Wuthering Heights is a story mainly told in the form of a flashback. Also, the novels first half seems to deal with one generation and the second half focuses on the second generation. A maid named Nelly tells the twisted story of two familes: the Earnshaws and the Lintons. She depicts the story to a man named Lockwood who is staying at a manor called Thrushcross Grange. Wuthering Heights is the name of the house his landlord, Heathcliff, lives in four miles from Thrushcross Grange. Lockwood visits Heathcliff and is taken aback by his extreme hostility and the queerness of everyone who lives there. Once he goes back to Thrushcross Grange, he begs Nelly to tell him the story of the people of Wuthering Heights. Thus begins the flashback.
As Nelly tells the story, Lockwood records all the details in his diary. Nelly describes the life that she has witnessed since she has worked here and dealt with this particular family since she was young. She tells Lockwood about a woman named Catherine, whose father owned Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and her brother, Hindley. Their father, who is away for some time, brings home a dark-skinned orphan, whom they deem Heathcliff. At first, Catherine and Hindley detest him, but surely enough, Catherine and Heathcliff begin to spend all their time together. Hindley especially hates Heathcliff due to the fact that his father likes him more. Mr. Earnshaw sends Hindley away due to this tension, therefore causing Hindley to hate Heathcliff even more. Soon after, Mr. Earnshaw dies.
The death of Mr. Earnshaw draws Hindley back to come take possession of their estate. He is now married and eventually has a son named Hareton. One night, Catherine and Heathcliff venture to Thrushcross Grange to spy on the Linton children, Isabella and Edgar. However, Catherine spends five weeks there due to an injury brought on by the Linton's dog. Heathcliff was forced to leave due to his rebellious nature. While at the Linton's, Catherine is transformed into a young lady. Once she returns home, Heathcliff is highly upset with the new Catherine. As they grow up, Catherine finds herself in love with Edgar, but more in love with Heathcliff. She chooses to marry Edgar, forever wounding the terrible-natured Heathcliff. Heathcliff eventually leaves for three years, and Hindley becomes a drunk who is very abusive to his son.
When Heathcliff returns, he marries Isabella Linton, even though Edgar disapproves. Soon after this, Catherine gives birth to a daughter, Catherine, and dies. Isabella is treated horribly by Heathcliff and eventually runs off to London, where she gives birth to their son, Linton. Isabella dies after about twelve years. Linton is brought back to Wuthering Heights where Heathcliff and Hareton live. Catherine still lives in Thrushcross Grange with Nelly and Edgar, who is dying. Catherine learns of her cousins, Hareton and Linton, and Heathcliff forces Catherine to marry Linton. Soon after they marry, Edgar dies. Linton was also very sick and he dies relatively quickly after Edgar does. Both of their deaths gives Heathcliff full control of Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. This is the end of the flashback that Nelly was telling Lockwood.
Lockwood decides not to stay at Thrushcross Grange any longer and goes to tell Heathcliff of this. Lockwood eventually leaves and Heathcliff starts to go nuts. He can see the resemblence of Catherine in the young Catherine, as well as in Hareton. He eventually dies. Lockwood learns of this when he returns to talk to Nelly after a few months. He also learns that Catherine and Hareton are to be married soon.
1) Catherine (the mother) is torn between the love of two guys, Heathcliff and Edgar. She eventually marries Edgar even though she loves Heathcliff more because her brother, Hindley, detests Heathcliff and has degraded him. Have you ever had to make a tough decision or been influenced into something due to the thoughts of others? If so, why would you let them persuade you?
2) Heathcliff leaves for three years once Catherine marries Edgar. When he returns, he is a wealthy "gentleman." He becomes this way because of his love for Catherine. Have you ever done something out of love for someone, even if it pains you at first?