Discussion of Nature Vs Nurture is the Eerlasting Issue

Genetic Development

Nature vs Nurture is the everlasting issue of one’s genetics or outside environmental influence on one’s behavior and actions. One’s nature refers to the hereditary or genetic factors one is born with that influences who one is as a person. However, one’s nurture refers to the outside environmental factors that controls who one becomes. Although outside factors such as one’s childhood experiences, people one associates themselves with, and/or trauma can influence one’s decision making.

Their naturally born, or innate qualities ultimately represent and define who they are as a person. This phenomenon is portrayed by the characters Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Linton, Heathcliff, and Hareton Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Catherine Earnshaw and her daughter Catherine Linton in Wuthering Heights both share the idea of nature ultimately contributing to who they are deep down. Catherine is deeply in love with Heathcliff and wants to be with him. However, her innate selfishness overpowers her emotions. This is an example of Catherine using her understanding of what a marriage with Edgar Linton can do for her. Knowing all the things Edgar can provide for her, materialistically and socially, she persuades herself to marry him rather than “humiliate” herself with a man she emotionally wants to be with instead. A conversation between Nelly and Catherine depicts the selfishness that overpowers Catherine’s emotions: “But there are several other handsome, rich young men in the world: handsomer, possibly, and richer than he is. What should hinder you from loving them?’ If there be any, they are out of my way I’ve seen none like Edgar.” (Bronte 9) Catherine thinks only of the present and what feels right in the moment, not about the future of herself and her loved ones. She would not mind hurting others in the process of her doing anything she can be advantageous from. Although she married Linton and must stay true to him, she seems shamelessly open to betray him for Heathcliff when he returns from his trip away. Her self centered innate nature ultimately ends up hurting both Edgar and Heathcliff; two men that love and care for her deeply.

Similarly, Catherine Linton (daughter of Catherine Earnshaw) moves to Wuthering Heights and finds a liking for Hareton Earnshaw. She resembles her mother heavily which puts Hareton off at first but Hareton is deeply attracted to her. The two eventually fall in love and marry each other. However, as she starts her life in Wuthering Heights, it seemed as if her attitude and personality had changed drastically making her extremely rude and ill-mannered to others. She became bored and almost “gave up on life.” Catherine says, “No, I’ll not die, he’d be glad, he doesn’t love me at all, he would never miss me!” (Bronte 12) This shows that the environment affects a person’s actions, however one’s innate nature has a bigger effect on them. Thus, her innate nature of kindness caused her to stop treating Hareton so badly and not live a sad and unfulfilling life. She stopped acting ill-mannered to everyone that cared for her, especially the man that loved her most, Hareton Earnshaw.

Heathcliff is another character in Wuthering Heights that portrays the phenomenon that one’s actions are are influenced by nurture, but carried out by one’s innate nature. Since Hindley (Catherine Earnshaw’s brother), reminded Heathcliff that the wealth of the Earnshaw’s does not belong to him, this triggered Heathcliff’s anger towards the Earnshaws. Hindley takes position of the estate and takes all of the wealth which Heathcliff is not entitled to. An evil natured Heathcliff takes his anger and pettiness for Catherine deciding to marry Edgar and travels far away from Wuthering Heights leaving everyone behind. Upon his return, he attempts to sabotage Edgar and Catherine’s marriage to let out his anger towards Catherine. In the process he also hopes to disrupt Hindley Earnshaw and let his anger out towards him for the reminder of him not being able to obtain the wealth. Heathcliff ends up luring Edgar Linton’s sister, Isabella Linton, into marrying him and treats her terribly. Hareton says to Heathcliff, “How do you feel now, Master Heathcliff?” in which he replies with “I wish she felt as I do, he replied: spiteful, cruel thing!” (Bronte 17) A angry Heathcliff shows his innate nature with how he treats others that “wrong him”, wishing bad upon them. In addition to all of this, he ends up swindling Edgar’s daughter to marry his son, Linton Heathcliff, to gain an upper hand in controlling Edgar’s estate and wealth which he was told he was not entitled to. Although factors such as the wealth and his anger towards Catherine’s decision influenced him to act accordingly, his evil nature from birth is what urged him to act so foolishly.

Hareton Earnshaw is another depiction of nature influencing one’s behaviors over nurture. Hareton’s innate polite and loyal personality has him losing his inheritance, however this loss of wealth does not affect Hareton. Hareton took Heathcliff more as a father figure than his actual biological father, Edgar Linton. Heathcliff treated Hareton terribly as he is the son of the man that “wronged him.” In fact, Heathcliff embaresses Hareton by not treating him as a son but as revenge towards Linton instead. “Now my bonny lad, you are mine! And we’ll see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it!” Heathcliff uses him as a depiction of himself and especially as revenge towards Hindley. However, Hareton remains extremely loyal to him, rather than giving into the outside environment and being affected by nurture. His nature overpowered his nurture.

Nature is the innate habits or heredity that influences one’s behavior throughout life. However, one’s nurture refers to the outside environmental factors that control who one becomes. Often times nurture can affect a person’s decision making, but their nature is what makes them pursue this action. One’s nature defines them as a being, whether it be evil or too good for one’s own good. This phenomenon of nature vs nurture still exists today. However, it seems as if nature often overpowers nurture. This marvel is portrayed by the characters Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Linton, Heathcliff, and Hareton Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

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