Ruling Passion

            
             The word obsession is defined in the dictionary as: "a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion."" Emily Bronte's early Aristotelian tragedy "Wuthering Heights- is a story about love turned obsession. Bronte suggests this ruling passion leads the characters to be impulsive, vindictive, jealous and unintelligent, which consequentially have direct effects on their own lives, the lives of those whom surround them and the lives of the following generation. The ideas that Bronte uses to convey this are Heathcliff's obsession for Catherine, revenge, as well as power, Catherine's fascination with Heathcliff, and lastly Edgar Linton's obsession with being seeing as a "respectable- man. .
             Firstly, Heathcliff, a dangerous character, with rapidly changing moods, capable of deep-seeded hatred, and incapable, it seems, of any kind of forgiveness or compromise is a man driven by his obsession for Catherine. We at first sympathize with him, when we see Hindley mistreating him and his undying love for Catherine and when she betrays him by choosing Edgar as a husband; we see a huge transformation in our dear Heathcliff. He leaves Wuthering Heights for years, deserting his love, and is determined to be successful and powerful in hopes to re suitable for Catherine and impress the others. He comes back after three years, during which time nobody at Wuthering Heights or The Grange have known his whereabouts, and the first person he is eager to meet is Catherine. He's now a changed person driven by his obsession to be someone else. He tells Catherine: "I heard of your marriage, Cathy, not long since; and, while waiting in the yard below, I meditated this plan: just to have one glimpse of your face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure; afterwards settle my score with Hindley; and then prevent the law by doing execution on myself. Your welcome has put these ideas out of my mind; but beware of meeting me with another aspect next time.