A Crooked Tree: The Problem of Nature vs. Nurture in Wuthering Heights >>> Becky Woodruff Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights poses a strong conflict between the concepts of nature and nurture. The nature versus nurture debate concerns the significance of a person’s “nature,” his or her innate qualities, when compared with the person’s personal experiences, or how they are “nurtured.” Emily Brontë showcases this debate in the principal male characters of Wuthering Heights. The portrayal of Hindley, Heathcliff, Hareton, and Linton presents a strong case for nurture; each character’s nature becomes secondary when confronted with a strong nurturing influence. Hindley Earnshaw presents the first evidence of nurture, or lack thereof. When Heathcliff is introduced to the Earnshaw family, Hindley immediately loses favor with his father. Nelly Dean relates, “[Earnshaw] took to Heathcliff strangely, believing all he said, and petting him up far above Cathy, who was too mischievous and wayward for a favourite” (Brontë 26). This favoritism makes Heathcliff an enemy to Hindley. That Earnshaw would believe a stranger over his own son incites bitterness in Hindley toward both his father and Heathcliff. Brontë writes, “[Hindley] 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” (Brontë 26). Hindley’s bitterness toward and maltreatment of Heathcliff stems from the lack of attention Hindley receives from his father. Hindley sees his father as an “oppressor” because Mr. Earnshaw constantly sides with Heathcliff. When Mrs. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley loses his only ally. With no buffer, Hindley is forced to bear all of his father’s wrath and bias. Furthermore, Hindley is constantly dismissed by his father, who sees nothing of use in his son. He goes so far as to say, “Hindley was naught, and would never thrive as where he wandered” (Brontë 28). Mr. Earnshaw sees Hindley as nothing, “naught.” The man does not bother to attempt to nurture him in a positive way. Instead, he blames Hindley for his actions toward Heathcliff and dismisses him as a hopeless case, convinced that no matter where Hindley goes, he will not improve in character or psyche. Earnshaw’s treatment of his son and favoritism toward Heathcliff encourage Hindley’s hatred for his adopted brother and his abuse of Heathcliff following Earnshaw’s death. While Hindley’s biological father is a prominent figure in Heathcliff’s “nurturing,” the boy’s true parentage is a mystery to the reader and to his adoptive family. Due to a complete lack of genetic and historical background, there is no way to know whether Heathcliff’s actions are at all influenced by his nature. However, the novel presents a number of instances in which natural tendencies make themselves apparent. For instance, when Heathcliff is first introduced to the family, before they have had the opportunity to exert much influence over him, he falls ill, and Nelly Dean relates, “The difference between
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