Narratology in Bronte's Wuthering Heights

Narratology divides a ‘narrative into story and narration’. (Cohan et al., 1988, p. 53) The three main figures that contribute a considerable amount of research to this theory are Gerard Genette, Aristotle and Vladimir Propp. This essay will focus on how Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights can be fully appreciated and understood when the theory is applied to the text. Firstly, I will focus on the components of narration Genette identifies that enhance a reader’s experience of the text. Secondly, I will discuss the three key elements in a plot that Aristotle recognises and apply these to Heathcliff’s character. In the final section I will apply part of the seven ‘spheres of action’, Propp categorises, to Heathcliff’s character. However, not all of Narratology can be applied to a text. This raises the question; does this hinder a readers understanding and/or appreciation of the text? This paper will also address this issue.

Gerard Genette focuses on the narration of the novel by analysing focalisation, the narrative mode, the use of intrusive authors and the way time is handled in a text. Each of these contributes to a readers understanding and appreciation of a text. Focalisation is one of the key features in Narratology effectively facilitates readers to comprehend the text. Bronte adopts the literary technique dual narration in Wuthering Heights; this is when two characters narrate. The two characters that narrate, via internal focalisation in the novel, are Lockwood and Nelly. Internal focalisation is when a narrator has ‘witnessed...learned about, or even participated in the events they tell.’ (Barry, 2009, pp. 225-226) This is imperative to understanding literature; an example of this in the novel is when Nelly says ‘a ...

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... P. (2009) Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. 3rd edn. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 216.

Bronte, E. (2000) Wuthering Heights. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited. p. 159.

Barry, P. (2009) Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. 3rd edn. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 216.

Propp, V. (2004) Morphology of the Folk-tale. In: Rivkin, J. and Ryan, M. (2nd ed.) Literary Theory: An Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. pp. 72-76.

Bronte, E. (2000) Wuthering Heights. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited. p. 25.

Bronte, E. (2000) Wuthering Heights. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited. p. 161.

Propp, V. (2004) Morphology of the Folk-tale. In: Rivkin, J. and Ryan, M. (2nd ed.) Literary Theory: An Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. pp. 72-76.