Edgar Linton is a fictional character in

Emily Brontë Emily Jane Brontë (, commonly ; 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet who is best known for her only novel, ''Wuthering Heights'', now considered a classic of English literature. She also published a book of poet ...

's 1847 novel ''

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moorland, moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their tur ...

''. His role in the story is that of

Catherine Earnshaw Catherine Earnshaw is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the 1847 novel ''Wuthering Heights'' written by Emily Brontë. Catherine is one of two children to Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw, the original tenants of the Wuthering Heights est ...

's husband. He resides at Thrushcross Grange and falls prey to Heathcliff's schemes for revenge against his family. Edgar is the father of his and Catherine's daughter,

Catherine Linton Catherine Linton (also known as "Young Catherine" or Cathy Linton and later as Catherine Heathcliff then as Catherine Earnshaw) is a character in Emily Brontë's 1847 novel ''Wuthering Heights''. She is the daughter of Edgar Linton and Catheri ...

, and the brother of

Isabella Linton Isabella Linton is a fictional character in Emily Brontë's 1847 novel ''Wuthering Heights''. She is the sister of Edgar Linton and the wife of Heathcliff. Story Isabella Linton was raised in the safe, elegant environment of Thrushcross Gran ...

. He is the

foil Foil may refer to: Materials * Foil (metal), a quite thin sheet of metal, usually manufactured with a rolling mill machine * Metal leaf, a very thin sheet of decorative metal * Aluminium foil, a type of wrapping for food * Tin foil, metal foil ...

of Heathcliff as a character, as shown by his tender, kind, loving, gentle, and weak personality as opposed to Heathcliff's savage, tyrannical nature.

Description

Edgar Linton is regarded as the complete opposite of Heathcliff. Edgar has fair hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, and leads a quiet life at Thrushcross Grange, a home of peace and goodwill until Heathcliff's return. Edgar is said to be constitutionally weak, as is the case throughout the Linton family. Edgar becomes very distressed when he realizes that he cannot match the fire and passion of his wayward wife and her soul mate, Heathcliff. Edgar loves Catherine dearly despite her passion for Heathcliff, and adores their daughter, Cathy, who is named after his wife. When Edgar's sister, Isabella, marries Heathcliff, Edgar insists that he will no longer have a relationship with her, and that they are brother and sister only in name. His features are described within ''Wuthering Heights as such:

Mrs. Dean raised the candle, and 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.

References

Literary characters introduced in 1847 Characters in Wuthering Heights Romance film characters Drama film characters {{film-char-stub