Heathcliff’s personality is a classic example of Margaret Mead’s theory of nature vs, nurture. Is Heathcliff’s dark and cruel personality really his true nature or was it a result of his harsh upbringing? His cruel upbringing from Hindley doubtlessly played a part in hardening his personality, Nelly describes how “He seemed a sullen, patient child, hardened, perhaps by to ill-treatment; he would stand Hindleys blows without winking or shedding a tear” (Bronte, 42). She also says how Hindley's treatment of Heathcliff was "enough to make a fiend of a saint" (Bronte, 68). Heathcliff, no doubt, can be sadistic towards others, but the question of whether that make him a sadist by nature, or if he is just acting based off of how he was raised to become.
Of course Heathcliff is a very malicious human being, he is in no way the hero of the story, but what kind of wicked person is he? Many people in the story describe him as being malicious in nature and irredeemable. Even Catherine, who is in love with him, describes him to Isabella as being “an unreclaimed creature, without refinement-without cultivation; an arid wilderness of furze and whinstone...a fierce, pitiless, wolfish man” (Bronte, 103).
However, despite how he is portrayed by the other characters, Heathcliff isn’t truly a sadist in nature. Of course he is brutal and harsh towards those he hates, but his feelings for Catherine and his treatment of Hareton suggest that his true nature is not sadistic, but that he is only cruel because of how he was raised.
Heathcliff’s feelings of love towards Catherine suggest that he is capable of more than just hatred and vengeance. Heathcliff is so in love with Catherine that when she is dying he says to her that “I have not broken your heart- you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine… What kind of living will it be when you- oh, God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave?” (Bronte, 158). Had Heathcliff truly been sadistic in nature than he would not be capable of such feelings. A sadist would relish the suffering of others, not be tortured by it. Heathcliff didn’t grow up with Catherine abusing him, so he had no ill feelings or desires for revenge towards her, only love. His brutality is reserved for those who have wronged him, thus, Heathcliff’s nature is not purely sadistic, he is merely cruel because of how wounded he is.
Also, his treatment of Hareton would suggest that Heathcliff also is not a sadist by nature. Heathcliff doubtlessly has intentions to mistreat Heriton, but it is merely in order to take his revenge on the dead Hindley for Hindley’s mistreatment of him. Heathcliff says “Now my bonny lad, you (Hareton) are mine! And we’ll see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it” (Bronte, 182). Nevertheless, Heathcliff’s treatment of Hareton is never as cruel as Hindleys treatment of him. He raises Hareton in ignorance, but he doesn’t abuse him. Hareton maintains his sense of self-worth and lives a relatively happy, simple life. Heathcliff even praises him to Nelly Dean saying how he wishes that Hareton was his son.
However the most significant reason why Heathcliff is not sadistic by nature is when he gives up his decades-long pursuit for revenge. When Heathcliff sees how Cathy and Hareton find happiness and love for one another, he tells how their relationship is “An absurd termination to my violent excursions” (Bronte, 306). However he does nothing to destroy this. He admits that he has “lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction” (Bronte, 306). Simply, Heathcliff would rather see Hareton happy with Cathy, whereas someone who is just sadistic in nature would enjoy only causing them grief by trying to ruin their relationship.
Therefore, while some of Heathcliff’s cruelty could have been him acting upon his true nature, a lot of it is based off of his need for revenge, which is stemmed from his upbringing. This makes him more than just a sadist in nature but a wounded man, behaving sadistic because of how he was raised to become.
While speculations can be made about whether nature or nurture contributed to Heathcliff’s personality more, the question still remains, if Heathcliff had been given a better upbringing, would it have changed who he turned out to be? And if so,what kind of person would he probably be like if he didn’t have any reason for wanting revenge?
Of course Heathcliff is a very malicious human being, he is in no way the hero of the story, but what kind of wicked person is he? Many people in the story describe him as being malicious in nature and irredeemable. Even Catherine, who is in love with him, describes him to Isabella as being “an unreclaimed creature, without refinement-without cultivation; an arid wilderness of furze and whinstone...a fierce, pitiless, wolfish man” (Bronte, 103).
However, despite how he is portrayed by the other characters, Heathcliff isn’t truly a sadist in nature. Of course he is brutal and harsh towards those he hates, but his feelings for Catherine and his treatment of Hareton suggest that his true nature is not sadistic, but that he is only cruel because of how he was raised.
Heathcliff’s feelings of love towards Catherine suggest that he is capable of more than just hatred and vengeance. Heathcliff is so in love with Catherine that when she is dying he says to her that “I have not broken your heart- you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine… What kind of living will it be when you- oh, God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave?” (Bronte, 158). Had Heathcliff truly been sadistic in nature than he would not be capable of such feelings. A sadist would relish the suffering of others, not be tortured by it. Heathcliff didn’t grow up with Catherine abusing him, so he had no ill feelings or desires for revenge towards her, only love. His brutality is reserved for those who have wronged him, thus, Heathcliff’s nature is not purely sadistic, he is merely cruel because of how wounded he is.
Also, his treatment of Hareton would suggest that Heathcliff also is not a sadist by nature. Heathcliff doubtlessly has intentions to mistreat Heriton, but it is merely in order to take his revenge on the dead Hindley for Hindley’s mistreatment of him. Heathcliff says “Now my bonny lad, you (Hareton) are mine! And we’ll see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it” (Bronte, 182). Nevertheless, Heathcliff’s treatment of Hareton is never as cruel as Hindleys treatment of him. He raises Hareton in ignorance, but he doesn’t abuse him. Hareton maintains his sense of self-worth and lives a relatively happy, simple life. Heathcliff even praises him to Nelly Dean saying how he wishes that Hareton was his son.
However the most significant reason why Heathcliff is not sadistic by nature is when he gives up his decades-long pursuit for revenge. When Heathcliff sees how Cathy and Hareton find happiness and love for one another, he tells how their relationship is “An absurd termination to my violent excursions” (Bronte, 306). However he does nothing to destroy this. He admits that he has “lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction” (Bronte, 306). Simply, Heathcliff would rather see Hareton happy with Cathy, whereas someone who is just sadistic in nature would enjoy only causing them grief by trying to ruin their relationship.
Therefore, while some of Heathcliff’s cruelty could have been him acting upon his true nature, a lot of it is based off of his need for revenge, which is stemmed from his upbringing. This makes him more than just a sadist in nature but a wounded man, behaving sadistic because of how he was raised to become.
While speculations can be made about whether nature or nurture contributed to Heathcliff’s personality more, the question still remains, if Heathcliff had been given a better upbringing, would it have changed who he turned out to be? And if so,what kind of person would he probably be like if he didn’t have any reason for wanting revenge?