Cathy Linton is a fictional character in Emily Brontë's 1847 novel, Wuthering Heights. She is the daughter of Edgar Linton and Catherine Earnshaw, and the younger sister of Hareton Linton.
Cathy is a curious and lively young girl, full of energy and spirit. She is described as being very beautiful, with long, golden hair and bright blue eyes. Despite her youth, she is intelligent and fiercely independent, and often defies the expectations placed upon her by society.
As a child, Cathy is raised in a privileged household and is given every opportunity to succeed. However, she becomes bored with the mundane routine of her life and longs for adventure. She finds solace in the wild, windswept moors surrounding her home, and becomes drawn to the mysterious and brooding Heathcliff, a foundling who was taken in by Cathy's father.
Despite the differences in their social status and upbringing, Cathy and Heathcliff form a close bond and become inseparable. They spend their days exploring the moors and dreaming of a life together, free from the constraints of society.
As Cathy grows older, she becomes more aware of the expectations placed upon her as a young woman of good breeding. She is encouraged to marry Edgar Linton, a wealthy and well-respected man, in order to secure her future and maintain her family's status.
Despite her love for Heathcliff, Cathy ultimately decides to marry Edgar out of a sense of duty and responsibility. This decision causes a rift between Cathy and Heathcliff, and their relationship becomes strained and tumultuous.
In the end, Cathy is left to reconcile her love for Heathcliff with her obligations to society and her family. She is a complex and multifaceted character, torn between her desire for freedom and independence, and her sense of duty and loyalty.
Throughout the novel, Cathy serves as a symbol of the constraints placed upon women in society and the struggle to break free from those expectations. Despite the challenges she faces, she remains a strong and determined character, ultimately finding her own path and forging her own destiny.