Mr. Earnshaw's Unusual Favoritism

            Considered to be a very important work of the English Literature, the novel Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, is remarkable for the intricate relationships between its characters. The two main families of the story, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, go through unique experiences that arise singular reactions and feelings in different characters. One significant family relationship is the one between Mr. Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a street kid he finds in Liverpool and raises as a son. Mr. Earnshaw has an uncommon preference for Heathcliff over his legitimate son, Hindley. This favoritism is clearly exposed through Nelly Dean's narration and can be observed both in Mr. Earnshaw's actions and speech.
             Ever since Heathcliff comes to live with the Earnshaws, Mr. Earnshaw does whatever he can to protect him. On the first night Heathcliff spends at Wuthering Heights, Catherine and Hindley refuse to have him in their room, and Nelly Dean leaves the boy to sleep on the stairs. When he learns about what has happened, Mr. Earnshaw takes radical measures against the servant, as narrated by her, "I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house,"" (page 33). The punishment Mr. Earnshaw imposes on the Nelly Dean shows that he is strangely willing to rebuke old members of the household to allow his foster child to live in peace and comfort. In addition, Mr. Earnshaw has an inclined reaction favoring Heathcliff when he finds out his protégé is being persecuted by Hindley. The father becomes furious, not just because his children are in conflict, but because Heathcliff is quietly enduring Hindley's hatred and violence. When inquiring about what has happened, Mr. Earnshaw does not hear what Hindley has to say and only listens to Heathcliff, "He took to Heathcliff strangely, believing all he said ( ) and petting him up far above Cathy - (page 33).