Essay Wuthering Heights

Submitted By LanLanLanBan
Words: 2079
Pages: 9
Open Document
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights employs a somewhat unorthodox narrative structure, with Mr Lockwood acting as the external framework to Nelly Dean’s tale. The reader initially identifies himself with the character of Lockwood, who is introduced to Wuthering Heights at the same time as himself. He later serves as a validation of Nelly’s central tale, as he has witnessed the current circumstances that are the consequence of it. However, while both narrators lend their particular perspective to the events of the novel, the reader is left to come to his own conclusion about the characters and their actions. It is my intent during the course of this essay to illustrate how the reader is able to respond to and understand the text, despite the limits of Nelly’s and Lockwood’s conventionality and incapacity for the extreme passions demonstrated by others.
We are introduced to Wuthering Heights through Mr Lockwood’s eyes, and it clear from his language that he is well-bred, and despite his self-proclamation of being a misanthrope, it is clear almost immediately that he is not, as he reports, ‘I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival’1 to his new landlord. Both narrator and reader have their own early preconceptions of Heathcliff as a Byronic hero, and the sentimental Lockwood begins by believing Heathcliff to be similar to himself.
Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of underbred pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know, by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling – to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He’ll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. No, I’m running on too fast: I bestow my own attributes over liberally on him. (p.3)
Lockwood’s personality is important to understanding his narration – he is from a genteel class, therefore not used to the coarseness and brutality he encounters at Wuthering Heights, and so he persists in believing in the goodness of the people who reside there. The reader begins to separate himself from Lockwood’s analysis of Heathcliff as ‘a capital fellow!’ (p.1) and begins to make the comparison between Lockwood’s self-proclaimed misanthropy, and Heathcliff’s true misanthropy.
Another aspect of his personality, his uncommon curiousity, compels him to read Catherine’s diary which leads to his dream of listening to a sermon by the Reverend Jabes Branderham from the text “Seventy Times Seven”. This dream, a violent representation of what can occur with the absence of forgiveness, foreshadows the major theme of vengeance within the text. This prompts Lockwood’s second dream of the night, where he struggles with the ghost of Catherine Linton trying to seek refuge through his window. The gothic elements of this scene introduce the idea of the supernatural, as well as encouraging the interest of the reader to find out about Catherine Linton, and her link to Wuthering Heights.
It is important that Lockwood should be the one to experience Catherine’s apparition, because as the outsider, it leaves the ambiguity of the supernatural element to the reader’s own judgment. The vivid detail of the dream anchors the unreality in reality and as the novel continues, it becomes evident that it was more than a nightmare; most noticeably, by the usage of the name “Linton” instead of “Earnshaw”, and her cries of being lost on the moors for twenty years. If it had been Heathcliff to see her ghost, it could have been explained away by his fierce hunger to encounter her, but Lockwood makes it seem more terrible and realistic.
If Lockwood is the stranger in the novel, then Nelly is the familiar intimate. Her role in the text begins by telling the tale of Heathcliff and the other occupants of the house, and while her role in the plot has made her a credible witness, her judgments are not entirely reliable. Her limited viewpoint, and
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Wuthering Heights

Essay on Wuthering heights

Wuthering heights Nature allows relationships to be true (This lime-tree bower my prison) nature is a place for relationships Wuthering heights Cathy and Heathcliff children run in the meadows “one soul” free from anyone Heathcliff Byronic hero contrasts with Frost at Midnight, gentle expression of the gentry (new money vs old money) Individualism (black but a gentleman) Neoclassicist Reaction against neo-classicist due to movement City vs rural Frost at Midnight Context Values and Analysis…

Words 309 - Pages 2

Foreshadowing In Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights is an English classic novel that is characterized by the underlying theme of love. It is love that everyone- excluding Mr. Lockwell, who represents the role of the reader in the story- expresses in their actions and motivations. This desire to love and to be loved runs through every major character's heads. In chapter 9, Catherine accepts Edgar's proposal. When she tells Nelly this, she states on page 81, "Have you considered how you'll bear the separation, and how he'll bear to…

