Isabella Linton

Isabella Heathcliff (née Linton) is a character in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. She is the sister of Edgar Linton.

History
Isabella is brought up alongside her brother Edgar at Thrushcross Grange. When she was eleven, Catherine Earnshaw was attacked by one of the Linton family's dogs. Consequently, she stayed at the Grange for five weeks, and Isabella and Edgar make friends with her.

Isabella comes to Wuthering Heights for Christmas along with Edgar at Catherine's invitation, but she begins weeping to go home after Heathcliff attacks Edgar. Catherine begs that Heathcliff be released from the garret, as Isabella does not have a dancing partner, but Nelly Dean is asked to fulfil the role.

In 1783, Catherine marries Edgar, and moves to the Grange to live with him and Isabella, along with Nelly. Soon after, Heathcliff returns a gentleman, and Isabella develops an infatuation with him. Catherine embarrasses her in front of him to upset her and let Heathcliff know of her feelings. Isabella and Heathcliff later elope.

Heathcliff and Isabella return to the Heights, where Isabella quickly realises how much she and Heathcliff despise each other. She writes a letter to Nelly asking her to visit her. Nelly does so, and realises the true extent of the unhappiness of their marriage.

Not long after Catherine dies, Isabella runs away from the Heights back to the Grange, where she tells her story to Nelly. She flings her wedding ring into the fire and escapes to the south of England. Not long after she gives birth to a son, Linton Heathcliff. Twelve years later, Edgar learns that Isabella is dying, so he goes and retrieves Linton and brings him to the Grange.

Adaptations

 * Isabella is played by Geraldine Fitzgerald in the 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Rene Ray in the 1953 BBC drama of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by June Thorburn in the 1962 BBC drama of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Angela Douglas in the 1967 BBC drama of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Hilary Dwyer in the 1970 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Caroline Langrishe in the 1978 BBC serialisation of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Sophie Ward in the 1992 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Flora Montgomery in the 1998 television film of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Rosalind Halstead in the 2009 ITV drama of Wuthering Heights
 * Isabella is played by Nichola Burley in the 2011 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights
 * Young Isabella is played by Eve Coverley