Classics Without All the Class discussion

Do you continue to root for Heathcliff, even knowing all of the horrible things he does? Why or why not? Do you think he is cruel? Is his cruelty justified?

Well I don't root for Heathcliff but I don't oppose him either. Even so, that does not mean that is actions are justified! He's cruel but it's the circumstances, the hatred he's received and how the people around him treated him that's made him the way he was. That's one of the reasons why I couldn't help but shed tears for him at the end when he dies- all alone and hated- now more than ever. And the misery of it all was that it were the same people that hated him that made him that way! And, who could forget how broken he was after Kathy's death! If anything, that was the one thing that still gave him light. His love was pure though fueled by hatred and deception. I can't help but think that if things hadn't taken their toll on them, they would've been together and he wouldn't have been what he was.

I don't say what he's done is right, I don't say his actions are justified but I can't say I blame him either. For all this darkness wasn't his own choice as much as "the only way left".

I beleive his actions are justified as a reckoning of all abuse he had to endure from the Earnshaws, however, when he started throwing his bitternes over Hareton he crossed a line, as the boy was as innocent and vulnerable an orphan as he once was.

I went back and forth so many times over Heatchliffe. Like @Ishita said, the family made him what has became. It's like an early argument on nature vs. nurture. I wonder if that is what Emily was discussing in this story.

I don't suppose Cathy was discussing that. Because what I think of Cathy is that she's a naive, innocent (in the sense that she had no hand in what became of Heath. It wasn't her fault he misinterpreted her spending some days at Hareton's and left without informing her). I think it's really unfair to Cathy when she's being blamed by Heath for her "betrayal".

Probably by the time Heath comes back he's had so much to ensure that he just cannot see the things in their true light. However, it does not give him the right to go about treating people like he does. Like I said, I don't blame him but I don't agree with him either. If anything, I kinda feel sad for him.

Jessica wrote: "Do you continue to root for Heathcliff, even knowing all of the horrible things he does? Why or why not? Do you think he is cruel? Is his cruelty justified?"

I felt sorry for young Heathcliff, but I can't say that I actually rooted for him as an adult. I understand how and why he devolved into that type of man, but I can't bring myself to say that his cruelty is justified. I don't think anything can justify those types of actions.

I agree with the above in sympathising with you Heathcliff but not the returning. I see the reason for the change but cannot condone it. His actions concerning Linton and Catherine are nothing but maniacal. Trying to possess the past he could not himself.

I understand his resentments as a child, but the revenge against everyone associated with the Linton family is beyond ridiculous. Young Cathy, Linton, Hareton and even Nelly never did anything to him, yet they are the one he's trying to destroy! Certainly nothing justifiable about kidnapping, forceable marriage, wheedling away all the property, brutal violence, not to mention all of the mental and emotional abuse he heaps on everyone. If he lived today, he would have been locked up ages ago.