The exposure to harm of social status is an aspect that causes a great deal of conflict in this novel. Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar in order to become righteous is the most obvious of examples. Instead of following her heart and marrying the person who was dearest to her, she becomes infatuated with Edgar and his wealth and chooses the path that would lead her to social advancement. Edgar Linton and his family are fairly firm in their wealthy status but go to great extremes to prove this. Whereas the Earnshaws do not live on steady ground socially but are not ashamed. The shifting nature of social status is resembled well through the stages of Heathcliff’s course. He went from homeless waif, to adopted gentleman, to common laborer.
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