This is one of my favorite books ever. I first read it when I was about twelve (ten years ago, oh my), and I don’t think I understood any of it then. All I remember is that I thought that being in love was pretty close to being nuts, and that love made you an awful person. The second time I read it, I was fifteen. Funnily enough, I never really liked Heathcliff. I mean, I get the entire brooding hero (we’re talking Brontë here) and how passionate he is, but he’s basically a bully. I can’t stand bullies. I’m sorry about his crappy childhood but I had enough bullies in my life to last forever.

I read it again earlier this year and enjoyed it a lot. I still think Heathcliff is a mean bully and he deserves everything that happened to him in the end, but I can understand his passion a lot more than I did at twelve. And I’ll admit I feel a lot more sympathy for him than I do for Cathy Earnshaw. What a silly and annoying bitch she was. The only point where I’ve always felt a little bad for her is when she says that she wants to marry Edgar because she wants to help Heathcliff. That’s as nice as she gets in the entire novel. She’s utterly selfish and doesn’t care for anyone but Heathcliff.

I guess that’s why they’re perfect for each other. Like calls to like, as they say. They even die similarly. Heathcliff’s death at the end of the novel echoes Cathy’s in so many things. It’s like she says, that their souls are one and the same. An awful, selfish and disgusting soul, but they share it.

But let’s leave aside the torrid love affair between these two awful characters. My favorite thing about the book is the second generation: Hareton, Cathy II and Linton. I always feel very sorry for Hareton. Heathcliff is awful towards him basically because Hareton’s father, Hindley, was a dick towards him when Heathclif was a boy. As said before, he does deserve sympathy because of it, but his treatment of Hareton is just horrible. It’s even worse the fact that he actively denies Hareton of an education and chances in life. The poor kid doesn’t deserve all that because of what his father did.

Cathy II at first appears to be a little annoying. She was so nice and good to everyone, so I got a bit tired of her. But then she insulted Hareton, and showed her foolishness in her relations with Linton. She was not perfect, and she grows better as the novel goes on. I really like her relationship with Hareton, how they two help each other to be better. The parts in which she teaches him to read are among my favorites. And she even stands against Heathcliff, the big fat bully! Great for her.

Linton is the worst. THE WORST. He’s weak, he’s a coward and he’s as nasty as his own father. I think they way in which he treats everyone around him is awful. Especially when it comes to Cathy, who’s only been nice towards him the entire time. I mean, she had to stand his constant whining and complaining. I’ll admit that few characters’ death had ever been so satisfying. Heathcliff was disgusting, but at least he was brave. Linton was a coward, and cowards are right next to bullies in my list.

Of course, I won’t forget to mention the gorgeous descriptions of nature that are all over the book. It’s particularly noticeable how it relates to the characters feelings. The scene with Heathcliff drenched in the night storm always makes me shiver. It’s perfectly written.
I really love this book, there’s something powerful and great about it. And I’m taking the terrible personalities of half the characters into account. They’re pretty nasty, but they are great.

So, just read the Brontë sisters! They’re cool!*

*Like bowties.