Wuthering Heights question

Did Heathcliff bring out the worst in Cathy, or did he bring out the truest part of her nature in that she WAS the worst? They were the most intimate with each other.
I personally could find no love for her in my heart. She was such a coquettish drama queen, who toyed with people's emotions. She knew just how to manipulate people to her purpose and whims. Just as Heathcliff could do, tho in a more brutish and open way. Had they gotten together I find myself wondering if life would truly have been good and happily ever after, or just awful for everyone in their path...

While Catherine is no angel, I do think she gets more hate than she deserves.
She is a young girl with a very narrow world view. She comes across a sophisticated, mild mannered and wealthy guy who is completely in love with her. Marrying him elevates her social status, promises her a comfortable life with a partner she can twist around on her finger. I see her as just a spoilt girl who had no one to guide her.
Instead of hating her, I feel pity for the character as she made some terrible decisions without ever thinking them through.

Alexandra wrote: "I generally feel pretty alone on this, but I've always rather liked the character of Catherine and have found her to be a rather misunderstood character. What else was she supposed to do aside from..."
I hate Catherine... she was cruel and arrogant and I think she simply married Edgar because she could.. she found him attractive and better company, intellectually, than Heathcliff... she probably thought Heathcliff would always be there for her regardless - like a stupid dog.. I don't think she anticipated what her marrying Edgar would do to him.. or herself I guess.. she should have just done what her daughter ended up doing with Hareton and just taught him to read herself

I liked her character more when she was a kid, but when she grew up she seemed like a spoiled brat. I understood why she decided to marry Edgar, seeing as this was the 1700s and women had to be supported by their husbands in order to survive, but she was horrible to Edgar by thinking she could marry him an keep Heathcliff on the side, and then Heathcliff came back in the picture, she had to go and practically make out with him in front of her husband. Pardon the expression, but she was playing both those guys like a fiddle.

Also, I'm not sure if this is allowed here, but I liked her better in the 2009 BBC adaptation than I did in the book, as we actually get to see her character without the filter of Nelly Dean who seems biased against her. That's one thing that bugged me about Wuthering Heights. I was really hoping it would spend at least some time in the point of view of the actual main characters, but I guess that may be a modern construct.

I like the idea of thinking the character in the time and not as someone raised in the 2000s. She was a result of the men in her life.

I agree that she is misunderstood. Imagine, In Wuthering Heights there were no excesive luxuries or a femenine figure, she had her education, but also had no mother, a bully as a brother and an orphan partner in crime who didn't get the same advantages she had for being the master's daughter.
Her relationship with heathcliff is rooted in the intensity of the childhood, those extreme and radical changes, she loves him, she hates him, he was her best and only friend, whom she played with and fight with. And Heathcliff as a loyal dog or servant who lives by her will. Just imagine having someone who lives and breaths for you. They are Passion, they are fire, destructive, wild, yet warm and familiar.
After the incident when she gets left behind in thrushcross grange she meets a different type of life, educated friends, a warm family. Refinement.
She cames back to her house dressed like a lady. She had a chance on a different lifestyle and family. Edgar offers her that: Security, stability. Let's not forget that before she lived with them she though Edgar was a sissy. Catherine wanted to be with Heathcliff, but he left. She sheltered in the only people she felt confortable with: Edgar and his sister.

She never gave up her manners because of how she was raised, used to having Heathcliff. Edgar, blinded by her beauty and witt, did as she pleased too, most of the time.

When Heathcliff came back all those emotions rushed in and not a single day had passed, maybe she felt like a child again. She waited for him in the rain, she loved him but couldn't throw in his arms because he wasn't reliable.

Both, were in love with her for all she was: childish, passionate, impulsive. And caused her biggest flaw: being such a spoiled brat. They lived to please her, but treated her like a child and not a woman, consenting her wishes without thinking, because with her temper it was better to keep her happy.

I don't say I love her, but I can understand her.

I love Catherine as a character because I find her really interesting. There's never a dull moment with her, that's for sure! However, I don't like her much as a person. I think she'd be a super stressful friend to have-there would be so much drama, all the time! I agree that she's a bit misunderstood. You don't get to see very many of her good points because all of her bad points are what keeps the plot moving. Plus, Heathcliff brings out the worst in her, and he's always around, scheming and causing trouble.