Wuthering Heights seems to be a series of destructive decisions. Heathcliff and Catherine never manage to live a happy life together; their actions cannot lead to a happy ending. The other characters are guilty of creating their own conflicts, whether through personal faults or lack of wisdom. In a way, Emily Bronte's ability to incorporate flaws into each person's character gives the novel a sense of reality or humanity; no one is considered entirely good or bad. Without lecturing her readers, Brontë demonstrates how regrettable it can be to succumb to one's impulses. I realized while reading that even though their lives had a romantic aspect, I would never want to live like them. Much of the blame for the tragic events could be placed on Catherine. She unwisely chose to reject Heathcliff, even though “[their] souls…are the same” and marry Edgar Linton instead (Bronte 102). Their marriage was based on love, but not on a lasting bond. When asked to describe her relationship with Linton, Catherine says that she is well aware that "time will change her...as winter changes the trees" (Bronte 104). She turns out to be completely selfish, accepting Linton's marriage proposal with superficial motives. Linton is handsome, affectionate, and wealthy, and while their relationship won't be permanently fulfilling, he seems like the better choice over Heathcliff. Whatever motives convinced her to marry Linton betrayed her true feelings. I know how difficult it can be to choose between two people, especially when you don't want to hurt either of them. The decision is even more confusing when you can imagine yourself being satisfied with everyone. In Catherine's case, she wasn't worried about hurting their feelings as much as she was worried about which one would be... in the middle of a piece of paper... etc., and Cathy is a great example of that. Throughout Wuthering Heights, I attempted to learn from the characters the misery they had, in most cases, brought on by themselves. Catherine's struggle with her decision reminded me how important it is to follow your heart in a relationship, even if there are "good reasons" to do the exact opposite. Since Heathcliff, I have seen that seeking revenge will only destroy your happiness and that of the one you love. Young Cathy was a perfect example of the power of positivity, and indulging in negative thoughts will only add to your burden and isolate you from your friends and family. Whether Emily Bronte intentionally wrote the novel with moral lessons in mind or not, her characters are perfect examples of how not to live. Works CitedBronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York, Bantam Dell, 2003. Print.