Foil Characters in Wuthering Heights

In the novel, Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte portrays Heathcliff and Edgar as foils of each other, due to their contrasting personalities and appearances. In chapter 8, Catherine notices the definite difference between the two, observing that it resembled a exchange in “a bleak, hilly, coal country for a beautiful fertile valley” as Heathcliff walks out and Edgar walks in, Healthcliff‘s dark and rough appearance emphasizes the bright and elegant appearance of Edgar, Overall, Edgar’s appearance is portrayed as “good” while Heathcliff‘s as evil Similarly, the contrast was evident when Catherine spends time with the Lintons and returns home with a changed and improved image;

Catherine even points out how ”dirty” and ”black” Heathcliff looks compared to the Linton‘s appearance, as she has grown familiar to the upper-class family.

Due to the difference in the two characters’ social standing, Catherine treats each of them different from the otherr While Heathcliff is treated as a close brother that she can show her “unladylike side” to, she automatically shifts to a well-behaved and elegant woman when she is with Edgar.

Easily angered like Healthcliff, Catherine destroys Edgar’s innocence when her other side is revealed as she acts violently towards Nelly and expresses her anger with Edgar watching, revealing that Edgar is shocked and unfamiliar with this kind of behavior.

Meanwhile, Heathcliff is portrayed as an impulsive character when he throws hot applesauce at Edgar in response to Edgar‘s insulting comment about his appearance. The only similarity Edgar and Heathcliff share is that they both fell in love with Catherine; however, their fate strengthened the difference between the two Catherine chooses Edgar over Heathcliff because of Edgar’s social status, Being merely an orphan, Heathcliff has no wealth while Edgar can lead a wealthy life that Catherine has grown fond of.

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Ultimately, Edgar and Heathcliff serves as a foil for each other because of their opposite personalities and looks, Edgar’s character is portrayed as a gentleman while Heathcliff is demonstrated as an uncivilized and impetuous character.