Hindley Earnshaw - Present in scenes. Drunk and violent, threatening Nelly and his son Hareton with a carving knife. Described as having "wild beast's fondness" and "madman's rage." Takes brandy from dresser, drinks spirits. Shows extreme mood swings from violence to affection toward his son. Called "the wicked man" and "the misguided man."
Nelly Dean (Ellen Dean) - Narrator, present throughout. The housekeeper caring for baby Hareton. Age twenty-two is mentioned in relation to Catherine's catechism. Shows protective instincts toward Hareton, stands up to Hindley's threats.
Hareton Earnshaw - Present as a baby/young child. Son of Hindley. Described as terrified of his father, "squalling and kicking," falls from banister but is caught by Heathcliff. Later described as "nearly five years old" when Nelly leaves Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff - Present in scenes. Catches falling Hareton, preventing serious injury. Listens secretly from behind the settle to Catherine's conversation with Nelly. Leaves after hearing Catherine say "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now." Goes missing after the thunderstorm and is never heard from again.
Catherine Earnshaw (Miss Cathy) - Present in scene. Announces Edgar Linton has proposed marriage and she has accepted. Age twenty-two mentioned. Becomes ill with fever after Heathcliff's disappearance, later recovers and marries Edgar Linton three years after his father's death.
Edgar Linton - Mentioned as having proposed to Catherine. Described as handsome, young, cheerful, rich. Catherine accepts his proposal.
Joseph - Present in scene. The elderly servant who speaks in dialect. Returns from outside, leads prayers, searches for Heathcliff. Makes accusations about Catherine and Edgar's secret meetings.
Kenneth (Doctor) - Mentioned. Local doctor who treats Catherine's fever, declares her "dangerously ill." Earlier mentioned as being "crammed head-downmost in the Black-horse marsh" by Hindley (likely exaggeration).
Old Mrs. Linton - Mentioned. Edgar's mother who visits during Catherine's illness, later dies of fever along with her husband within days of each other.
Mr. Linton - Mentioned. Edgar's father who dies (along with his wife) of fever caught from Catherine. Edgar inherits three years later.
Evening/Night Scene: Hindley returns home drunk, threatens Nelly with carving knife while she hides Hareton in kitchen cupboard. Hindley dangles Hareton over banister, child falls but is caught by Heathcliff. Catherine comes down from her room and confides in Nelly about Edgar's marriage proposal.
Same Evening: Catherine reveals she has accepted Edgar Linton's proposal. During conversation, Heathcliff secretly listens from behind settle. He leaves after hearing Catherine say it would degrade her to marry him. Catherine searches for Heathcliff through thunderstorm until midnight.
Next Morning: Catherine found still by fireplace, soaked and ill. Heathcliff has not returned.
Following Period: Catherine develops fever, becomes dangerously ill. Dr. Kenneth treats her. Old Mr. and Mrs. Linton visit, catch fever, die within days of each other.
Three Years Later: Edgar inherits and marries Catherine at Gimmerton Chapel.
After Marriage: Nelly accompanies Catherine to Thrushcross Grange. Hareton remains at Wuthering Heights, nearly five years old when Nelly leaves.
The house has a kitchen with a cupboard large enough to hide a child
There is a settle (bench) in the kitchen positioned so someone behind it cannot be seen from certain angles
The kitchen has a banister/staircase where someone can be dangled over
Wuthering Heights has an east chimney-stack that gets damaged in the storm
Thrushcross Grange is Edgar Linton's family estate
Gimmerton Chapel is where Catherine and Edgar marry
Gimmerton is a nearby town
The story includes a violent thunderstorm that damages the house
Black-horse marsh is a local geographical feature
Catherine Earnshaw: Twenty-two years old during the marriage proposal scene
Hareton: Nearly five years old when Nelly leaves for Thrushcross Grange
Timeline: Edgar proposes → Catherine becomes ill → Old Lintons die → Three years pass → Edgar and Catherine marry → Nelly moves to Thrushcross Grange
Hareton's age progression: Baby/toddler during the banister incident → nearly five when Nelly leaves (roughly 4-5 years span)
Heathcliff completely disappears after overhearing Catherine's declaration - no explanation given for where he goes or why he never returns
Catherine transforms from passionate girl torn between Edgar and Heathcliff into "saucier and more passionate, and haughtier than ever" after her illness
New Threads Introduced:
Edgar Linton's marriage proposal to Catherine
Catherine's internal conflict about marrying Edgar vs. her love for Heathcliff
The question of Heathcliff's feelings and his reaction to Catherine's words
Threads Advanced:
Catherine accepts Edgar's proposal despite her deeper love for Heathcliff
Heathcliff disappears permanently after overhearing Catherine
Threads Resolved:
Catherine and Edgar do marry three years later
Catherine moves to Thrushcross Grange
The Old Lintons die, leaving Edgar to inherit
Catherine's dream about being miserable in heaven and being thrown back to Wuthering Heights
Her declaration "I am Heathcliff!" suggesting their souls are intertwined
The violent thunderstorm occurring the night Heathcliff disappears
Catherine's statement that separating from Heathcliff would be "impracticable"
Joseph's Biblical references and prophecy that "this visitation worn't for nowt"
The damage to the house during the storm (tree falling, chimney damaged) as potential symbolism
Catherine's belief she can maintain her connection to Heathcliff while married to Edgar
Nelly's final reflection that Hareton has "completely forgotten all about Ellen Dean" - suggests themes of lost connections and forgotten relationships
Key quote revealing Catherine's true feelings: "My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary."