Bronte's Use of Language and Setting in Wuthering Heights

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Bronte's Use of Language and Setting in Wuthering Heights

Between pages 15 and 18 there are identifiable ways in which 'Bronte'

uses 'language and setting' to establish the characters and create a

distinguishable atmosphere. In this essay, themes, genres and styles

will be discussed to show how 'Bronte' establishes the characters;

there will also be a discussion of the 'gothic' elements which

Wuthering Heights contains.

Many people would argue that the style of 'Wuthering Heights' is

peculiar and complex, the power of Wuthering Heights owes much to its

complex narrative structure and to the device of having two

conventional people relate a very unconventional tale.

Bronte importantly introduces the element of 'the supernatural' into

chapter 3 which is an important technique as it grips the reader.

Lockwood has come into contact with the ghost of Cathy, who died 18

years before,

Some might argue that she is a product of Lockwood's imagination, and

it is clear that Bronte has presented these facts in this way so that

the reader can make up their own mind on the subject. The ghost of

Cathy is not a true spirit, for Lockwood in order to release himself,

pulls Cathy's wrist down onto the broken glass causing blood to flow

(negative imagery which creates a dark atmosphere),Lockwood's

interaction with Catherine's spirit moves him from being an outside

observer to an active participant in the plot.

The ghost of Catherine acts as a symbol in chapter 3; other symbols in

the novel are 'the moors' which of course resemble 'Heathcliff'.

One of the most obvious things that some might notice when analysing

'Wuthering Heights' is that the dark descriptive language is used to

create or darken the tone and atmosphere of the book, an example is

during Lockwood's dream when the preacher shouts out, "Drag him down

and crush him to atoms", that quote is no doubt negative and reflects

the moods of the characters, such as Heathcliff. Furtherly a quote

which shows negative and gothic imagery is when Lockwood describes

cutting Catherine on the glass, he says, "I pulled its wrist on to the

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