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The Reader's Guide to Wuthering Heights

Edgar Linton

Catherine's husband. His breeding and wealth attracted Catherine though Heathcliff was her true love. He is a spoiled, cowardly man although tender and loving to Catherine and his daughter. He is a contrast to Heathcliff both physically and spiritually.

David Niven as Edgar Linton
David Niven
from the 1939 film
Ian Ogilvy as Edgar Linton
Ian Ogilvy
from the 1970 film
David Robb as Edgar Linton
David Robb
from the 1978 TV drama
Simon Shepherd as Edgar Linton
Simon Shepherd from the 1992 film
Crispen Bonham-Carter as Edgar Linton
Crispen
Bonham-Carter from the 1998 TV drama
Andrew Lincoln as Edgar Linton
Andrew Lincoln from the 2009  TV drama
 
James Northcote as Edgar Linton
James Northcote from the 2011 film
 

Vital Data
Parents: Mr and Mrs Linton Siblings: Isabella (sister – 3 years younger)
Date of birth: 1762 Place of birth: Thrushcross Grange (assumed)
Married: Catherine Earnshaw in March 1783 Children: Cathy Linton, born 20 March 1784
Date of death: August 1801 (between 3 and 4 in the morning) (aged 39) Place of death: Thrushcross Grange
Physical description: fair skin; long, light hair curled at temples; blue eyes

Quotes

(1777, aged 15) Edgar stood on the hearth weeping silently, and in the middle of the table sat a little dog, shaking its paw and yelping; which, from their mutual accusations, we understood they had nearly pulled in two between them.

(1777, aged 15) But, Nelly, if I knocked [Edgar] down twenty times, that wouldn't make him less handsome or me [Heathcliff] more so. I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!

And cried for mamma at every turn,' I added, 'and trembled if a country lad heaved his fist against you, and sat at home all day for a shower of rain.

(1777, aged 15) In other words, I must wish for Edgar Linton's great blue eyes and even forehead,' [Heathcliff] replied.

(1780, aged 18) He had a sweet, low manner of speaking, and pronounced his words as you [Lockwood] do: that's less gruff than we talk here, and softer.

(About 1783, aged 20/21) [Description of his portrait] I discerned a soft-featured face, exceedingly resembling the young lady at the Heights, but more pensive and amiable in expression. It formed a sweet picture. The long light hair curled slightly on the temples; the eyes were large and serious; the figure almost too graceful.

(Around 1783, aged 20/21) I observed that Mr. Edgar had a deep-rooted fear of ruffling [Catherine's] humour. He concealed it from her; but if ever he heard me answer sharply, or saw any other servant grow cloudy at some imperious order of hers, he would show his trouble by a frown of displeasure that never darkened on his own account.

(1784, aged 21) … whereupon Mr. Edgar was taken with a nervous trembling, and his countenance grew deadly pale. For his life he could not avert that excess of emotion: mingled anguish and humiliation overcame him completely. He leant on the back of a chair, and covered his face.

(1784, aged 21) It was named Catherine; but [Edgar] never called it the name in full, as he had never called the first Catherine short: probably because Heathcliff had a habit of doing so. The little one was always Cathy: it formed to him a distinction from the mother, and yet a connection with her; and his attachment sprang from its relation to her, far more than from its being his own.