Lockwood and Nelly as the Obvious Narrators in Wuthering Heights Although Lockwood and Nelly serve as the obvious narrators, others are
interspersed throughout the novel-Heathcliff, Isabella, Cathy, even
Zillah-who narrate a chapter or two, providing insight into both
character and plot development. Catherine does not speak directly to
the readers (except in quoted dialogue), but through her diary, she
narrates important aspects of the childhood she and Heathcliff shared
on the moors and the treatment they received at the hands of Joseph
and Hindley. All of the voices weave together to provide a choral
narrative. Initially, they speak to Lockwood, answering his inquiries,
but they speak to readers, also, providing multiple views of the
tangled lives of the inhabitants of Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering
Heights.
Brontë appears to present objective observers, in an attempt to allow
the story to speak for itself. Objective observations by outsiders
would presumably not be tainted by having a direct involvement;
unfortunately, a closer examination of these two seemingly objective
narrators reveals their bias.
For example, Lockwood's narrative enables readers to begin the story
when most of the action is already completed. Although the main story
is being told in flashback, having Lockwood interact with Heathcliff
and the others at Wuthering Heights immediately displaces his
objectivity. What he records in his diary is not just what he is being
told by Nelly but his memories and...
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...Heathcliff.
Nelly is limited because of her conventional, religious and moral
sentiments, which often prevent her from a greater understanding of
the emotions or motives of the characters. This is important in
Bronte's technique as it allows the reader to believe that they have a
better understanding of the characters and the developments, than
either of her narrators. The inclusion of so much dialogue and the
tertiary narratives of the central characters provide a direct
communication between the reader and character allowing for greater
immediacy and for an individual response on behalf of the reader. In
this respect both Nelly and Lockwood are merely facilitators providing
a mechanism through which the reader can enter a world of Wuthering
Heights and react in an individual fashion to the events which
transpire.
Nelly’s role in Wuthering Heights is inherently ambiguous because she occupies a vast array of roles throughout the course of the narrative. Who she is and what niche she fills depends on the characters with whom she interacts and on the situations in which she is immersed, resulting in great ambiguity over Nelly’s exact role in the novel. This lack of clarity arises before Nelly’s narrative even begins. When we first encounter Nelly, we know that she is the housekeeper of Thrushcross Grange. ...
Wuthering Heights Is a book by the famous author Emily Bronte who was born on July 30, 1818. The book was first published in London in 1847 as a three volume set. The author in the three volume set was printed under the alias Ellis Bell. In fact Bronte’s real name didn’t appear until 1850 on an edited commercial version. Although today Wuthering Heights is regarded as an American classic when it first came out it had mixed reviews because it went against the Victorian standards.
While reading the book of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, found that Heathcliff, one of the main characters of the story was considered the villain. During the ups and downs of the story the choice of villains are numerous due to the characters emotions and choices but choosing Heathcliff was an obvious choice. The malicious and diabolical attitude which Heathcliff had was from being rejected and from likely being different. His difference of character was shown right from the beginning of the story when Lockwood the first person which arrives at Wuthering Heights explains he is the new tenant arriving to rent the property at Thrushgross Grange. Heathcliff’s unbearable attitude comes across right away “'I should not allow anyone to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it…” (Bronte, pg2). As one reads the story by Emily Bronte, one can determine the attitude of villainy from Heathcliff.
On the other hand, suspense can be seen throughout Wuthering Heights through Mr. Lockwood’s experience at the Wuthering Heights estate, Heathcliff’s obsession with Catherine Earnshaw, and the need for revenge. Mr. Lockwood had to spend a night at the estate because he was snowed in and did not know his way home, and Heathcliff refuse to bring him back home. When he first arrived to the estate to visit Heathcliff, he noticed that Heathcliff was displaying erratic behaviour. Heathcliff would just let his dogs attack Lockwood and he treats him in a manner most would not treat their guests. When he stayed the night, he sees the ghost of a young Catherine Earnshaw scratching at his window pane, “ The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I
Wuthering Heights by Anne Flosnik starts Lockwood going to Wuthering Heights where he is at tenant visiting Heathcliff. While at Heathcliff`s there he encounters something, supernatural which makes him get curious. Lockwood goes back to Nelly a servant who grew up from Wuthering Heights and begs him to tell the history of Heathcliff. A Yorkshire Farmer named Earnshaw who has two children named Hindley and Catherine brings home an orphan named Heathcliff and over time Catherine starts to love Heathcliff but Hindley hates him because he has replaced Hindley in Earnshaw`s affection and because of that he does anything to humiliate Heathcliff. Meanwhile in Edgar and Isabella who live in Thrushcross Grange are opposites to Heathcliff and
the characters of the story, and even his contact with some of those characters in the three opening chapters and a couple of chapters towards the close, is of a very casual kind and of brief duration. He can therefore be regarded as even more impartial than Nelly. Emily Bronte gave the story into the hands of two narrators each of whom can say: “This is true; I was there; this is really what happened.” Lockwood’s role is to add convincing evidence to what Nelly tells us through him, since he has no need to lie, no subconscious urge to conceal, reveal or justify.
Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Bronte. The story is centered on hatred, jealousy, and revenge that spans two generations. Social class plays a significant role in the story, as it the factor that ultimately divides two loves from being together. The futures of Cathy, Hareton, and Linton are shaped by the vengeful decisions made by Heathcliff. Each character chooses to use Heathcliff’s manipulation in a different way.
The concerns, values, ideals and beliefs of a historical period can be understood through the analysis and deconstruction of texts written in said period. Through texts, one is able to gain a greater and richer understanding of the intricacy of societal values and ideals as these things permeate through all texts created in the time period.
Inwardness is also the key to the structure of the novel. The book begins in the year 1801, on the very rim of the tale, long after the principal incidents of the story have taken place. Mr. Lockwood, our guide, is very far removed from the central experiences of the narrative. Under Lockwood’s sadly unperceptive direction, the reader slowly begins to understand what is happening at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Gradually we move toward the center of the novel. In a few chapters, Nelly Dean, takes over from Lockwood, and the reader is a little closer to the truth. Still Nelly is herself unperceptive and the reader must struggle hard till reaching the center of the novel; the passionate last meeting of Heathcliff and Cathy in Chapter 15.
In this narration and as a narrator, Nelly subtle and blatantly gives her perspective and bias on Catherine and Heathcliff, which remains unchanged until adulthood. Despite Nelly’s young age, she shows the audience the understanding of social politics within the Earnshaw family and its effect on Catherine and Heathcliff. Due to this knowledge and Nelly’s position in the family, she demonstrates her negative view on the two said characters when Catherine returns from Thrushcross Grange:
Chapter one introduces the characters Mr Heathcliff, Joseph, Cathy and Mr Lockwood himself. He is currently visiting Yorkshire and is therefore staying at Thurshcross Grange his landlord is Mr Heathcliff who lives at Wuthering Heights. Mr Lockwood pays a visit to him and his family where he comes across Joseph, the servant and Cathy whom is the daughter-in-law of Mr Healthcliff. Bronte introduces the characters in different forms. This makes the novel confusing however we soon establish that Bronte writes in this format so the suspension remains throughout the story.
Set in the wild, rugged country of Yorkshire in northern England during the late eighteenth century, Emily Bronte's masterpiece novel, Wuthering Heights, clearly illustrates the conflict between the 'principles of storm and calm';. The reoccurring theme of this story is captured by the intense, almost inhuman love between Catherine and Heathcliff and the numerous barriers preventing their union.
It is of the utmost importance that it is not the author who tells the story; `Wuthering Heights' employs a narrative frame. Nelly Dean tells the story to Mr Lockwood, and he relates it to us. The first person narrator of the novel is therefore far removed from the actual experiences of the story. We begin in 1801, with a first person narrator, Mr Lockwood, who arrives onto the scene almost by chance, one who may have "fixed on" a completely different par...
First, Wuthering Heights is a contribution to the theme of the novel because it sets the mood for the scenes taken place inside the house. The house is first introduced to the reader during a storm. The house stands alone and the land around it is described as dreary and foreboding, which creates a mood of isolation. “On the bleak Yorkshire moors” describes the Yorkshire moors physical appearance. The estate has little vegetation and is more weathered, which moors are, as they are jutting, bare rocks towards the ocean. Wuthering Heights is an old stone house with gothic architecture and bleak interior. The people that live in Wuthering Heights are bitter and act violent. The characters of the story act wild when they are at Wuthering Heights, compared to other places in the novel. The setting of the house enforces the actions of the Earnshaws’, and Heathcliff. The name of the estate even sets a theme of gloom in the novel. Lockwood says Wuthering is, “a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather” (12).
Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, narrative structure is intricate, subjective, with multiple layers, recounted mainly through two fallible eyewitnesses, Lockwood, an outsider who narrates the first three chapters of the first volume, and the three chapters at the end of volume two. Nelly Dean, the housekeeper, is the second narrator who shapes the bulk of the story and dramatises the narrative with energy and immediacy. There are also other eyewitness narratives interspersed throughout the novel such as Zillah, Cathy Isabella, and Heathcliff. The novel dramatises the struggles and conflicts between two intertwined houses, namely the dark, bleak, windy farmhouse Wuthering heights, belonging to the Earnshaw’s and the orphaned Heathcliff. This house represents storms, and signifies cruelty. I...