Emily Brontë’s "Wuthering Heights" was written between October 1845 and June 1846 and was first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell. The narrative structure in "Wuthering Heights" is striking. Interestingly, there is not only one narrator. The main narration, narrated by Nelly Dean, is embedded into Lockwood’s report of events. In addition, Lockwood finds a diary entry from Catherine in the beginning and quotes parts of it, and Nelly includes the contents of a letter written by Isabella, as well as several eyewitness accounts into her narrative. The following essay aims to identify the significance of Lockwood and Nelly as narrators in "Wuthering Heights", and to work out their impacts on the reader. There will first be a general examination of the narrative style of Lockwood and Nelly respectively, and then the effect of these styles on the reader will be examined in more detail. An attempt will then be made to prove that "Wuthering Heights" is in fact a story about exclusion and deficient sympathy between human beings, and that the narrative voices serve to demonstrate and highlight these elements.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Role of Mr. Lockwood
3. The Role of Nelly Dean
4. Comparison of Narrative Styles
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the significance of the narrative structure and the roles of the primary narrators, Mr. Lockwood and Nelly Dean, in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, arguing that their emotional distance and lack of empathy prevent a full understanding of the story's events.
- The impact of the dual-narrator structure on the reader's perception.
- Mr. Lockwood's analytical, formal approach and his inability to bridge the emotional divide.
- Nelly Dean's subjective storytelling and her manifestation of moral double standards.
- The necessity of genuine empathy for resolving the conflict within the narrative world.
Excerpt from the Book
The Role of Mr. Lockwood
From the very beginning, Lockwood is divided from the people of Wuthering Heights in several ways. From what the reader can gather from the content of Lockwood’s narration and its rather formal style, Lockwood is a gentleman from the city and not used to spending time with people from the countryside: ‘It is astonishing how sociable I feel myself compared with him.’ (p.8), and later ‘I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle’ (p.15). He is unable to free himself from the boundaries imposed upon him by his superior social position. This becomes apparent through his manner of speech. His sentences are complex and are frequently divided by colons, semi-colons, and dashes, making his style appear more educated: ‘Mr Lockwood, your new tenant, sir – I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible, after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange’ (p.3). His way of talking is in remarkable contrast to the tenants of Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff, for example, merely commands ‘with closed teeth’ ‘walk in!’ (p.3), and Joseph’s strong, local accent is even more striking. Lockwood’s use of numerous words of Latinate origin (“misanthropist” (3), “solitary” (3), “soliloquised (4) “interpose” (7), “manifested” (4), and others) highlight his rather formal and more educated style.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section introduces the narrative complexity of Wuthering Heights and sets the research goal of analyzing how the distinct perspectives of the two primary narrators shape the reader's understanding.
The Role of Mr. Lockwood: This chapter examines Lockwood’s analytical and distant personality, highlighting how his formal language and inability to connect emotionally hinder his comprehension of the inhabitants.
The Role of Nelly Dean: This chapter focuses on Nelly’s subjective narrative, exploring her self-depiction, her moral biases, and her unconscious cruelty toward those she deems troublesome.
Comparison of Narrative Styles: This section synthesizes the failures of both narrators, demonstrating that neither the analytical city-dweller nor the subjective servant possesses the necessary empathy to understand the true nature of the events.
Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes that Brontë uses these flawed narrators to guide the reader toward recognizing the importance of human kindness and empathy, exemplified by the young Catherine.
Keywords
Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Narrative Structure, Lockwood, Nelly Dean, Empathy, Subjectivity, Exclusion, Victorian Literature, Interpretation, Narrator, Human Kindness, Social Class, Isolation, Character Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the narrative structure of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, specifically focusing on the influence of the two primary narrators, Lockwood and Nelly Dean, on the reader's understanding.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include narrative reliability, the clash between analytical and emotional perspectives, class and social boundaries, human exclusion, and the role of empathy in resolving conflict.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how the specific narrative voices of Lockwood and Nelly Dean highlight themes of superficiality and deficient sympathy within the novel.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a close textual analysis of the narrators' styles, their personal biases, and their interactions with other characters to provide a literary interpretation of their roles.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body breaks down the individual roles of Lockwood and Nelly, contrasts their speaking styles, examines their failures in empathy, and discusses their roles in conveying the novel's message.
How would you summarize the key findings regarding the narrators?
The paper finds that both narrators are limited by their own flaws—Lockwood by his detachment and Nelly by her subjectivity—which forces the reader to look beyond them to understand the characters.
Why does the author argue that Lockwood is unable to understand the story?
The author argues that Lockwood's analytical mind and elitist viewpoint prevent him from empathizing with the intense, non-traditional emotions and behaviors of the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights.
What makes Nelly Dean a problematic narrator according to the analysis?
Nelly is considered problematic because she presents a biased view, frequently judges other characters based on personal annoyance, and maintains double standards, which forces the reader to critically question her account.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Franziska Müller (Autor:in), 2016, The Significance of Narrators and Narrative Structure in the Works of the Brontës, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/345645
