Wuthering Heights

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Emily Bronte, the author of Wuthering Heights wrote this book setting the scene in 1801 on a cold winter evening. It's written in present tense and is narrated by the main characters; Mr Lockwood a tenant at Thurshcross Grange and Nelly Dean, the housekeeper of Thurshcross Grange.

Chapter one introduces the characters Mr Heathcliff, Joseph, Cathy and Mr Lockwood himself. He is currently visiting Yorkshire and is therefore staying at Thurshcross Grange his landlord is Mr Heathcliff who lives at Wuthering Heights. Mr Lockwood pays a visit to him and his family where he comes across Joseph, the servant and Cathy whom is the daughter-in-law of Mr Healthcliff. Bronte introduces the characters in different forms. This makes the novel confusing however we soon establish that Bronte writes in this format so the suspension remains throughout the story.

Chapter two gives us a better insight of the family, clearing up the confusion. We discover who Cathy actually is as she comes across as Mr Heathcliffs wife in chapter one we also discover that Cathy actually had a husband, Linton Heathcliff who died. Also in chapter two, the description of the house is revealed and the setting and the kind of atmosphere which is expected from such a household.

The speech of Joseph is phonetic; he has an unusual dialect unlike Mr Lockwood whose dialect portrays a very educated man. Reading josephs dialogue is difficult as its written phonetically.

"whet are ye for? ... T maister's dahn I' t' fowld. Goa rahnd by th' end ut' laith, if yah went tuh spake tull him."

Whereas the vocabulary used by Mr Lockwood is very complex and by first impressions it seems as though Mr Heathcliff is intimidated by this but reading on we soon determine his character.

The setting is light cold snow which turns into a blizzard, in which Lockwood is unable to return to Thurshcross Grange. Mr Healthcliff makes it very clear that he is unwelcome despite the many attempts and obvious hints he makes to accept him for the night.

"As to staying here, I don't keep accommodations for visitors: you must share a bed with Hareton or Joseph, if you do"

Lockwood however manages to obtain a room to spend the night in. Zillah the housekeeper who we are now introduced to shows him the way. The night then continues through chapter three where Lockwood has a terrifying experience. The chapter begins quite fearful as Zillah leads Lockwood to a forbidden room.

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