Of course, if Mr. Earnshaw had been a bit less tenderhearted and a wee bit more enterprising, I feel confident that he could have sold Heathcliff for a nice little profit before ever leaving Liverpool. Or, as you say, there's always adoption if outright child-selling doesn't appeal. It's not for everyone, after all.
As for the gipsy aspect, I could rant about the stereotyping of "dark gipsy" equaling "wild untamed thing lacking in morals" that is so prevalent in English and French lit, but I'll hold my tongue. ;)
Re: Wuthering
Of course, if Mr. Earnshaw had been a bit less tenderhearted and a wee bit more enterprising, I feel confident that he could have sold Heathcliff for a nice little profit before ever leaving Liverpool. Or, as you say, there's always adoption if outright child-selling doesn't appeal. It's not for everyone, after all.
As for the gipsy aspect, I could rant about the stereotyping of "dark gipsy" equaling "wild untamed thing lacking in morals" that is so prevalent in English and French lit, but I'll hold my tongue. ;)