Chapter 20
To forestall Joseph's threat, Edgar sends Linton to the Heights at ...
To obviate the danger of this threat being fulfilled, Mr. Linton commissioned me to take the boy home early, on Catherine’s pony; and, said he—“As we shall now have no influence over his destiny, good or bad, you must say nothing of where he is gone to my daughter: she cannot associate with him hereafter, and it is better for her to remain in ignorance of his proximity; lest she should be restless, and anxious to visit the Heights. Merely tell her his father sent for him suddenly, and he has been obliged to leave us.” Linton was very reluctant…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"she cannot associate with him hereafter, and it is better for her to remain in ignorance of his proximity"
Context: Orders before the dawn removal
Edgar chooses ignorance over consent for Cathy while Nelly must enforce the story
In Today's Words:
Edgar decides his daughter shouldn't know her cousin lives nearby, making that choice for her without asking. It's like parents who control their adult kids' relationships by hiding information, thinking they know what's best. Sometimes protecting someone means taking away their right to decide for themselves in relationships.
"Where is _my_ share in thee, puling chicken?"
Context: Examining Linton at the Heights
He claims blood tie only as leverage, not affection
In Today's Words:
Heath demands to know what he gets from this weak kid who's supposed to be his son. He's not interested in being a real father, just wants to know what's in it for him. Like deadbeat dads who only show up when there's money or property involved, not genuine love.
"my son is prospective owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being his successor."
Context: Confession to Nelly after Joseph leaves
Care for Linton is estate strategy, not paternal love
In Today's Words:
Heath admits he only cares about keeping the boy alive long enough to inherit the property, then Heath can take over everything. He's not being a father, he's running a long-term real estate scam. The kid is just a tool to get the land and money he wants for revenge.
"Don’t leave me! I’ll not stay here! I’ll not stay here!"
Context: Nelly closing the door
The chapter ends on trapped helplessness, not negotiated custody
In Today's Words:
The young man begs not to be left alone in this hostile place, panicking as the door closes. He's trapped in a situation he can't control, like kids caught in bitter custody battles where adults use them as weapons. His desperate pleas show how powerless he feels in this nightmare.
Thematic Threads
Social Class Division
In This Chapter
Edgar physically separates children based on class concerns
Development
Class barriers become more rigid and enforced through deception
In Your Life:
Notice when people use 'protection' as an excuse to control your relationships or limit your opportunities
Family Manipulation
In This Chapter
Adults lie to children 'for their own good'
Development
Well-meaning deception creates confusion and prevents healthy relationships
In Your Life:
Question when authority figures withhold information 'to protect you' - ask what they're really protecting
Powerlessness of Children
In This Chapter
Linton has no choice in where he lives or who he sees
Development
Children become pawns in adult conflicts and class struggles
In Your Life:
Recognize how childhood powerlessness affects your adult relationships and decision-making patterns
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
Edgar sends Linton to the Heights at dawn and orders Nelly to tell Cathy only that his father summoned him suddenly, keeping her ignorant of his proximity. Why lie?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Edgar cannot stop the claim, so he controls the story. Ignorance is meant to prevent restlessness and visits that would breach class boundaries.
- 2
Linton never knew he had a father and resists leaving until Edgar and Nelly coax him with false promises of short absence and pleasant visits. Who pays for the soft handoff?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
The child. Adults argue over property while Linton has no language for what is happening until the door bars behind him.
- 3
Heathcliff greets his property with contempt, asks where is my share in thee, puling chicken, and drags Linton between his knees. How does he define fatherhood here?
application • mediumOne way to read it
As ownership and inspection, not affection. He looks for his own features and finds Isabella's weakness instead.
- 4
Alone with Nelly, Heathcliff admits he despises the whey-faced heir yet will tend him because Linton is prospective owner of the Grange. What is his care worth?
application • deepOne way to read it
Estate strategy, not love. He needs the boy alive until Heathcliff can see Edgar's line supplanted by his own.
- 5
Linton screams don't leave me as Nelly slips away and the door is barred. When is protection that uses lies and forced transfer still harm?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
When the child has no consent and no exit. Edgar and Nelly call it necessity; Linton experiences abandonment and captivity.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decoding 'Protective' Language
Think of a time when someone in authority (parent, boss, teacher) withheld information from you 'for your own good.' Write about what they said, what they didn't say, and what you later discovered.
Consider:
- •What was the person really trying to protect?
- •How did the lack of information affect your choices?
- •What would have changed if you'd known the truth?
- •How did this experience shape your trust in authority?
Journaling Prompt
When have you used 'protection' as a reason to control information in your own relationships? What were you really protecting?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 21
Catherine's devastation at Linton's sudden disappearance will test her father's resolve, as her passionate tears and desperate questions reveal the depth of her attachment to her cousin.
