Catherine Linton

Catherine Linton (also known as "Young Catherine" or Cathy Linton and later as Catherine Heathcliff, then as Catherine Earnshaw) is a character in Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. She is the daughter of Edgar Linton and Catherine Earnshaw. Despite Heathcliff's attempts at exacting revenge on her for the indiscretions of her family, she eventually marries her true love, Hareton Earnshaw. In this way, she establishes equilibrium back in the story. Story Cathy is a very curious and mischievous girl. When thirteen years old, she seeks out Wuthering Heights, the house to which she is not allowed to travel because Heathcliff, Edgar's enemy, resides there. On arrival she meets Hareton Earnshaw, the nephew of her mother. Nelly, who travels with her, insists that he is her cousin. Cathy is genuinely amazed and a bit shocked at his coarse, uneducated language, his dirty clothes and his savage manner. She disapproves that there is no way that it could be so. On her second visit, which Nelly desperately tries to prevent, Heathcliff meets her for the first time. He greets her in a warm and kind manner, although we know that he blames her for the death of his soul mate, her mother. He tells Nelly that he means no harm; he only wants Cathy and his own son, Linton, to fall in love and be married. As a result of his encouragement, Cathy and Linton get close to each other. When Nelly forbids Cathy from visiting Wuthering Heights and the bitter tyrant Heathcliff, Cathy and Linton write love letters to each other.