Wuthering Heights is the only novel written by the Victorian writer, Emily Bronte besides her poems. It is one of the most passionate and heartfelt novels. It is also, considered highly original and deeply tragic. This novel is about the relation between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, the orphan boy brought to Wuthering Heights, and his tyrannical revenge excited on everybody for the rage and humiliation he suffers throughout his life.The novel is based on a group of flashbacks which are organized chronologically and told by a number of narrators. Each participates in the part which conveys the theme most efficiently. So, the type of narration used throughout the novel is first per ...view middle of the document...
We identify with him as readers because we are all spectators with him. This narration serves well as an introduction because it establishes the novel with an outsider's eye reflecting Wuthering Heights as a dismal and uninviting place to be in. This technique gives the introduction a stronger effect. Moreover, Mr. Lockwood's narration reflects his educated background and civilized sophistication. His language does not feel natural but artificial and he uses different vocabulary which comes from the city and his travels. In each of his narrations, the year is mentioned at the beginning, and the time of day later on in his story because of his prompt and organized character. His narration reflects the unexpected dark and gloomy unfriendliness of the people and places he encounters.The second narrator is Catherine telling some of her memories with Heathcliff when they were kids. Her part is written on the margin of a book & read by Mr. Lockwood. Because this is written in her childhood, the language seems very childish coming from a very naughty girl who is scornful on the people surrounding her. She describes everything from a child's point of view of looking at things which is apparent in the way she describes the intimate scene between Hindley and his wife reflecting it as silly, meaningless, and very unromantic. She uses a lot of curses and bad names to entitle the older folks. The wildness and meanness of a rebellious child is felt through out her narration.The third narrator is Heathcliff describing his and Catherine's first encounter with the Lintons. His language is very poetic and much more vivid than the other characters. It is very descriptive and rich with striking imagery, metaphors and similes. It is filled with hatred and spite for the ill treatment he receives at their house, turning him out of doors while keeping Catherine at their place. His hatred is obviously expressed in the selection of his words creating striking images, such as "(Isabella Linton) shrieking as if witches were running red-hot needles into her", "flinging Joseph off the highest gable, and painting the house front with Hindley's blood" and "shattering their great glass panes into a million of fragments". He gives an accurate description of the event, affected greatly with his feelings and emotions for Catherine and hatred against the Lintons. We feel the cruelty and injustice of his situation through his narration. It attracts sympathy from the readers who identify with his unfortunate situation. Also, his bitter tone of speech accounts for his reaction later on in the novel. The second time Heathcliff takes over the narration is near his end. His speech seems very disordered and irrational. It sounds like hallucinations coming from a deranged man. He describes his strange approaching change with great earnest claiming the occurrence of weird incidents and exposing his distorted beliefs about ghosts and faith. His disturbed state of mind is manifes...
