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Heathcliff:
Hero or Villain?
Brief Background
Heathcliff
Heathcliff's story begins after he is found and taken to Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw. This point begins a series of abuse and manipulation throughout the novel that constantly change the dynamics between characters. Heathcliff has been both the abuser and the abused in the novel, but the unveiling of his true character throughout the story brings a question as to what Heathcliff is. Is he the hero of the story? The villain? Or perhaps he's something else entirely.
Characteristics
of Heroes
Heroes
- Definition of a hero: A person who is admired for courage or noble qualities.
- Self-sacrifice, bravery, and selflessness are some of the most important traits in which a hero may be determined.
- Heroes tend to place serving others at the top of their priorities.
History of Heroes
History of Heroes
In the age of comic books and movies, "heroes" have gone through a large development into people most often identified with a specific superpower that could not be matched in real life (Flying, Super Strength, Eye Lasers, etc.). This over-exemplifies the identification of a hero, as not all of them need a cape and a power.
Examples of Real Life Heroes
Heroes in Real Life
Martin Luther King Jr. - Delivered the famous "I Have a Dream" speech and led the March on Washington. He was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
Alvin York - One of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, leading to the surrender of the Germans.
Heroes in Novels
Huckleberry Finn - Frequently forced to survive on his own wits in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". He always behaves like an outcast, he is thoughtful, intelligent (without an education), and willing to come to his own conclusions about important matters to help him and his friends survive, even if these conclusions contradict society’s norms. With all that, Huck is young, and is still influenced by others. He is a hero because he saved Jim many times, a slave he was taught he was superior over, and freed him.
Example of a Hero
Giles Corey - During the Salem Witch Trials and in the novel "The Crucible", he was accused of witchcraft. He refused to "confess" that he was a witch, and was subjected to pressing by the Sheriff in an effort to force him to plea guilty. He never confessed though, and died after three days of constant pressing. While he died during this, he became a hero by standing his ground, until it killed him. His famous last words were "More weight".
Heroes in Novels
Is Heathcliff a Hero?
Does HeathcliffQualify?
Partially. Heathcliff has some of these hero-like qualities, including bravery, self-sacrifice, and putting others (Cathy) before himself. However, that is also an example of why he doesn't quite make the cut to being considered a hero. His interest really only lies with Cathy in the novel, and he only sacrifices for her. He doesn't put near as much effort into helping anyone else. He is head-over-heels for Cathy, feels neutral about Nelly, wants nothing to do with Isabella, and wants to kill Hindley and Edgar (most of the time). After Cathy passes away, he feels as if his life had been stripped away from him, and he has no reason for living anymore. He becomes irritable toward everyone.
Characteristics
of Villains
Villains
- Cruel
- Self-centered
- Thinks they are the hero
- Behave immorally
- Want revenge for a wrong done to them
- Act like a tyrants
- Betray the people who trust them
- Calculated
Voldemort
Example of a Villain
Voldemort is a villain because he acts as a tyrant, and he is cruel even to his followers (death eaters) when they do not follow his orders. He also thinks he is doing good for all of the wizarding community by selective-breeding pure-bloods only. He wants revenge on the muggles and muggle-borns because of how he was treated by his family when he was younger. He first betrays Dumbledore, who trusted him, by opening the chamber of secrets and murdering a muggle-born. He is calculated because he comes up with a plan to split up his soul so he would be harder to kill.
President Snow
Example
of a Villain
President Snow is a villain because he is more of a dictator than a president. He poisons other political officials when they do not do what he wants them to do. He thinks he is doing what is best for Panem by having The Capitol, Districts 1 and 2 living in luxury and all of the other Districts living in poverty. He gets revenge on the citizens who do not follow his rules by either killing them or cutting their tongues out. He is calculated because he comes up with plans of how to hurt Katniss and District 13 by torturing Peeta and Johanna.
History of Villains
History of Villains
The villain of a story helps the hero stand out better and shows off the hero's good traits. The villain is a worthy opponent for the hero (they usually have qualities that are the hero's weakness). Some heroes, even though they are still evil or bad, deserve some level of respect and appreciation for how well they execute their plans.
Types of Villains
Types of Villains
- Tyrant: Doesn't react well to followers not doing what they tell them to do and gives them a punishment for not doing their job.
- Outcast: Exiled from society and wants revenge
- Devil: Evil at its worst; this type of villain has no good side
- Evil Genius: Sees themselves as superior to all others, is highly intelligent
- Traitor: Becomes a villain after betraying those who trust them.
- Patriarch/Matriarch: Sees themselves as the head of a group or their family. Often leads to violence.
- Lunatic: Plain crazy, doesn't have an actual motive besides hurting people.
