In Wuthering Heights　　　 In the Brontes　　　 Conclusion

1. Mr. Earnshaw:
"But the hour came, at last, that ended Mr.Earnshaw's
troubles on earth. He died quietly in his chair one October
evening, seated by the fireside." ( P.36 )

2. Frances Mary:
"But the doctor says missis must go; he says she's been in a
　consumption these many months. I heard him tell Mr.
　Hindley-and now she has nothing to keep her, and she'll be
　Dead before winter." ( P.54 )
　"…but one night, while leaning on his shoulder, in the act of
　saying she thought she should be able to get up tomorrow,
　a fit of coughing took her-a very slight one- he raised her in
　his arms; she put her hands about his neck, her face changed
　, and she was dead." ( P.55 )
Cause: consumption

3. Catherine:
　In chapter 12 (we can how madness and illness pestered her.)
　"About twelve o'clock, that night, was born the Catherine
　you saw at Wuthering Heights, a puny seven month's child;
　and two hours after the mother died, having never recovered
　sufficient consciousness to miss Heathcliff, or know Edgar."
　( P.138 )
　Cause: madness & illness

4. Hindley:
　"…that Earnshaw had come home rabid drunk, ready to pull
　the old place about our ears,…" ( P.61~62 )
　From the plot that Hindley was in drunkenness, he almost
　Lost all his intellect. For example, he even wanted to kill
　Nelly, and break his son's neck! ( P.62~63 )
　"…, he sat down by the fire, and swallowed gin or brandy
by　 tumblerfuls." ( P.145 )
　"He died true to his character, drunk as a lord-poor lad;"
　( P.155 )
　"…, yesterday afternoon; and, in that interval, he fastened
　the two doors of the house against me, and he has spent the
　night in drinking himself to death deliberately! We broke in
　this morning, for we heard him snorting like a horse, and
　there he was, laid over the settle-flaying and scalping would
　not have wakened him-I sent for Kenneth, and he came; but
　not till the beast had changed into carrion- he was both dead
　and cold, and stark;…" ( P.156~157 )
　Cause: alcoholism

5. Isabella:
　"Her family were of a delicate constitution: she and Edgar
　both lacked the ruddy health that you will generally meet in
　these parts. What her last illness was, I am not certain; I
　conjecture they died of the same thing, a kind of fever, slow
　at its commencement, but incurable, and rapidly consuming
　life towards the close." ( P.160 )
　Cause: fever

6. Edgar:
"All was composed, however; Catherine's despair was as
　silent as her father's joy. She supported him calmly, in
　appearance; and he fixed on her features his raised eyes,
　that seemed dilating with ecstasy. He died blissfully."
　( P.236 )
　"I am going to her, and you, darling child, shall come to
　us." And never stirred or spoke again, but continued that
　rapt, radiant gaze, till his pulse imperceptibly stopped, and
　his soul departed. None could have noticed the exact minute
　of his death, it was so entirely without a struggle." ( P.236)
　Cause: fever

7. Linton:
"He's safe, and I'm free," she answered, "I should feel well
　-but," she continued with a bitterness she couldn't conceal,
　"you have left me so long to struggle against death, alone,
　that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!" ( P.245 )
　Cause: illness from childhood

8. Heathcliff:
" Mr. Heathcliff was there-laid on his back. His eyes met
　mine so keen and fierce, I started; and then, he seemed to
　smile. I could not think him dead-but his face and throat
　were washed with rain; the bed-clothes dripped, and he was
　perfectly still. The lattice, flapping to and fro, had grazed on
　the fingers to it, I could doubt no more-he was dead and
　stark!" ( P.280 )
　
　
In the Brontes:

1. Mrs.Bronte:
Cause: pulmonary tuberculosis

2. Maria & Elizabeth:
Cause: pulmonary tuberculosis

3. Branwell
Cause: pulmonary tuberculosis

4. Emily:
Cause: asthma

5. Ann:
Cause: illness

6. Charotte:
Cause: pulmonary tuberculosis

7. Mr.Bronte:
Cause: illness

Conclusion:
　　　　　　 I think the environment that Emily Bronte lived in influences the reason why she arranged "death and illness" appearing constantly.　　 At the time she lived, there was a kind of epidemic-scarlet fever spreading widely in which they lived. Consequently, as a result of being in this surrounding, she wrote Wuthering Heights with a series of death and illness. 　
　　　 As to the death and illness, it can be mentioned that at that time, the medical science and skill were not so advanced that people had not enough medical knowledge about the illness surrounded them.　　 Accordingly, most people who got sick at that time would be destined to die soon.　　 By right of this, Emily Bronte had such the same experience, and she reflected it in her work-Wuthering Heights.　　　 That is why this background would impact on the one in Wuthering Heights so deeply!
 
 

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