Is Heathcliff a protagonist or antagonist?

Question

Because in the beginning and endish parts he seemed fine but in the middle and when Catherine died he was so mean. Is he like just a protagonist to Catherine?

Answer 1

The conflict of Wuthering Heights can be viewed on two levels:
Level 1 - Heathcliff's story
Protagonist: The main protagonist of the novel is Heathcliff, who was an orphan brought home to live at Wuthering Heights. From the beginning, he was a "sullen, patient child; hardened perhaps to ill-treatment." As he grew, he became even more dark, morose, and gypsy-like, introducing strife into the peaceful lives of the Earnshaws and the Lintons.
During the novel, Heathcliff is described as "rough as a saw- edge and hard as a whinstone." His presence, like some brooding spirit of evil, darkly overshadows the events of the whole story.

Antagonists: Heathcliff's antagonists are all the evil and demonic forces within him, especially his vengefulness. Throughout the book, he is always plotting to get revenge for the poor treatment he has received from various characters, such as the jealous and brutalizing Hindley, the sulking Edgar Linton, the ambitious and ferociously intense Catherine, and the infatuation-driven and foolish Isabella Linton.

Climax: The climax for Heathcliff is reached in the novel with the death of Catherine. She has been the driving force of his life and his reason for living. After her death, he o nly wants vengeance for all the wrongs done to him.

Outcome: Heathcliff's story ends in tragedy. At the end of the book, he dies a pathetic, lonely, and bitter man.

Level 2 - The tale as a love story
Protagonist: Viewed as a tale that is bigger that Heathcliff, the protagonist of the novel becomes the idea of love, in its true and purest form.

Antagonists: The antagonists to true love are all the things in the novel that stand between two lovers committing themselves to o ne another. Although Heathcliff and Catherine passionately profess their love to o ne another, they are separated because Catherine has chosen to marry Edgar, a man who is more polished and civilized than Heathcliff. The younger Cathy is forced by Heathcliff to marry Linton, whom she does not love. By the end of the novel, however, she falls in love with and marries Hareton.

Climax: The climax occurs when Cathy and Hareton pledge their love to o ne another, proving that true love can conquer many obstacles.

Outcome: At this level, the novel ends in comedy, for it is shown that love can overcome its antagonists in life. The novel ends happily when Hareton and the young Cathy marry, vacate the grim house on the Heights, and move to the Grange. Through their love, many of the novel's painful conflicts are resolved. At the end of the novel, Catherine and Heathcliff also are eternally united through death.

Also, see links 2 and 3

Answer 2

I think Heathcliff is both a protagonist and an antagonist...

Protagonist:

Noun
1. The main character in a drama or other literary work.

He is the main character

Antagonist:

Noun
1. One who opposes and contends against another; an adversary. 2. The principal character in opposition to the protagonist or hero of a narrative or drama.

although he is not the only antagonist, he is one of them. he is hurting everyone to try to get power, and he is seen as evil.

it is sad, really, because it was an antagonist that made this protagonist an antagonist. this book is simply brilliant...annoying...but brilliant!

Answer 3

I am about 100 or so pages into the novel for my first time ever reading it. So far, I do not like Catherine or Heathcliff. To Je suis aware: could you elaborate on what you mean by "orange cat"?

Answer 4

A protagonist (main character) need not be good or bad to be so. He is the protagonist of the novel.

Answer 5

hes an orange cat