“You are a dog in the manger, Cathy, and desire no one to be loved but yourself!”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote from Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights"
In this quote, the character accuses Cathy of being selfish and possessive. The metaphor "dog in the manger" refers to a dog that guards food it cannot eat, symbolizing Cathy's unwillingness to share love with others. This quote highlights Cathy's self-centered nature and her inability to put others' needs before her own. It also reflects on themes of jealousy and possessiveness in the novel.
Modern Relevance
This quote from Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights captures the sentiment of jealousy and possessiveness. In today's world, we often see individuals who feel threatened by the success or happiness of others, acting out of selfish motives. This quote serves as a timeless reminder of the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of supporting and celebrating the successes of those around us.
Emily Brontë
"You are a dog in the manger, Cathy, and desire no one to be loved but yourself!” - Emily Brontë
In this quote, Emily Brontë uses the idiom "a dog in the manger" to describe someone who selfishly prevents others from enjoying or benefiting from something that they themselves have no use for.
Reflection Questions
This quote from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights speaks to the selfish and possessive nature of the character Cathy. Reflect on the following questions to explore themes of love, jealousy, and self-centeredness:
- Have you ever felt possessive or jealous in a relationship, like Cathy does in this quote?
- How do you think Cathy's selfishness impacts her relationships with others?
- Do you believe that love can coexist with possessiveness, or are they mutually exclusive?
- In what ways can we avoid becoming a "dog in the manger" in our own relationships?
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“but both their minds tending to the same point—one loving and desiring to esteem, and the other loving and desiring to be esteemed—they contrived in the end to reach it.”
“Why did you betray your own heart Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. ... You loved me - then what right had you to leave me? Because ... nothing God or satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me that I am strong. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you - oh God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave? [...] I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer - but yours! How can I?”
“Earnshaw was not to be civilized with a wish, and my young lady was no philosopher, and no paragon of patience; but both their minds tending to the same point—one loving and desiring to esteem, and the other loving and desiring to be esteemed—they contrived in the end to reach it.”
“Cathy, this lamb of yours threatens like a bull!' he said. 'It is in danger of splitting its skull against my knuckles. By God! Mr. Linton, I'm mortally sorry that you are not worth knocking down!”
“You teach me now how cruel you've been - cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and wring out my kisses and tears: they'll blight you - they'll damn you. You loved me - what right had you to leave me? What right - answer me - for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? Because misery, and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will did it. I have no broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me that I am strong. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you - Oh, God! would you like to lie with your soul in the grave?”
“I remember the master, before he fell into a doze, stroking her bonny hair - it pleased him rarely to see her gentle - and saying - 'Why canst thou not always be a good lass, Cathy?' And she turned her face up to his, and laughed, and answered, 'Why cannot you always be a good man, father?”