Creating Atmosphere and Suspense in Chapter 3 of Wuthering Heights

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How does Brontë create atmosphere and suspense in chapter 3 of

Wuthering Heights?

Emily Brontë creates atmosphere and suspense using her own artistic

techniques, one method that she uses is palimpsestic which is

narratives within narratives. This is Emily’s only novel, it is an

extraordinarily powerful and disturbing tale of the tempestuous

relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff.

From the start of the chapter, Brontë begins building suspense. After

Lockwood has retired to his bed, he has several puzzling and

uncomfortable experiences. For example,

‘Writing scratched on the paint repeated in all kinds of characters

large and small - Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to

Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton’

This quote builds on prior knowledge of the mysterious ‘Catherine’.

This is Lockwood’s first encounter with her and it is the same for the

reader. The fact that the words are scratched into the wood is an

indicator of Catherine’s frame of mind. This could be said to be

confused, isolated, unhappy and slightly obsessive. The reader is

instantly engaged and wondering why it is there and what it can

signify. The atmosphere is already tense and spooky, and these

scratchings add to this.

The fact that we meet Catherine in ‘words’ (scratchings and a diary)

is an indicator of how important both Brontë and the people in the 19th

century viewed the power of the written word. It was seen as the

highest form of art and a direct link between the authors mind and the

readers understanding. It is a clever plot which will only be

understood when the reader gets to the end of the novel.

It is tricky to derive who the author wants you to sympathise with.

The pendulum swings both ways, you could sympathise with Heathcliff

because he had an undying love for Catherine and she never really knew

about it, and he still does love her. Although at first we view

Heathcliff as a ‘pitiless, wolfish man’ who is bitter and resentful of

life because of his up bringing which was being beaten by Hindley,

Catherine’s older brother. Or you could sympathise with Catherine, who

really did love Heathcliff but was so wrapped up in her own little

world of being a lady, rich and having fancy parties thought that it

degrade her to marry Heathcliff as he was called a ‘Gypsy’. Personally

I would sympathise with Heathcliff who’s love for Catherine is

extremely obvious but she can’t see it and ends up marrying Edgar

Linton. Who is rich, respected and will provide her with a home, money

etc.

Throughout the chapter the atmosphere builds up even more. After

Lockwood has seen the names he starts to fall asleep and has yet

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