SECTION B: NON-AFRICAN PROSE
Why does Heathcliff hate Hindley?
Heathcliff's hatred for Hindley Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights is deeply rooted in years of mistreatment, jealousy, and a desire for revenge. Several key reasons contribute to Heathcliff’s animosity towards Hindley:
From the moment Mr. Earnshaw brings Heathcliff home as an orphan, Hindley resents him. Mr. Earnshaw favours Heathcliff over his own son, causing Hindley to see Heathcliff as a rival for their father’s love. In response, Hindley treats Heathcliff cruelly, bullying and humiliating him throughout their childhood. This early mistreatment fosters deep resentment in Heathcliff.
When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley, now the master of Wuthering Heights, seizes the opportunity to degrade Heathcliff further. He forces Heathcliff to work as a farmhand, stripping him of his status and education. This treatment fuels Heathcliff’s hatred and plants the seeds of his desire for vengeance.
Hindley’s actions indirectly contribute to Heathcliff losing Catherine. Because Hindley keeps Heathcliff in a lowly position, Catherine, despite her love for Heathcliff, chooses to marry Edgar Linton instead. This betrayal intensifies Heathcliff’s hatred, as he sees Hindley as part of the system that kept him from his beloved Catherine.
After disappearing for several years, Heathcliff returns wealthy and determined to take revenge. He exploits Hindley’s gambling addiction, lending him money and using his debts to take control of Wuthering Heights. Eventually, Hindley is left ruined, and Heathcliff gains ownership of the estate, fulfilling his long-held desire for revenge.
Heathcliff’s hatred for Hindley is the result of years of mistreatment, humiliation and lost opportunities. Hindley’s cruelty in their youth fuels Heathcliff’s desire to rise above his circumstances and ultimately destroy his oppressor. Their relationship is one of the most intense rivalries in Wuthering Heights, illustrating the destructive power of revenge and resentment.
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