Final answer:
Heathcliff is responsible for Hareton Earnshaw's wild and uneducated state in 'Wuthering Heights', as part of his revenge against Hareton's father. Hareton eventually seeks self-improvement despite his upbringing, showing his inherent potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character responsible for Hareton's wild and uneducated state in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is Heathcliff. Heathcliff, seeking revenge against Hareton's father Hindley Earnshaw, takes every opportunity to degrade Hareton. Heathcliff's malice and desire for vengeance result in Hareton's lack of education and rough manners, as Heathcliff keeps him away from any civilizing influences and denies him the education that would befit his station in life.
Despite his beginnings, Hareton's character is not without redemption. Near the novel's end, through his interactions with Catherine Linton, Hareton begins to seek knowledge and improvements in his behavior, demonstrating the innate human capacity for learning and growth regardless of past circumstances.