Linton Heathcliff is one of the notable characters of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. He is the son of Isabella Linton, who died early, and Heathcliff, the book’s antagonist. Their marriage was pragmatic and loveless. He is described as a mentally and physically weak, pale young man. His father only sees him as a tool for taking over the Thrushcross Grange.
Detailed answer:
At first glance, Linton Heathcliff appears to be unlikable and even annoying personage to the readers. “He was christened Linton, and, from the first, [Isabella] reported him to be an ailing, peevish creature.” Several factors cause it. One of them is physical weakness. The cold relationship between him and his father Heathcliff also played a role. It is because of him he is mentally weak. By a strange coincidence, he looks very similar to his uncle Edgar Linton.
When Linton was about twelve years old, his mother died. He moved to live in Wuthering Heights to his uncle Edgar. There he meets his biological father for the first time. The father decides to raise him but expresses extreme contempt. This care is due only to the fact that Heathcliff will be using Linton against Edgar in the future.
At some point, a romance begins between Linton and Cathy Linton, his cousin. However, Cathy’s inconsistency leads to a breakup. Because of it and constant humiliation from his father Heathcliff, Linton’s health is increasingly deteriorating. He even begins to cough up blood and lose consciousness in moments of emotional stress or temper tantrums.