In the book, he is portrayed as a rough and uneducated servant with a compassionate heart. He is the most misunderstood in the novel, with everyone treating him at face value instead of knowing the kind of person he really is. Now, the lack of character depth in the film doesn't come from Hareton himself; rather, it is about understanding Hareton's role in the story. In the book, Hindley treats Heathcliff like a slave ending his education and forcing him to work as a servant. As part of his revenge against those who wronged him, Heathcliff treats Hareton the same way Hindley treated him. But in the film, he doesn't have the uneducated character that we find in the book. Hareton becomes a blank slate and plays little role other than being young Catherine's love interest in "Happiness ».