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In the beginning, Mr. Earnshaw plays favouritism. He doesn't even choose one of his own children to dote on; he favours Heathcliff over both Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw. This has a profound psychological effect on both of them. As for Catherine, Mr. Earnshaw says to her, "I cannot love thee; thou'rt worse than thy brother. Go, say thy prayers, child, and ask God's pardon. I doubt thy mother and I must rue that we ever reared thee!" (Bronte 46). It goes without saying that this is a very cruel thing to say to a child, let alone your own child. She quickly becomes hardened towards the lack of love in her life. It's important for a child to receive proper love and care growing up, and Catherine never experiences this parental affection. I think this could be the underlying reason for her mental illness later in life as she struggles with the concept of love. In Hindley's case, the neglect causes him to be bitter, and he blames Heathcliff for his father's abandonment. Nelly recounts, "...the young master had learnt to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his father's affections and his privileges, and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries" (Bronte 42). Mr. Earnshaw becomes fed up with Hindley's resentment towards Heathcliff and decides to send him off to college. I feel that this could be one of the reasons for his drunken rages later in life, as well as his own bad parenting habits as modelled by his father. Children who are the victims of negligence or abuse often go on to become negligent or abusive parents later in life as it is all they know.
The Lintons spoil their children. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, seeing as both Edgar and Isabella lead happy childhoods, it does cause them to have a lack of independence and of the ability to conduct themselves. The two are happiest when they are complaining. Heathcliff, who has never been spoilt in his life, tells Nelly, "Isabella ... lay screaming at the farther end of the room, shrieking as if witches were running red-hot needles into her. Edgar stood on the hearth weeping silently, and in the middle of the table sat a little dog, shaking its paw and yelling, which, from their mutual accusations, we understood they had nearly pulled in two between them" (Bronte 51). In my opinion, humbleness, gratefulness and conscientiousness are all important character traits of an individual, as it allows them to have an appreciation for life and thus understand the hardships of others. Edgar and Isabella are unable to be empathic towards Heathcliff and instead treat him as a monster upon meeting him simply because he's different, and less fortunate, than they are. I find that one of the problems with society today is the lack of proper discipline in parenting, as I feel that respectful children are growing scarce. It seems that children are used to having what they want, when they want it, when they should be taught to truly earn and appreciate what they have. This is just my opinion, though.
Hindley goes on to become an abusive parent. Upon the death of his mother, Hareton is left alone with no one save for Nelly to keep him safe from his tyrannical father. Hindley is both demanding of his love, and physically abusive at the same time, which is a terrifying ordeal for a growing child who doesn't quite comprehend his surroundings yet. Nelly recalls, "Hareton was impressed with a wholesome terror of encountering either his wild-beast's fondness or his madman's rage; for in one he ran a chance of being squeezed and kissed to death, and the other of being flung into the fire or dashes against the wall..." (Bronte 75). This bipolar behaviour would psychologically scar and confuse a toddler. Hareton eventually grows to hate his own father, which is unfortunate; I believe that a strong parental bond is key to a happy life. I'm close with both of my parents, and can't fathom what life would be like if I didn't have their support. He then goes on to rely on Heathcliff as a father figure of sorts, and ends up being a slave in his own household because of it; yet, due to his lack of parenting, he doesn't know his own self worth.
Isabella ends up spoiling her own child to the point where he is completely unable to take care of himself. Linton Heathcliff is a miserable, pitiful individual. Even if he is sickly, he lacks all ability to be self-sustaining when he could at least try. He's content with being discontented, as whining and complaining are the only things he knows to do. Upon not having his way, as Nelly puts it, "Linton had slid from his seat on to the hearthstone, and lay writhing in the mere perverseness of an indulged plague of a child, determined to be as grievous and harassing as it can" (Bronte 231). Despite being a teenager, he acts as though he's a small child up until his death. Of course, Heathcliff isn't present for most of Linton's upbringing, and that which he is present for is dismal. Isabella has to raise him on her own, and being a single mother is difficult; I can say this because my mother is a single mother, and often struggles with raising two children on her own.
Cathy Linton is the luckiest child in the novel, in my eyes. Although she grows up without a mother, Edgar is a good father who cares deeply for her. He may be slightly overprotective, but it's for good reason. With a man like Heathcliff lurking nearby, having been affiliated with her mother and hating her father, Cathy isn't safe. Edgar does spoil her, but also fully educates her himself. Nelly says, "And if he reproved her, even by a look, you would have thought it a heartbreaking business: I don't believe he ever did speak a harsh word to her" (Bronte 183). Edgar does his best for Cathy and raises her to be a fine individual with true empathy, which she exhibits especially through her relationship with Hareton, as she was given ample affection and treated with respect by her father. At the same time as being soft, Edgar can be firm, too, when he wants to be; especially when it comes to the matter of her going to Wuthering Heights. It's important for parents to be both soft and firm at the same time, to ensure that their children feel loved but also know their place. This type of parenting is known as authoritative parenting, which is the perfect combination of both rule setting and supporting.
If you were to become a parent someday, how would you want to raise your children? What do you think is the proper way to bring up a child? Do you agree or disagree that Edgar Linton is the best parent in the novel?