- Schemer: Likes planning evil "schemes" and carrying them out
- Fanatic: takes beliefs to the max; they are doing what is "best for all"
- Villain turned Hero: A villain who goes through a development of character and join the hero's side by the end of the story
Villains Danger Scale
Intensity Scale
Devil
Schemer
Traitor
Tyrant
Fanatic
Villain/ Hero
Outcast
Evil Genius
Patriarch/Matriarch
Lunatic
Is Heathcliff a Villain?
Does Heathcliff Qualify?
Also... Partially. Heathcliff seems to be two different characters in the novel separated by Catherine's death. Before her death, the only real way to argue Heathcliff as a definite villain is when he is calculated in planning to get revenge on Hindley (which could be classified under the Schemer Villain), and his immediate reaction toward Edgar offending him of flinging applesauce in his face (which could be classified under Outcast Villain). After the death of Cathy, he displays some ill will toward most everyone, avoiding talking to people, being absent from meals, and slowly losing his mind; all these things are villainous qualities.
Anti-heroes
Other Option?
An Anti-hero is a literary device used by writers for a prominent character in a play or book that has characteristics opposite to that of a conventional hero. The protagonist is generally admired for his bravery, strength, charm, or ingenuity, while an anti-hero is typically clumsy, unsolicited, unskilled, and has both good and bad qualities.
Characteristics of an Anti-hero
Characteristics
- As flawed or more flawed than most characters
- Someone who disturbs the reader with his weaknesses yet is sympathetically portrayed
- Magnifies the frailties of humanity
- Flaunt laws or act in ways contrary to society’s standards
- Have a starring role in the story
Examples of
Anti-heroes
Examples of Anti- Heroes
Deadpool: Has hero-like intentions, but sometimes gets distracted and ends up not completing the mission, killing the wrong person, etc. (Basically not achieving their goal). They often fail to take their missions seriously.
Wolverine: Member of a group called the X-men, who goes on missions to halt an antagonist. At the same time, he is not the kindest group member. He has a dark tone, short responses, and attacks in an obscure way (slicing opposition with blades) that is not traditionally how heroes would do so.
Jay Gatsby: Represents the American Dream in "The Great Gatsby", while becoming rich through dishonest means. He was a bootlegger, and made his money through a different name and life story.
Classifications Video
Video
The Byronic Hero
Another Possibility
- The Byronic hero is derived from the Romantic poet Lord Byron, famous for poems like, "She Walks In Beauty", "When We Two Parted", and others in the early 1800's.
- The Byronic hero is a class of Anti-Hero that is quite complex in psychological and emotional aspects.
How Heathcliff Relates to Byronic Characteristics
Heathcliff forces a marraige between his son and niece, and uses Hindley's drunkenness to acquire land.
Heathcliff, from teenage years, plots his revenge to put his enemies in misery and anguish
Heathcliff beats Hindley to near death after being shot at.
Characteristics
- Manipulative
- Cunning
- Brutal
- Temperamental
- Tortured and traumatized
- Emotional
Heathcliff throws applesauce in Edgar's face and impales Isabella's neck with a knife.
Heathcliff is subject to beatings throughout his childhood, and is secluded from his love and peers.
Heathcliff constantly yearns for love from Catherine and when she dies he can barely stand it, wanting to never be separated from her
Heathcliff, Through the Novel
Analysis
Just a few examples of text throughout the novel to show Heathcliff's dynamic role to the story, exemplifying him being a hero, villain, or the in between.
Quote #1
Quote 1
(Shae)
“For some days after that evening, Mr. Heathcliff shunned meeting us at meals; yet he would not consent, formally, to exclude Hareton and Cathy. He had an aversion to yielding so completely to his feelings, choosing rather to absent himself; and eating once in twenty-four hours seemed sufficient sustenance for him.” (Chapter 34 page 283)
Explanation
Heathcliff still feels worthless years after Cathy dies, and technically shuts out everyone else. When he does come into contact with people, he is very rude. This shows that he's not quite a hero because he would still try to help others if he were one. Heroes typically go through a tough time, but use that hurting to do good, while Heathcliff simply shuts down after Cathy dies and he gets worse as time goes on to the point of starving himself.
Quote #2
Quote 2
(Frankie)
“Last night, I was on the threshold of hell. Today, I am within sight of my heaven. I have my eyes on it: hardly three feet to sever me!” (Chapter 34 page 285)
Heathcliff was miserable without Cathy but when he "sees" Cathy's ghost he seems to make up his mind that he is done living so that he can be with Cathy. This makes Heathcliff give up on his revenge and makes him less of an outcast villain than it originally seems.