Words 278 - Pages 2

Wuthering Heights Essay

AP English Literature and Composition MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: Wuthering Heights Author: Emily Bronte Date of Publication: 1847 Genre: Gothic Fiction Biographical Information about the Author Historical Information about the period of publication 1847: James K. Polk is president of the U.S.(1845-1849). Michigan is the first state to abolish capital punishment. Samuel colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S. Government. The Battle of Buena Vista Mexico; Zachary…

Words 553 - Pages 3

Isolation In Wuthering Heights

Gothic Novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë has many interesting characters and individual situations. There are many aspects of Wuthering Heights that bring a lot of attention to the novel, for example the extreme nature of Heathcliff and the anger and hate that surrounds him, to the humble messenger of his story Mrs.Ellen Dean. Brontë uses different devices to display the multiple themes throughout the novel that are specific with the characters. In the novel Wuthering heights the main character…

Words 1684 - Pages 7

Wuthering Heights Essay

Christian Echeverri Wuthering Heights Essay English 12th 2/18/14 Wuthering Heights Essay The theme of Wuthering Heights focuses on the passion and love that Heathcliff and Catherine share together. Heathcliff and Catherine were raised together and formed and unbreakable bond that started as a sibling relationship into something much more powerful. As they grew up their love progressed and grew continuously. It was close to the perfect love story but the characters changed and with it so did…

Words 784 - Pages 4

Wuthering Heights Essay examples

Julie Gaglione Mrs. Strada English 3H 7 February 2015 Heathcliff’s Obsession: Wuthering Heights In Wuthering Heights written by Emily Bronte we are introduced to sinister, corrupt and nefarious characters that are fixated on furthering their social standing. Families become intertwined by marriage in order to obtain property in both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Passion is traded for domination and loyalty is bartered for a rise on an ongoing social ladder that is held by a slim thread…

Words 689 - Pages 3

Wuthering Heights Deconstruction Essay

Moses Nance Amy Oatis Literary Theory 12/6/2014 Deconstruction of Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte is an amazing author and poet in the late 19th century. She is the author of the outstanding novel, Wuthering Heights which is renowned for its workmanship and highly praised by all readers. Readers portray Heathcliff as an avenger but this paper will deny Heathcliff as an avenger and expose his causes for revenge. It will deny the love between Catherine and Heathcliff by giving evidence of Catherine’s…

Words 1494 - Pages 6

Wuthering Heights Study Questions

Wuthering Heights Study Questions Chapter 1 1. The setting is austere and mysterious. It does not suit Mr. Lockwood quite well; he finds Wuthering Heights extremely disagreeable and its inhabitants bitter and unsociable. 2. “Wuthering” is descriptive of the atmospheric tumult of the novel in that it describes the violent winds that blow during storms on the moors. Wuthering Heights is removed from society. The adjective not only describes the setting itself, but the inhabitants as…

Words 3909 - Pages 16

Wuthering Heights Research Paper

An Analysis of Wuthering Heights Using Freud’s Personalities Often times the actions of individuals are confusing and unintelligible to those around them. It seems that everyone has secret motives driving their actions, but the method that forces them to act is not seen. Therefore, irrational actions can only be seen throughout overarching psychological premises to determine why the actions occur. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights contrasts the psychoanalytical premise behind Freud’s personalities…

Words 1851 - Pages 8

Revenge Quotes In Wuthering Heights

The Flaw of Revenge Revenge according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary is defined as the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands (1). In the novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte the character of Heathcliff is driven by seeking out revenge for anyone that ever betrayed or hurt him in anyway. Heathcliff can be considered a tragic hero who gradually becomes consumed by the tragic flaw of revenge. From the cold, poverty stricken streets of…

Words 1088 - Pages 5