Catherine the Angel?

A picture of these bears, titled Wuthering Heights, appeared in the Bronteblog this morning. Being a huge fan of stuffed (as in the toy kind), animals and furry friends, I was intially drawn to these well-crafted bears with their pointed snouts, piercing eyes, and furry feel.

I assume that the bears represent Heatchliff (left) and Catherine (right). Heathcliff is considerbly darker, wearing a purple coat, and a hat (or cape) that appears wafted in the wind, almost like purple smoke. The purple, against his brown body, could stand for the heather in the moors. All of these features strive to give the impression of Heathcliff as an exotic gypsy, given to scampering in the moors. He also looks rather cross (no doubt in an attempt to imitate Heathcffian sentiments).

The depiction of Catherine is what I found to be slightly unsettling, however. Catherine appears richhly dressed, with a bodice lined (or smocked) with gold thread. The defining point is that she is white, which contrasts sharply with Heathcliff's brown skin and his darker purple coat. Furthermore, the innocence of her eyes, combined with her white skin and dress, suggests that she is angelic.

But I ask, Is Catherine the elder angelic?

Does this bear represent someone other than Catherine the elder? Do these two bears represent Hareton and Catherine the younger? If so, the latter couldn't be called angelic either.

By portraying Catherine is an angel, is the artist conveying her belief in Catherine's virtue? That perhaps Catherine's fiery temper, her passion, her resistance, must be valued in a society that is otherwise insipid, stale, and not willing to change?. Perhaps this suggests that Catherine's traits are necessary for Reform, when there is not other outlet to procure the latter.

Or does the angelization (if that is a term) of Catherine mean that artists (and many readers alike) would like to tame the real Catherine, that they would accept her only as an angel and not otherwise? Perhaps this means that readers would rather be blinded in their perception of her than admit that she is indecorous, tainted.

If the view of Catherine the elder is changed significantly from the book, if she is made into an angel, how come the same is not done to Heathcliff? How come he manages to retain his gypsy garb, his dark skin, and brooding, cross expression?

Why is it the female who is transformed into an Angel in the House?