Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Wuthering Heights. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Heathcliff, haunted by Catherine's ghost, stops eating and dies in her old room with the window open. The next generation, Cathy Linton and Hareton Earnshaw, fall in love and plan to marry, ending the cycle of revenge.
Quick facts
– Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
– First published: 1847
– Type: A Gothic novel
– Tone of the ending: Haunting but peaceful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Heathcliff, an orphan raised at Wuthering Heights, loves Catherine Earnshaw, but she marries the wealthy Edgar Linton. Heathcliff leaves, returns rich and spends years taking revenge on both families. Catherine dies after giving birth to a daughter, Cathy. Heathcliff forces young Cathy to marry his sickly son Linton, and he takes control of both houses.
What Happens at the End of Wuthering Heights
After his son dies, Heathcliff owns Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, but he loses interest in revenge. He sees Catherine everywhere and believes her ghost is near. Meanwhile, Cathy begins teaching Hareton to read, and they fall in love. Heathcliff stops eating, and Nelly finds him dead in Catherine's old bed, the window open. He is buried beside Catherine. Villagers claim to see their ghosts on the moors, and Lockwood visits the three graves and wonders how anyone could imagine “unquiet slumbers” for those who sleep there.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Heathcliff gives up revenge because he can only think of Catherine.
- Cathy and Hareton's love repairs the damage of the older generation.
- Heathcliff and Catherine are buried side by side.
- The ghost stories leave room for a reunion after death.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Heathcliff | Dies and is buried beside Catherine |
| Cathy Linton | Plans to marry Hareton |
| Hareton Earnshaw | Learns to read and inherits the Heights |
| Nelly Dean | Tells the whole story to Lockwood |
What the Ending Means
The ending suggests that obsessive love and revenge eventually burn themselves out. The young couple's gentle bond is the opposite of Heathcliff and Catherine's wild passion.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see the ghost sightings as proof that Heathcliff and Catherine are finally together. Others take Lockwood's calm last line at face value, as a sign of peace.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Revenge. Heathcliff's long revenge collapses because it no longer matters to him.
Love. The novel shows two kinds of love, one destructive and one healing.
Nature and the moors. The lovers' ghosts belong to the wild landscape they grew up in.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Wuthering Heights as haunting but peaceful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Emily Brontë to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are haunting but peaceful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Emily Brontë closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
Many films, including the 1939 version, end with Catherine's death and skip the second generation entirely.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Wuthering Heights with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about revenge, and do you agree with Emily Brontë's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as haunting but peaceful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces revenge and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Emily Brontë leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Wuthering Heights often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Wuthering Heights earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Wuthering Heights on Amazon
Books to Read After Wuthering Heights
Related: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Wuthering Heights You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Wuthering Heights?
Heathcliff, haunted by Catherine's ghost, stops eating and dies in her old room with the window open. The next generation, Cathy Linton and Hareton Earnshaw, fall in love and plan to marry, ending the cycle of revenge.
Is the ending of Wuthering Heights happy or sad?
Most readers call it haunting but peaceful.
What does the ending of Wuthering Heights mean?
The ending suggests that obsessive love and revenge eventually burn themselves out.
Is the ending of Wuthering Heights the same in the adaptation?
Many films, including the 1939 version, end with Catherine's death and skip the second generation entirely.
Who wrote Wuthering Heights and when was it published?
Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Brontë and first published in 1847.
Is Wuthering Heights worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Gothic novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Emily Brontë prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Wuthering Heights before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.