Chapter 9 (Rodrigo)

In Chapter 9, the thing that has caught my attention is the criticism towards racism present during the time. I am not sure if it is a direct criticism of racism because racism played a very big role during that time being that many people still possed slaves and may companies and employers utilized slavery as a means to produce their products. However, it is interesting to notice that the chapter is all about Hareton and Heathcliff and how they suffer because they are not born into the family but rather adopted into it and because they are of a slightly differnet colour than the other children they are punished for it. This can be seen in the very first paragraphs of the chapter when Mr. Hindley wants to punish Hareton because he cannot stand having him around because he is a pest and is not worthy of the family:

"'You'd rather be damned!' he said; 'and so you shall. No law in England can hinder a man from keeping his house decent, and mine's abominable! Open your mouth.' He held the knife in his hand, and pushed its point between my teeth: but, for my part, I was never much afraid of his vagaries. I spat out, and affirmed it tasted detestably - I would not take it on any account. 'Oh!' said he, releasing me, 'I see that hideous little villain is not Hareton: I beg your pardon, Nell. If it be, he deserves flaying alive for not running to welcome me, and for screaming as if I were a goblin. Unnatural cub, come hither! I'll teach thee to impose on a good-hearted, deluded father."

This passage demonstrates the utter cruelty which Mr.Hindley is prepared to bring upon the little boy only because he does not enjoy his presence being that he is of a slightly different race and origin. He literally treats the boy as he would his dog, or even worse as is the case for the treatment of many slaves or peoples of different skin colour during that time. Another passage that demonstrates the way in which Mr.Hindley does not truly "love" Hareton but in a way wants to force Hareton into loving him is when he says shortly after sticking the fishermans knife in his mouth:

"What a devilish conceit it is, to cherish our ears - we're asses enough without them. Hush, child, hush! Well then, it is my darling! wisht, dry thy eyes - there's a joy; kiss me. What! it won't? Kiss me, Hareton! Damn thee, kiss me! By God, as if I would rear such a monster! As sure as I'm living, I'll break the brat's neck.' "

Another thing that struck me as familiar from what I have seen from another Realistic novel A Doll's House, is how Catherine wants to gain consent or approval from Nelly for her to marry Linton because she knows that she would be marrying him just for the money and not for love. She finds it more advantagious to marry Linton for money so that she can evidentually save Heathecliff from her father's cruelty than to marry Heathcliffe for true love and live in poverty and him living under constant abuse from Catherine's father. This is similar to what Mrs. Linde from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House did in order to have enough money to be able to take care of her mother and two brothers, for instead of marrying Krogstad who is her true love she decideds to leave him and marry another many who has money and could potentially finance her mother and brothers. However Mrs.Linde is in a way forced to make this descision because that is the only way that she can take care of her family. She is willing to sacrifice her happiness in order to help her family. Catherine is doing the similar thing in Wuthering Heights by marrying Linton in order to have more economic power to save her true love, Heathecliff.

"Nelly, I see now you think me a selfish wretch; but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars? whereas, if I marry Linton I can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of my brother's power.' "