Wuthering Heights Nelly Dean Quotes

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Characterization of Nelly Dean

Throughout the novel Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte develops many characters utilizing many different methods. In this particular passage, Emily Bronte focuses in and develops the character of Nelly Dean. Through use of not only dialogue, but also Nelly’s actions themselves, Emily Bronte characterizes Nelly as a protective and caring mother-like figure.
In this passage Nelly is proving how protective she is through what she says, does and is willing to do for the family. While hiding Hareton, Hindley “caught [Nelly] in the act of stowing his son away in the kitchen cupboard” (LL 1-2). Nelly was hiding Hareton in the kitchen in order to protect the young boy from his Father, Hindley. This shows that she is willing …show more content…
When Hindley threatens to set the house on fire, Nelly replies “‘Nay, don’t!’ [she] entreated. ‘Mr. Hindley, do take warning. Have mercy on this unfortunate boy, if you care nothing for yourself!’” (LL 71-72). Even after being threatened being killed, and having the knife Hindley was going to kill her with in her mouth, she still argues with Hindley to not burn the house down. She does, not because she would likely be killed in the fire, but rather because Hareton and Heathcliff would be, and she cares for them too much to let that happen. After the exchange, Hindley goes to pour himself a drink. Nelly scolds him, and tells him to “ ‘Have mercy on your own soul!’ [Nelly] said, endeavouring to snatch the glass from his hand”(LL 74-75). She does this because even after being threatened with a knife by Hindley, she still cares deeply about his wellbeing and happiness. Nelly cares so much about all of them, that even directly after having a knife held in her mouth, she ran after Hindley and Hareton crying out “that he would frighten the child into fits, and ran to rescue him”(L 34). This shows that she cares for the family more than her own safety, as she is willing to put herself in harm's way in order to do what she feels she must for the good of the
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