What if Catherine and Heathcliff had lived in the 21st Century? Many aspects of this tragic story wouldn’t be the same, but… specifically, what if modern medicine had existed in their lives? How many characters of Wuthering Heights died because of poor medicine? Because of unattended births?
Well, let’s place ourselves in the plot. In the first place, sweet little Hareton has a mother with him, which avoids a bit of Hindley’s violent manners towards him. Probably his addiction to alcohol can be omitted too, with his beloved Frances still alive.
So.. if we take Hindley’s anger and violence out of the novel, what we have left is a quiet, unbothered Heathcliff, with free access to Catherine’s heart. Linton and Isabella take a part of the story and try to conquer the children of the storm’s hearts. In their effort, they succeed in breaking the sweet couple for some time… Time in which both Linton and Cathy are born. Of course, Isabella and Catherine have a magnificent experience delivering their babies and it takes them some days to recovery and be with their children and partners.
Cathy and Linton grow up with both their parents and a nice childhood. They know each other as cousins, but their close relationship ends up in a deep, unmanageable love. Heathcliff looks at the young couple and feels like he’s looking at a time mirror: it’s them, it’s him and Catherine playing together, hugging each other and swearing eternal love, hands held.
This leads to a man in love climbing a long wall to sneak into Catherine’s bedroom while her husband’s away. It’s just like Catherine’s dreams, a tight embrace followed by a sweet, tender kiss. Their hearts join together again, though never fully parted. They all live happily ever after and a story addressed to as tragic is not any more, thanks to 21st Century’s obstetricians.