Emily Bronte's novel, "Wuthering Heights," covers all of the requisite themes necessary to earn its place in the Gothic genre: villainous behavior, helpless heroine, and horrific weather all in a decrepit, haunted setting. Conversely, Wuthering Heights, is most often described as one of the most tragic and heart breaking love stories ever told. However, revenge masked as justice and possessive jealousy parading as love are the central themes to a plot that thickens with hate and contempt as the story unfolds. Heathcliff truly believes that his love for Cathy is all consuming and the driving force behind everything he does throughout the novel. His obsession with her becomes his whole existence and Heathcliff's identity is so tied to Cathy's that they both come to think of themselves as one person. "He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."(Page 73) This statement made by Cathy illustrates her strong, seemingly reciprocal feelings for Heathcliff. Moreover, Cathy is all that Heathcliff has, which gives her the illusion of being in control. At this early stage in the story, Cathy is still in love with the idea of Heathcliff's childhood devotion to her, not the reality of what their lives would really be like as an adult couple. .
For Heathcliff, the fantasy world they lived in is shattered by Cathy's changed behavior when she returns from Thrushcross Grange, smitten with Edgar and treating Heathcliff like the outcast he has always been. "Doubtless Catherine marked the difference between her friends, as one came in and the other went out. The contrast resembled what you see in exchanging a bleak, hilly, coal country for a beautiful fertile valley; and his voice and greeting were as opposite as his aspect." (Pg. 63) Even though Cathy knows Heathcliff's dark side better than anyone, this description of her new lifestyle confirms that she mistakenly trusts that he will always be her protector and under her spell.
