In Emily Bronte's classic novel, Wuthering Heights, Catherine Earnshaw was a complex character. She would do anything adventurous as a child. She had a strong love for Heathcliff, and cared for him. However, she married Edgar Linton to help her social status. Catherine was free-spirited, passionate, yet selfish throughout the entire novel.
Catherine grasped a free-spirited attitude toward life. As a child, she would ride any horse in the stable "showing no fear. She was always doing troublesome yet courageous things. When Mr. Earnshaw first brought Heathcliff home, she took a liking to him. They would always play together and do what they pleased.
Growing up with Heathcliff, Catherine fell for him. She thought that their souls were the same, and loved him immensely. They spent most of their days together. Catherine had never had a love like this before. Heathcliff had the same love for her and they wanted to be together.
Even though Catherine loved Heathcliff, she was very self-centered. She rejected him to be with Edgar Linton. Edgar would maker her higher in society and could provide for her. Catherine loved Heathcliff but married Edgar for these social benefits. She no longer cared about Heathcliff's feelings and tried to make herself believe that marrying Edgar would help him.
By the end of the story, Catherine was just as deceiving, wild, and egotistic as in the beginning. She caused trouble time and again but not intentionally. Catherine had to be the center of everybody's world and never took no for an answer. She was controlling yet hard to figure out. If you were to meet Catherine, you'd like her at first. Then, after really getting to know the true Catherine Earnshaw, you'd wish you had never laid eyes on her.
