The Character of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

The Character of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

What do we learn about Heathcliff’s character from Pg 12 - the

entrance of Heathcliff (paragraph 2) to Pg 13 “my amiable lady”.

How typical is this of elsewhere in the novel?

This extract is taken from the beginning of the novel, chapter 2. In

this chapter we begin to pick up on the uncomfortable atmosphere in

Wuthering Heights and a further insight into the characters and their

relationships.

Heathcliff’s entrance on page 12 causes a plea of shelter from Mr.

Lockwood. He says “You see sir, I have come according to my

promise!”. This emphasises Heathcliff’s status of power in the WH and

the constant need to please and treat him with respect. This

exclamatory sentence shows us Mr. Lockwood naivety to the situation in

WH, more emphasise is provided for this characteristic in Mr

.Lockwood’s inability to understand the danger of the moors, which in

turn leads the reader to believe that he may not understand the danger

of Heathcliff.

This extract intrigues readers through the desire to understand

Heathcilff. His obvious rudeness to assist in Mr. Lockwood’s safe

journey to his abode shows us how much he has changed since refusing

to leave Catherine in the care of the Linton’s at Thushcross Grange in

chapter 6, “I refused to go without Cathy” (pg 51). This unbelievable

contrast between the young Heathcliff and the master we are introduced

to is Emily Bronte’s method to draw us in to the inner consciousness

of his character through this obvious inner conflict we are being

presented with. His body language is deeply described throughout the

novel which not o...

... middle of paper ...

...r Linton told him he was “incurable”. Again another

factor from the past that has now become true. In my opinion its

almost as though HC has given in to these accusations he was

surrounded by in the past.

The atmosphere in the house is described as “an austere silence”,

“grim” and “taciturn”. Mr Lockwood is left to believe that this is

their “every day countenance”. Similarly to how Nelly blaming HC for

the atmosphere he unintentionally carried with him from his arrival at

Wuthering Heights, “from the beginning he bred bad feelings in the

house”. In the past HC was used as a scapegoat and an easy target for

the others to blame him, now the conclusions can be made that HC is

the reason for this “cloud” that surrounds the present day, and he has

spread his past “incurable” nature on to all those that surround him.