Explanation
Quote #3
Quote 3
(Bryan)
“‘For shame, Heathcliff!’ said I. ‘It is for God to punish wicked people; we should learn to forgive.’ ‘No, God won’t have the satisfaction that I shall,’ he returned” (Chapter 7 page 52)
Heathcliff acts as a villain/anti-hero here because he is stating that he wants to kill Hindley even if it's the last thing he ever does. Villains usually are pushed to go so far to kill someone only when they are out of control (on a killing spree, etc.). Heathcliff wants to kill Hindley because he was cruel to him growing up. He wants to kill him for self-satisfaction (a villainous or anti-heroic quality).
Explanation
Quote #4
“I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!” (Chapter 7 page 52)
Quote 4
(Frankie)
Heathcliff shows villainous and anti-heroic qualities here as well. He serves as an "Evil Genius" type villain in planning an attack, yet he is also giving payback to Hindley, who wronged him. The entire Heathcliff planning vengence on Hindley scenario depicts Heathcliff as anything but a hero.
Explanation
Quote #5
Quote 5
(Bryan)
“'I got the sexton, who was digging Linton’s grave, to remove the earth off her coffin lid, and I opened it. I thought, once, I would have stayed there, when I saw her face again—it is hers yet—he had hard work to stir me; but he said it would change, if the air blew on it, and so I struck one side of the coffin loose, and covered it up—not Linton’s side, damn him! I wish he’d been soldered in lead—and I bribed the sexton to pull it away, when I’m laid there, and slide mine out too. I’ll have it made so, and then, by the time Linton gets to us, he’ll not know which is which!' 'You were very wicked, Mr. Heathcliff!' I exclaimed; 'were you not ashamed to disturb the dead?'” (Chapter 29 page 249)
This is easily one of the most morbid actions Heathcliff takes in the entire novel. He is asking and bribing the gravedigger that is currently burying Edgar to bury himself beside Cathy when he dies. The worst part is that he asks the sexton to dig Cathy's grave up and open the coffin so he can see her. This, if we're trying to classify this act into any category, should probably be put under the "Lunatic" type villain. He really isn't doing anything distinctively heroic or villainous here, he has just gone insane at this point. Remember, this is 18 years after Cathy passed. He is still more than broken by her being gone. We can understand that he misses Cathy, as anyone who lost a loved one would, but to have a gravedigger do this and to tell Nelly (the person he's telling this to) that he has no fear of disturbing the dead, is QUITE out of the ordinary.
Explanation
Quote #6
Quote 6 (Brandon)
“'Two words would comprehend my future—death and hell: existence, after losing her, would be hell. Yet I was a fool to fancy for a moment that she valued Edgar Linton’s attachment more than mine. If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn’t love as much in eighty years as I could in a day. And Catherine has a heart as deep as I have: the sea could be as readily contained in that horse-trough as her whole affection be monopolized by him. Tush!'” (Chapter 14 page 128)
Explanation
Another quote about Heathcliff being head-over-heels for Cathy. Heathcliff shows no villainous qualities in this quote, however he doesn't have a soft spot for anyone else in the novel, and this plays a big role in Heathcliff's character being difficult to label heroic, especially after Cathy dies. Before her death, arguing this could be done; he had bravery, was friendly to people who deserved good treatment, and was very courageous (often for the better). After Cathy is gone, a shell of Heathcliff's past character comes out. He is rude to everyone except Nelly (villain/anti-hero), very short-spoken or anti-social (anti-hero), and never really shows any of the possible heroic traits he had shown before.
Quote #7
“I have lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction, and I am too idle to destroy for nothing.” (Chapter 33 page 280)
Quote 7 (Brandon)
This shows an anti-heroic aspect of Heathcliff's character because he says that he won't hurt anyone or anything (heroic) unless someone does something to him to deserve it (villain). Then he will go all out to get them.
Explanation
Six Million Dollar Byronic man
In Conclusion
Heathcliff is in many, if not all ways, a Byronic Hero. It was a tough decision between so many choices, but he matches with so many aspects of the Romantic poet's style, seeming possible that Bronte had inspiration from Byron's poems.
Why Byronic?
Heathcliff, since he was brought to Wuthering Heights, was despised and abused. Growing up, Heathcliff suffered manipulation and abuse from Hindley, and even emotional abuse later in his life from Catherine.
Heathcliff's plan is to have revenge upon those who wronged him by returning the favor, using trickery, kidnapping, and really any way to make people like Hindley and Edgar suffer for his own satisfaction and goal.
But clearly the only thing that can possibly outweigh Heathcliff's revenge is his passion for Catherine, even managing to make him lose interest in his yearning for retribution.