Chapter 5

Synopsis

Narrator: Nelly. 

A description of Catherine is given, including her growing fondness for Heathcliff. Hindley is sent away to college. Mr Earnshaw dies.

Commentary

This short chapter establishes the character of the young Catherine, and sets up the changes which will follow from Mr Earnshaw’s death.

Hindley was nought, and would never thrive as where he wandered: ‘Hindley was good for nothing, and would never succeed wherever he went.’ This is his own father’s opinion and prepares us for Hindley’s behaviour later in the novel.

Pharisee: a member of an ancient Jewish sect which prided itself on strict observance of the law. The term Pharisee thus became used for a self-righteous person or a hypocrite.

The little souls were comforting each other … safe together.: The final sentence of the chapter leaves the reader with a picture of innocence and of a traditional view of heaven of which Nelly approves. Later in the novel, Heathcliff and Catherine will not be described as ‘innocent’ and they both have developed very different personal concepts of heaven which are certainly not traditional.

• Tweet