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| Name: Tan Eng Kiong
S/no: 484011617 Is Hareton a Mirror of Heathcliff? Upon reading the novel it seems like Hareton is a mirror of Heathcliff, however, as the novel proceeds. Hareton turns out to be rather different from Heathcliff. Hareton has always been a crude young man who curses a lot and quite frequently associate with violent. Like Heathcliff while young, "He had been content with daily labor and rough animal enjoyments… (252)." He too is violent, though not to the extreme like Heathcliff had been, as when Nelly sends a letter to Cathy, "Hareton beat her; he seized and put it in his waistcoat… (250)." Character wise, Hareton is as strong as Heathcliff. When Cathy insults him for keeping the books without even having the ability to read, he says "Take them! I never want to hear, or read, or think of them again (252)." Cathy later too sees this in the young man, she says, "I know why Hareton never speaks, …, he is afraid I shall laugh at him (259)."; Nelly says, "but he was as obstinate as a mule (260)." Self-esteem is a prominent trait in both Heathcliff and Hareton. So is Hareton that similar to Heathcliff? I'm afraid not. Although Heathcliff says, "Five minutes ago, Hareton seemed a personification of my youth, not a human being ¾ I felt to him in such a variety of ways, that it would have been impossible to have accosted him rationally (270)." , he uses "Five minutes ago" to explain that there is difference between them at least upon Cathy's appearance. One distinctive difference Hareton has from Heathcliff is his special preference for books. Heathcliff dislikes books; Hareton, who has been expropriated of reading, is exactly the opposite. During the conversation of Cathy with Lockwood, she turns to talk to Hareton, "Hareton, I came upon a secret stock in your room… some Latin and Greek, and some tales and poetry; …(250). Although he is unable to read, he endeavors to learn. Lockwood tries to explain Hareton's intention by saying, "Mr. Hareton is desirous of increasing his amount of knowledge (251)." Cathy adds on, "Yes, I hear him trying to spell and read to himself, and pretty blunders he makes (251)!" Actually, chapters before, he had been trying to read his name, this is extremely different from Heathcliff who didn't appreciate the chance to educate himself. Self-esteem never set Heathcliff to the notion of altering himself for a better image, he enjoys his life as a brute, enjoying his freedom and primitive lifestyle. As for Hareton, "till Catherine crossed his path-shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval were his first prompters to higher pursuits;…he endeavors to raise himself…(25)." Here we see another purpose of his willingness to read and learn, it is to raise his status in order to merge with both educational and social status of his cousin, Cathy. Unlike Heathcliff, Hareton never thought of having revenge. No matter how Cathy hurts him, he tries to suppress, at most talks back at her, no retribution is acted. He treats Heathcliff like a father, not keeping in mind of Heathcliff's unfeeling towards him. He is extremely obedient towards Heathcliff and cares for him to a great extent. For example, when Cathy criticizes Heathcliff, he corrects her by asking her, "…how she would like him to speak ill of her father (268)?", and at Heathcliff's death, he moans for him, "he sat by the corpse all night, weeping in bitter earnest…and bemoaned him with that strong grief which springs naturally from a generous heart…(280)." Friendliness is seen in Hareton towards Cathy but not in Heathcliff. Nelly describes Hareton as having "sensitive though uncultivated feelings (252)." Nelly furthers by saying, "his honest, warm, and intelligent nature shook off rapidly the clouds of ignorance and degradation in which it had been bred (268)." These are inborn traits that seem absent in Heathcliff personalities. After Heathcliff's death, Hareton changes in physical appearance which is perceived by Lockwood, "he was a young man, respectably dressed…(256)." And speaks "in deep but softened tones (256)." A part to note is the comparison of Hareton's passion towards Cathy and Heathcliff's towards Catherine. Heathcliff says "well, Hareton's aspect was the ghost of my immortal love, of my wild endeavors to hold my right, my degradation, my pride, my happiness and my anguish-(270)." This shows that Heathcliff thinks that Hareton is actually a reflection of his love, pride, etc…. However, Hareton chooses a better and more correct way of expression and achievement. No matter how, there are still differences. No need to mention more about it, Hareton is not actually a mirror of Heathcliff, as he is able to work out his own life. |