Aaron answers “Do you think Heathcliff loved Hareton,...”

Phoebe Jeziel asked this question about Wuthering Heights:

Do you think Heathcliff loved Hareton, even though he said he didn't? Heathcliff used Hareton for his revenge, but I can't help but feel like Heathcliffe loved Hareton despite not wanting too (or maybe he loved him as much as someone like him could love the son of his sworn enemy). Not to mention that Hareton loved Heathcliff like a father and Hareton's love couldn't have come up out of nowhere.

Aaron There were hints that Heathcliff somehow didn't detest Hareton as much, which is the closest thing that could be compared to love in Heathcliff's shri…moreThere were hints that Heathcliff somehow didn't detest Hareton as much, which is the closest thing that could be compared to love in Heathcliff's shriveled heart. He mentioned before that Hareton had much better qualities than Linton, and he would've preferred it if he were his son instead.

And as mentioned by others, later on he saw something in himself within Hareton, around the time when Cathy warmed up to him. He said it wasn't because Hareton resembled his Aunt Catherine (although that could've been a factor), but it was more like Hareton's situation mirrored his when he was younger. Heathcliff used to be brutish and Catherine was more refined, which was mirrored by the interactions between Hareton and Cathy.

Perhaps he initially deprived Hareton of care to get back at Hindley, but he soon warmed up to him, or at least grew indifferent to making him suffer. Hareton probably cared about Heathcliff only because he was ignorant of being wronged, and because he was the closest thing he had to a father figure growing up. Kind of like Stockholm Syndrome, if you think about it.(less)

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Wuthering Heights

by Emily Brontë

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