I don't know that Heathcliff in and of himself is desirable, but the passion between him and Cathy is supposed to be enthralling. As in, you don't want him, but you want someone who will make you feel like the two of them do.

Maybe it's that we're supposed to think that relationship is the best thing ever.

Besides, the whole dark and brooding thing. I think some combination of Heathcliff and Darcy is supposed to be the template on which most modern dark and broody characters are based.

I never thought we were meant to like either Heathcliff or Cathy, especially Heathcliff, who's nasty and abusive. Didn't one of Emily Bronte's sisters berate her for writing a story entirely lacking in morality, singling both characters out for criticism? I think I read something along those lines...

writing a story entirely lacking in morality, singling both characters out for criticism?

Not to mention the pure, distilled evil that is Nelly Dean. t spits

My friend asked "Who told you Heathcliff was supposed to be desireable?" and I kind of floundered. I have this idea that Heathcliff is one of the male characters in classic lit that's supposed to make female readers hot and bothered, but I don't really know where I got that idea. Am I in tune with the gestalt, or totally off the mark?

Oh, I love the hell out of Wuthering Heights, but they're both thoroughly unpleasant characters. I think the idea that Heathcliff is desirable is this stupid vague notion largely harboured by people who haven't actually read the book.

...no, that's not quite fair. But Drusilla Isabella is an excellent stand-in for all the silly readers who want to woobify Angelus Heathcliff (let's call them the Twilight Fans, for the sake of argument). He tells her that he is a mean, vicious, nasty piece of work, and that she should listen to Darla Cathy when Cathy warns her against him. And she giggles, and blushes, and thinks he's being coy. He's not being coy. He's being perfectly frank. And when she lets him into her life, he kills her puppy, beats her, rapes her, and makes her existence a living hell - just as he TOLD HER he would. Because he is a nasty, cruel, vengeful bastard, and he is All About Cathy.

I love me some Heathcliff/Cathy in the same way that I love Angelus/Darla, because the sheer intensity and completeness of their relationship is compelling and fascinating ("God doesn't want you, but I still do") but I sure as hell wouldn't want to have any alone time with either Heathcliff or Angelus.

Although Angelus was far more entertaining than Angel, when it came down to it.

Oh, I love the hell out of Wuthering Heights, but they're both thoroughly unpleasant characters. I think the idea that Heathcliff is desirable is this stupid vague notion largely harboured by people who haven't actually read the book.

I think this may also be a consequence of how the movies have cast the role. Cathy too, for that matter.

Although Angelus was far more entertaining than Angel, when it came down to it.

Absolutely! Which is why I love me some Wuthering Heights!

I think, inasmuchas Angelus Heathcliff is desirable, he is only desirable if you are Darla Cathy. Having a dangerous, powerful, badass hunk of tall, dark and smouldering who adores you with the no-holds-barred intensity Dean Winchester reserves for his little brother, and Jack Bristow reserves for his daughter, (and Wesley Wyndham Price reserves for Fred Burkle) and who views you as an equal, and who scares the crap out of other people but not out of you because you are so utterly two halves of the same whole - I can see the appeal of that. But that isn't the same as finding that character inherently appealing. It's the dynamic that's appealing, I think. It's just that people mistake the two. (And then write books in which they castrate Heathcliff Angelus, and make him sparkle, and people eat it up with a spoon.)

...of course, I may be talking total bollocks.

I think this may also be a consequence of how the movies have cast the role. Cathy too, for that matter.

True, dat.

Got to say, neither Ralph Fiennes nor Lawrence Olivier seem remotely sane choices to cast as Heathcliff. And as for the luminous Juliette Binoche as a French-accented Cathy...

boggles

...actually, the obvious choice to play Heathcliff is Sean Bean. I mean, he's from South Yorkshire, not North Yorkshire, but what's a few miles between friends? He'd be awesome. Who to put opposite him...hmm...that's the thing, it should be someone who hits you with her strength of character first and foremost, not her fragile beauty.

ponders

Oh, lord, and don't get me started on the pure comedy gold of Cliff Richard thinking he was a good choice to play Heathcliff in the stage musical of the same name.

...

...

...apparently he's under the impression that irony means 'like iron'.

I've always thought Heathcliff and Cathy are supposed to be more compelling than likeable.

I think, inasmuchas Angelus Heathcliff is desirable, he is only desirable if you are Darla Cathy.

I heart Fay's spicy brains and can't believe I never thought of this.