Catherine Earnshaw Linton (young Catherine)
Present throughout the chapter
18 years old
Has eyes "precisely similar" to those of Catherine Earnshaw (the elder), plus "a breadth of forehead, and a certain arch of the nostril that makes her appear rather haughty"
Shows playful, teasing behavior (putting primroses in Hareton's porridge)
Demonstrates both defiance and nervousness toward Heathcliff
Claims friendship with Hareton and challenges Heathcliff about taking "all my land" and "my money"
Shows growth in understanding Hareton's loyalty to Heathcliff by chapter's end
Described as Heathcliff's daughter-in-law
Hareton Earnshaw
Present throughout the chapter
23 years old
Has eyes "precisely similar" to those of Catherine Earnshaw and resembles her even more than young Catherine does
Initially speechless and deferential, later shows protective instincts toward Catherine
Performs garden work, removes currant and gooseberry bushes at Catherine's request
Demonstrates fierce loyalty to Heathcliff despite Catherine's attempts to turn him against his master
Serves as Catherine's teacher in their friendship
Shows "honest, warm, and intelligent nature" emerging from "clouds of ignorance and degradation"
Mr. Heathcliff
Present for most scenes, briefly absent in afternoon
Master of the house
Shows violent rage toward Catherine, nearly striking her but stopping himself
Experiences strange psychological state - feels detached from life, has to "remind myself to breathe"
Sees resemblances to the elder Catherine Earnshaw everywhere
Claims to be losing interest in revenge despite having the power to execute it
Refers to Catherine as his daughter-in-law
Ellen "Nelly" Dean (narrator)
Present throughout, serves as housekeeper
"Held the mistress's post in making tea and carving" at meals
Observes and worries about the developing friendship between Catherine and Hareton
Serves as Heathcliff's confidant in his final monologue
Joseph
Appears mid-chapter in great distress
Has worked at Wuthering Heights for sixty years
Furious about destruction of his prized black-currant trees
Speaks in heavy dialect, threatens to leave his position
Blames Catherine for bewitching Hareton
Catherine Earnshaw (elder, deceased)
Mentioned extensively in Heathcliff's final monologue
Her physical features (especially eyes) are shared by both young Catherine and Hareton
Heathcliff sees her image everywhere: "In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night"
Morning after Monday: Catherine and Hareton work in garden before breakfast, clearing space and planning to import plants from Thrushcross Grange. They destroy Joseph's prized currant bushes.
Breakfast time: The household gathers for the meal. Catherine teases Hareton by putting primroses in his porridge, causing him to nearly laugh. Heathcliff notices and threatens Catherine, warning her not to remind him of her existence.
During breakfast: Joseph arrives, discovers the garden destruction, and demands his wages to leave after sixty years of service. He blames Catherine for bewitching Hareton.
After breakfast confrontation: Catherine admits responsibility for the garden work and defiantly challenges Heathcliff about taking her land and money. She threatens that Hareton will protect her. Heathcliff becomes violent, grabbing her hair, but suddenly stops and releases her, warning her to stay away from him.
Afternoon: Heathcliff leaves the house until evening. Catherine and Hareton establish themselves as friends, with Hareton serving as her teacher. Hareton refuses to let Catherine speak against Heathcliff.
Evening: Heathcliff returns unexpectedly to find the three by the fire—Catherine and Hareton studying together while Nelly watches. After dismissing the young people, Heathcliff confides in Nelly about his strange psychological state.
Joseph has worked at Wuthering Heights for sixty years
The black-currant trees were "the apple of Joseph's eye"
Catherine and Hareton plan to import plants from Thrushcross Grange
The household always eats meals together with Heathcliff
Nelly holds "the mistress's post" in serving tea and carving
Heathcliff owns both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange properties
Young Catherine is Heathcliff's daughter-in-law
The fire-light reveals that Catherine and Hareton have similar features to the elder Catherine Earnshaw
Hareton Earnshaw: 23 years old
Catherine Earnshaw Linton: 18 years old
Joseph: Has worked at Wuthering Heights for 60 years
Time reference: "the morrow of that Monday" - events occur on Tuesday
Physical maturity note: Despite their ages (23 and 18), both Catherine and Hareton are described as having "so much of novelty to feel and learn, that neither experienced nor evinced the sentiments of sober disenchanted maturity"
Catherine's boldness: She shows remarkable courage in directly confronting and defying Heathcliff, a significant escalation from previous fearful interactions
Hareton's education: He's now literate enough to be reading books and teaching Catherine, showing dramatic improvement from his previous ignorant state
Hareton's refined appearance: Nelly notes his "brightening mind brightened his features, and added spirit and nobility to their aspect" - a marked physical transformation
New threads introduced:
Catherine and Hareton's friendship/romance develops openly
Heathcliff's psychological deterioration becomes explicit
The question of what "strange change" Heathcliff senses approaching
Existing threads advanced:
The education/refinement of Hareton continues
Catherine's defiance of Heathcliff reaches a new peak
Joseph's long-threatened departure becomes imminent
Threads complicated:
Heathcliff's reaction to seeing resemblances to the elder Catherine in both young people
The challenge of Catherine and Hareton's relationship existing under Heathcliff's roof
Heathcliff's mysterious "change": He speaks of "a strange change approaching; I'm in its shadow at present" and claims his "single wish" will soon be fulfilled
Loss of revenge motivation: Heathcliff admits "I have lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction" despite having full power to execute his revenge
Physical and mental deterioration: He must "remind myself to breathe—almost to remind my heart to beat"
The resemblance motif: The emphasis on how both Catherine and Hareton resemble the elder Catherine, particularly their eyes being "precisely similar"
Heathcliff's violence stopping suddenly: His abrupt release of Catherine's hair and moment of collecting himself suggests some internal struggle
Key quote on Heathcliff's state: "My confessions have not relieved me; but they may account for some otherwise unaccountable phases of humour which I show. O God! It is a long fight; I wish it were over!"
The chapter establishes the romantic partnership between Catherine and Hareton while revealing Heathcliff's psychological unraveling, setting up what appears to be the climactic resolution of his long-held obsessions.