hindley had once made Heathcliff miserable.
Cathy watched this and began to understand the evil in Heathcliff's heart. She saw how he had destroyed everyone around him, and she realized that she must be careful. She needed to find a way to escape from Wuthering Heights and to build a new life for herself.