Tabitha Adams - English
described in Book 19; “But though Odysseus’ heart was wrung by his wife’s distress, his eyes, as
if made of horn or iron, remained steady between their lids, so guilefully did he repress his
tears” 11 . With the comparison of ‘horn’ and ‘iron’ to describe Odysseus’ eyes, Homer
emphasizes Odysseus’ resilience; the simile almost portrays Odysseus as inhuman, as
dispassionate as metal. This self-discipline which Odysseus must demonstrate as an outsider is
unconventional behaviour for a Greek hero. It is however very admirable for Odysseus to be
both a fearsome warrior and to command great self-control and Homer’s portrayal of Odysseus
in this way makes him a more consummate hero than any other hero of his convention.
From the very start Heathcliff is an outsider in Wuthering Heights and like Odysseus he must
adapt his behaviour, however Heathcliff’s adaption is not as constructive as Odysseus. Nelly
describes Hindley’s degradation of Heathcliff in Chapter 6, “He drove him from their company
to the servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and insisted that he should
labour out of doors instead; compelling him to do so as hard as any other lad on the farm.” 12
Inevitably this deprivation and treatment as an outsider leads to Heathcliff’s sullen and
acrimonious behaviour, as Nelly explains in Chapter 8, “his naturally reserved disposition was
exaggerated into an almost idiotic excess of unsociable moroseness; and he took a grim
pleasure, apparently, in exciting the aversion rather than the esteem of his few
acquaintance.” 13 Heathcliff’s treatment in his youth and his status as an outsider are at least in
part to blame for his twisted character when he grows up. It is this defense for his actions as an
adult and his treatment as an outsider in his childhood which evoke sympathy for Heathcliff
from the reader, enabling us to view him in a heroic light. The narrative voice of Nelly Dean is
particularly integral in stimulating this sympathy, in Chapter 7 whilst remembering her old
master Earnshaw who was partial to Heathcliff, she draws attention to Heathcliff’s suffering “I
went on to think of his fondness for Heathcliff, and his dread lest he should suffer neglect after
his death … and that naturally led me to consider the poor lad’s situation now, and from singing
I changed my mind to crying.” 14
Heathcliff’s status as an outsider and the distinction in class between Heathcliff and Cathy leads
to Cathy’s decision to marry Linton, one of the main reasons behind the terrible embittering of
Heathcliff’s character. In Chapter 9 Cathy says that it would “degrade” 15 her to marry Heathcliff;
in class-fixated Victorian society Heathcliff is deemed an unsuitable husband for Cathy. I believe
11
Pg. 225, Homer, The Odyssey
Pg. 32, Brontë, Wuthering Heights
13
Pg. 48, Brontë, Wuthering Heights
14
Pg. 38, Brontë, Wuthering Heights
15
Pg. 57, Brontë, Wuthering Heights
12
8
12