Abstract: Emily Bronte only writes Wuthering Heights which conquers so many readers’ hearts through its special description, colorful imagination and brilliant content. There is much criticism about Wuthering Heights when it shows up. It reveals the unfair society and the miserable life of the lower class and there is also much criticism about the descriptions of the dark humanity and the eternal but also extreme love. The character, Heathcliff, used to be criticized by some readers and at the same time he is the most important part, existing in the whole novel. Heathcliff is created by the miserable life and the happy childhood. And we also find the crucial society, the wild and unyielding personality and the crazy revenge from Heathcliff. The deep tragic color is among his life, his love and the society at that time. The causes of Heathcliff’s tragedy will be discussed in this paper. It is made up of three aspects which include social environment and the living environment, the influence of his childhood and youth’s life on his personality, and the influence of the three generations on his life. The main causes of this tragic character will be found in these three parts. 

     Key words：Wuthering Heights；Heathcliff ；causes ；tragedy

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Introduction-4

Chapter Ⅰ Social and living environment of Heathcliff in the Wuthering Heights-6

1.1The social environment in the Wuthering Heights-6

1.2The living environment in the Wuthering Heights-8

Chapter Ⅱ The influence of Heathcliff ‘s childhood and maturity life on his personality-10

2.1   Happiness and suffering during the childhood -10

2.2   Romantic love and merciless revenge during the youth-12

2.3   The influence of destruction and awaking on his personality-14

Chapter Ⅲ  The influence of three generations on Heathcliff-16

3.1   The kind Mr. Earnshaw-16

3.2   Eternal love for Catherine and extreme hatred for Hindley and Edgar-17

3.3   The elimination of revenge by the younger generation-18

Conclusion-19

Bibliography-20

Acknowledgements-22