Wuthering Heights – Narrative Structure Essay Example

someone unfamiliar with their surroundings, which often results in him misunderstanding what he sees and the characters he meets. An example is when he mistook a pile of dead rabbits for cats, saying "Ah, your favourites are among these! I continued, turning to an obscure cushion full of something like cats... Unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits".

The storytelling approach induces empathy and simultaneously provides humor at the expense of the narrator. In addition, Lockwood's attention to Heathcliff's physical characteristics during their inaugural meeting, "He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman... I know, by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling," indicates to the reader the ease with which one can misconstrue the depth of the characters. This also serves as a cautionary tale, hinting we should also be careful not to depend solely on our intuition when evaluating personas.

The novel undergoes a change in narrative direction towards Nelly Dean, who stands as the polar opposite of Lockwood, embodying the internal framework of the story's structure. This initially results in a feeling of respite as we comprehend Nelly as an integral part of the plot itself, providing the reader with an accurate and trustworthy perspective, “Very old, sir, and Hareton is the last of them, as our Miss Cathy is of us – I mean, of the Lintons.

Did you ever pay a visit to Wuthering Heights? Excuse my curiosity, I am keen on finding out about her wellbeing." Nonetheless, the employment of possessive and collective pronouns like "our" and "us" outlines her emotional attachment with the characters. Additionally, her self-correction underlines her unclear

perception of her identity and the family to which she belongs. This insinuates that she shares a common trait with Lockwood: unreliability.

Indeed, Nelly Dean's function as a trusted friend to nearly every character in the narrative grants her a considerable degree of authority. From a feminist perspective, she is the most powerful because she possesses the capability to shape and steer the narrative. Yet, Bronte's use of an epistolary structure reveals female vulnerability, as disclosed in Isabella's dissatisfaction in her marriage, divulged in a confidential letter to Nelly. The letter starts with "Dear Ellen, I have to write to someone, and the only one available is you..."

Does Mr. Heathcliff qualify as a human? If affirmative, could he be insane? Conversely, is he a demon? The repetitive invocation of questions incites feelings of anxiety and immediacy, a clear indication of Isabella's urgent need to convey her terrified and remorseful state. The narrative uniquely reflects Bronte's viewpoint as it ingeniously uses this letter to condemn societal norms regarding matrimony. It discreetly sheds light on the harsh truth of Isabella's status as an abused spouse.