Mr. Lockwood (Narrator/Frame Character)
Present: Currently ill and bedridden at Thrushcross Grange
Physical: Too weak to read, has been sick for four weeks
Actions: Requests Mrs. Dean continue her story, dismisses his medicine
Note: Has been suffering from illness partly caused by Heathcliff's influence
Mrs. Dean (Nelly)
Present: Serving as nurse to Lockwood and storyteller
Role: Primary narrator of the embedded story, former servant at both houses
Actions: Tends to Lockwood, continues the tale of Heathcliff's return
Personality: Observant, practical, somewhat judgmental
Mr. Heathcliff
Past role (in story): Returns after 3-year absence, now transformed
Physical transformation: "tall, athletic, well-formed man," "upright carriage suggested the idea of his having been in the army," "countenance was much older in expression," "intelligent, and retained no marks of former degradation," "half-civilised ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes full of black fire, but it was subdued"
Clothing: "dressed in dark clothes, with dark face and hair," "cheeks were sallow, and half covered with black whiskers"
Personality: Dignified manner, reserved, stern, shows "undisguised delight" when looking at Catherine
Actions: Returns unexpectedly, visits Thrushcross Grange, staying at Wuthering Heights with Hindley
Key quote: "I'm in hell till you do!" (about seeing Catherine)
Catherine Linton (Mrs. Linton)
Present: Married to Edgar, living at Thrushcross Grange
Personality: Passionate, demonstrative, self-centered, mercurial moods
Physical: Referenced indirectly through Isabella's jealousy of others' beauty
Actions: Welcomes Heathcliff ecstatically, argues with Edgar about him, confronts Isabella about her feelings
Relationship changes: Has grown fond of Edgar but still deeply attached to Heathcliff
Edgar Linton
Present: Master of Thrushcross Grange, Catherine's husband
Physical: "quite slender and youth-like" compared to Heathcliff
Personality: Gentle, jealous, proper, "deep-rooted fear of ruffling her humour"
Actions: Reluctantly receives Heathcliff, grows pale with annoyance, suggests kitchen as more suitable place for Heathcliff
Isabella Linton
Present: Edgar's sister, living at Thrushcross Grange
Age: Eighteen years old
Physical: "charming young lady," has "yellow hair and whiteness of her skin," "dainty elegance," "dove's eyes"
Personality: "infantile in manners, though possessed of keen wit, keen feelings, and a keen temper," becoming "cross and wearisome," "dwindling and fading"
Key development: Has fallen in love with Heathcliff
Actions: Argues with Catherine, defends Heathcliff, becomes distressed
Hindley Earnshaw
Past role: Now master of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff's former tormentor
Current state: Gambling, drinking, borrowing money against his land
Actions: Invited Heathcliff to stay, plays cards with him, losing money
Personality: "too reckless to select his acquaintance prudently," "always greedy"
Kenneth
Role: Local doctor treating Lockwood
Mentioned: Told Lockwood he won't be out of doors till spring
Joseph
Role: Servant at Wuthering Heights
Actions: Gossips about the goings-on at Wuthering Heights, reports on Hindley and Heathcliff's behavior
Current Frame (Present)
Four weeks after Lockwood's initial visit and illness
Heathcliff recently sent Lockwood grouse "seven days ago"
Heathcliff visited Lockwood's sickbed for an hour
Lockwood requests continuation of Mrs. Dean's story
Past Events (Mrs. Dean's Narrative)
Takes place after Catherine's marriage to Edgar Linton
Initial period: Catherine and Edgar very happy for "half a year"
"On a mellow evening in September": Heathcliff returns after 3-year absence
Nelly gathering apples at dusk, moon visible
Heathcliff waits an hour before approaching
Same evening: Dinner at Thrushcross Grange, Heathcliff stays "above an hour longer"
"About the middle of the night": Catherine visits Nelly's chamber
Following days: Period of happiness at the Grange
Recent weeks: Isabella has been "dying for your sake several weeks"
"The day after": Justice-meeting in next town, Edgar absent, Heathcliff calls early
Wuthering Heights Layout
Visible from Thrushcross Grange across the valley
Connected by a path through wild green park
Near Gimmerton chapel and marshes
Thrushcross Grange Details
Has a parlour with windows overlooking the court and valley
Kitchen mentioned as separate from main entertaining areas
Multiple bedrooms (Nelly has her own chamber)
Physical Descriptions
Gimmerton: Local village with chapel
The houses are at walking distance from each other
Valley setting with mist and beck (stream)
Heathcliff's Transformation
Has been absent exactly three years
Now has money ("plentifully supplied")
Refined manners, no longer rough
Military bearing suggests possible army service
Origin of wealth and education remains mysterious
Isabella Linton: Eighteen years old (explicitly stated) Heathcliff's absence: Exactly three years Catherine's marriage happiness: Lasted "half a year" initially Lockwood's illness: Four weeks duration Recent developments: Isabella has been infatuated "several weeks"
Heathcliff's Dramatic Transformation
From rough, uneducated foundling to refined gentleman
Physical transformation: now tall, athletic, well-formed
Acquired wealth and education through unknown means
Military bearing suggests possible army service
Retained "half-civilised ferocity" but now controlled
Isabella's Condition
Has become sickly and difficult over recent weeks
"Dwindling and fading before our eyes"
Change attributed to her secret love for Heathcliff
New Threads Introduced
Isabella's infatuation with Heathcliff creates new triangle
Heathcliff's mysterious source of wealth and education
His true motives for returning and staying at Wuthering Heights
Existing Threads Advanced
Catherine-Heathcliff relationship rekindled despite her marriage
Edgar's jealousy and discomfort with the situation
Hindley's continued degradation, now involving gambling with Heathcliff
Threads Complicated
Catherine torn between loyalty to husband and joy at Heathcliff's return
Edgar's genteel nature prevents him from directly confronting the situation
Heathcliff's presence destabilizes both households
Ominous Elements
Nelly's "presentiment in the bottom of my heart that he had better have remained away"
Heathcliff's interest in Isabella as Edgar's heir: "She's her brother's heir, is she not?"
His "ominous musing" when Catherine is absent
Joseph's reports of Hindley's deterioration and reckless behavior with Heathcliff
Nelly's fear: "an evil beast prowled between it and the fold, waiting his time to spring and destroy"
Catherine's Dangerous Confidence
Her belief she could "kill him, and he wouldn't wish to retaliate" regarding Edgar
Her dismissal of potential consequences of Heathcliff's presence
Heathcliff's Calculated Behavior
His careful establishment of visiting rights at the Grange
Strategic positioning at Wuthering Heights for proximity to Catherine
His reserved observation of Isabella despite her obvious attraction