reproofs wakened in her a naughty delight to provoke him: she was never so happy as when we were all scolding her at once…” (Bronte 22). In this quote, Nelly describes the joy Catherine got out of being defiant. The third chapter of Wuthering Heights presents a neighboring tenant, Lockwood, reading through Catherine’s old journals. Her entry begins on a Sunday; Catherine and Heathcliff are supposed to be reading their Bibles and praying, while Hindley and his wife Frances were downstairs. In her entry, Catherine writes, “H. and I are going to rebel-we took our initiatory step this evening” (Bronte 12). In this quote, Catherine reveals the two plan on rebelling against Hindley. They eventually end up getting reprimanded by Joseph for being too rambunctious which provokes them to rebel by throwing their books into a fire. Older Catherine’s insubordinate actions epitomize the rebellious attitudes of the Romantics. However, as Catherine gets older, she shows more and more Victorian traits. On the other hand, Young Cathy does not show Romantic traits until she gets older. When Lockwood first arrives at Wuthering Heights, he sees Cathy and is blown away by her beauty. While she is preparing to have a cup of tea, Lockwood attempts to help her, but is immediately shutdown, “‘I don’t want your help,’ she snapped; ‘I can get them for myself’” (Bronte 7). In this quote, Cathy exhibits her independence as she dismisses Lockwood. When Heathcliff orders her to put away her trash, Cathy again responds sharply saying, “‘But I’ll not do anything, though you should swear your tongue out, except what I please!” (Bronte 17). In this quote, Cathy challenges Heathcliff’s authority and professes her desire for freedom. Cathy also personifies the rebellious attitudes of the Romantics through her defiant ways. Although Catherine and Cathy portrayed many common Romantic beliefs, they also exuded many Victorian traits as well.

Older Catherine’s transition from Romantic to Victorian takes place during her childhood years. When Catherine gets attacked by a dog while playing with Heathcliff and has to stay at Thrushcross Grange, Mrs. Linton transforms her into a young Victorian lady. In chapter seven, Catherine returns from the Grange with impeccable manners and self-respect, “instead of a wild, hatless little savage” (Bronte 27). Later, Catherine conforms to Victorian marriage norms and marries Edgar instead of downgrading to Heathcliff, her true love (Landers 4). While talking to Nelly, she proclaims how she will benefit from their marriage saying, “And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighborhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband” (Bronte 40). In this quote, Catherine reveals the Victorian desire for social status and male dependency. While Catherine does not reveal her Victorian ways until after she returns from the Grange, Cathy’s Victorian traits are revealed as she grows up at the Grange. Until the age of thirteen, Cathy was confined to the property of Thrushcross Grange. Due to her confinement, she was described as, “a perfect recluse; and, apparently, perfectly contented” (Bronte 96). Her captivity represents how women of the Victorian period were bound to their duties at home and were supposed to be content with their lackluster lives. Cathy also demonstrates the Victorian values concerning social classes when she meets Hareton for the first time. When she finds out that she has mistaken the servant boy for the owner of Wuthering Heights, she immediately begins ordering him around. When Nelly explains to Cathy that the servant is actually her cousin, Cathy degrades Hareton with disbelief saying, “’Oh, Ellen! don’t let them say such things… my cousin is a gentleman’s son” (Bronte 99). During their interaction, Cathy exudes a common Victorian belief of degradation towards the lower class.

The intertwining love triangles of Wuthering Heights also represent both the Romantic and Victorian periods. The first love triangle in the novel between Catherine Earnshaw Linton, Heathcliff, and Edgar