A brief compilation of words used to describe Heathcliffe: Savage vehemence; crushing his nails into his palms, and grinding his teeth to subdue the maxillary convulsions; rather morose; violent emotion; exaggeratedly reserved; rather slovenly; vexatious phlegm; a genuine bad nature
Could the gloomy starkness of Wuthering Heights be more perfectly completed by anyone other than the harsh and vindictive Heathcliffe? After being discarded by the class-conscious Catherine and mistreated by a vengeful Hindley Earnshaw, the spoiled child that Heathcliffe once was is soon replaced by a viciously hostile man. His "genuine bad nature" seems to be the manifestation of the grudges he holds against those who have wronged him. I assume that the trauma of being an orphan, losing a loving pseudo-father, being loathed by a jealous brother-figure, and suffering the heartbreak inflicted upon him by his possible soulmate Catherine was quite a burden to bear. This unpleasant exterior seems to be a protective facade meant to shield him from pain and betrayal. This is evidenced by his quick change of character upon Catherine's "arrival." He becomes softened upon seeing someone he feels he can trust and love.
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