~ISABELLA~

CHARACTER TRAITS:
Bronte characterises Isabella as being nave and foolish, unable to
comprehend the real world, stuck in a romanticised fantasy where
Heathcliff is portrayed as a somewhat heroic figure.
These traits stem from her upbringing in the Linton household at
Thrushcross Grange, where she is spoilt with the comparative grandeur
and luxury that Bronte so despises, because to her, anyone who is not of
good northern stock is weak and effete and therefore inferior. Therefore
Bronte takes real relish in seeing Isabella maltreated by Heathcliff
However after her marriage to Heathcliff, Isabellas character alters
radically. Due to her contact with real Yorkshire and her having to get
more hands on (Im not going to act lady among you for fear I would
starve.) she suddenly becomes a more defiant and respected character,
standing her own against Heathcliff and eventually running away form his
grasp.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
She is described as very similar to Edgar fair, pale, wan and dainty.
Bronte uses this to represent her opinion of people who arent from
Yorkshire, i.e. people who are dark, rugged.
ACTIONS THEY TAKE/BEHAVIOUR:
Before the emergence of Heathcliff into Isabellas life, Isabella is hardly
mentioned as a character in her own right; her actions were irrelevant and
unnoticed. But even when she does become properly part of the narrative,
she is only used as a vice of other characters, still unable to fully detach
her character from others. For example she is being used by Heathcliff to
get back at Edgar, and is being used by Cathy to spite Heathcliff for not
taking her when he was able.
Therefore Isabella is prominently passive, and arguably powerless, in the
face of decision by allowing Heathcliff to walk all over her e.g. when she
accepts it when he hangs her puppy.
However after she has spent some time with Heathcliff at Wuthering
Heights she turns into someone so completely removed from who she was
before. When she comes to visit Nelly before running away, she is livid
with anger and rage (Ill smash itIll burn it!) almost mad from her
injuries (Well dont talk so fast, missand make the cut bleed againand
give over your laughing) - showing she is hysterical and delirious, the
complete polar opposite to the quiet and timid character she was before.
WHAT THEY SAY (OR DONT):
Before the letter Isabella sends to Nelly, Isabella has next to no direct
speech, emphasising her role as the vice for other characters endeavours.
The letter she sends is the first indication of her possession of inner
feelings, feelings that we had no evidence of before. Also the form, in

which her feelings are conveyed, highlights her passivity as it is still not
direct and perhaps foreshadows her fading presence in the narrative.