The Emotional Puppeteers

It’s extremely hard not to see such a direct connection between Chapter 8 of Great Expectations and Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship at one point in Wuthering Heights. 

“I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. Her contempt for me was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it.” Pip’s inner dialogue here compares and contrasts to much of Heathcliff’s attitude throughout Wuthering Heights. Although we never got Heathcliff’s point of view, the way we get Pip’s, there is still apparent connections in their reactions. For example. when Catherine came back to Thrushcross Grange, she also had the same snobby demeanor that Estella has here. Likewise, when Catherine confronts Heathcliff, he remains dirty and uncaring. Pip states that he just feels rather indifferent, yet lets Estella’s energy feed him. Whenever Catherine gave Heathcliff any sort of attention, he also had this infectious reaction. Later on in the passage, Pip describes how Estella makes him feel hurt, angry, offended, sorry, and humiliated. On the same note, Heathcliff experienced all the same emotions in relation to Catherine. This hierarchy of the woman in the story having this sense of emotional control over the men they come in contact with seems to translate across both novels here.

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