.
Most characters in the novel also suffer the love or lack' of love. For instance, Edgar loved Catherine and married her, but it wasn't the kind of relationship we see in Heathcliff and Catherine, it was more a love ruled by the society dictations. Hindley loved his wife Fances, but she dies at a young age. Isabella loved Heathcliff, but when she realises about Heathcliff true feelings towards her, her love turns into hate. Also in the second generation we find love between Cathy and Linton; and then between Hareton and Cathy. But the love story between the two protagonists eclipses the other.
The love of Catherine and Heathcliff begins as a childhood togetherness'. They played free in the moors, not under society or moral rules. This is a kind of innocent' love proper of children; much more related with the idea of spiritual love. They are like soul mates'. But when Catherine is put into society, by her staying at Thrushcross Grange, she is loved by others and her pride is affected. She realises of the rules of real life'. Then she takes an ambiguous relationship with Heathcliff. Here, this ideal of romantic love is broken. From this point there is an on going conflict between love and hate, which lasts until the end of the novel. We could say that there is a general confrontation during the novel between two opposites: Nature vs. Society, Passion vs. Reason, Wuthering Heights vs. Thrushcross Grange, the love for Heathcliff vs. the love for Edgar Linton.
Catherine decides to marry Edgar; their spiritual love is frustrated by social status. Catherine marries Edgar Linton for superficial reasons:.
"I've no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn't have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him."".
By her speech Catherine admits to Ellen that she loves Heathcliff but cannot think of marrying him because she would be degraded, "two beggars-.
