24 states that the individual reaction from each people can describe a character that
can differenciate people and the other people. In order to answer the problem formulation, the researcher divided the
first physical characteristics of Heathcliff into two parts. The physical characteristics of Heathcliff in the childhood and in his maturity. The second part
is the psychological characteristics of Heathcliff.
1. Physical Characteristics
a. The childhood of Heathcliff
Heathcliff was an adopted member of the Earnshaw family. He was named Heathcliff. Heathcliff was the name of Mr. Earnshaw son who died
in childhood. Heathcliff was taken by Mr. Earnshaw during his trip in Liverpool. He came from the lower class, Mr. Earnshaw found him
starving and houseless in the street of Liverpool. He was introduced as a dirty, ragged, black-haired child. Nelly Dean described Hearhcliff on her
story. We crow
ded round, and over Miss Cathy‟s head I had a peep at a dirty, ragged, black-haired child; big enough both to walk and talk:
indeed, its face looked older than Catherine‟s; yet when it was set on its feet, it only stared round, and repeated over and over again some
gibberish that nobody could understand. p.64
Heathcliff was also told by Linton‟s family, the owner of Trushcross Grange. Mr. Linton called him as a little rascal or castaway. Mrs. Linton
described Heathcliff as a gipsy and a wicked boy. “Miss Earnshaw scouring the country with a gipsy”
25 “A wicked boy, at all events,” “ and quite unfit for a decent house”
p.77
b. The maturity of Heathcliff
Heathcliff looks different when he grows into adult. It can be seen from the reaction of the Ellen that shocked about the transformation of
Heathcliff. I was amazed, more than ever, to behold the transformation of
Heathcliff. He had grown a tall, athletic, well-formed man; beside whom my master seemed quite slender and youth-like. His upright
carriage suggested the idea of his having been in the army. p.121 Besides that, Mr. Lockwood also tells about the physical
appearance and the inner qualities of Heathcliff when he is adult. He has a dark-skinned body, but he is handsome and has erect figure. Mr.
Lockwood describes Heathcliff in the beginning of the story where he wants to rent The Trushcross Grange.
He is a dark- skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire:
rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose.
p.35
2. Psychological Characteristics
In this part, the explanation of psychological characteristics from heathcliff will be divided into some parts. There are introvert, reserved,
intelligent, greedy, pessimismistic, supersitious, disciplined, irritable, and vengeful. The researcher gives explanation about the main character
26 according to the novel. Because from that part, it can analyzed the
characteristics of Heathcliff. Here are the psychological characteristics of Heathcliff.
a. Introvert
Heathcliff is an introvert person. He lives in the Wuthering Heights with an isolation. He closes the connection between him and the
outside world. He has no friends and just makes a rare contact with people outside Wuthering Heights. The researcher proves the fact with
conversation between Heathcliff and Mr. Lockwood. Guests are exceedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs, I am
willing to own, hardly know how to receive them. p.38 ‟Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir,‟ he interrupted, wincing. „I
should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it - walk in‟ p. 33
b. Reserved
Heathcliff is a reserved person. It means that he does not like to show his feelings. He has no expression on his face. It can be seen
from Mr. Lockwood perspection about Heathcliff and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the
invitation: I felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself. p. 33
He‟ll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. p. 36
