Lockwood’s narration forms a frame around Nelly’s; he serves as a mediator between Nelly and the reader. A somewhat vain and arrogant man, he deals very clumsily with the residents of Wuthering Heights. Lockwood comes from a more domesticated region of England, and he finds himself at a loss when he witnesses the strange household’s disregard for the social conventions that have always structured his world. As a narrator, his vanity and unfamiliarity with the story occasionally lead him to misunderstand events.
We can tell from the beginning what a shallow man Lockwood is and that he does not have the ability to show emotion, have feelings or be aware of the feelings of others. Lockwood is clearly blind to the reality of situations, which occur at the heights, although the extent of his misinterpretations are not fully realised. First of all, his decision to return to Wuthering Heights is itself questionable. He has not been invited, the weather is poor, and he is not sure of the way. Yet, after he arrives, he is annoyed that the inhabitants are being unwelcoming.
As is shown in the quote below Heathcliff didnt really want to let Lockwood in but had no choice really. The “walk in” was uttered with closed teeth, He has unrealistic expectations, which he presumes will be met. When Hareton leads him inside, Lockwood waits for the missis to ask him to be seated, which of course she does not do. Hareton orders him to be seated, and in an attempt to make polite conversation, Lockwood misidentifies a heap of rabbit pelts as pets and misidentifies the woman as Heathcliffs wife.
“My amiable lady! e interrupted, with an almost diabolical sneer on his face. “Where is she — my amiable lady? ” “Mrs. Heathcliff, your wife, I mean. ” “Well, yes — Oh! you would intimate that her spirit has taken the post of ministering angel, and guards the fortunes of Wuthering Heights, even when her body is gone. Is that it? ” After being corrected by Heathcliff, Lockwood then mistakes Hareton as Heathcliffs son. Lockwoods failure to read people and situations make his narration suspect. The narrative switches to Ellen’s voice, whose language is much plainer than Lockwood’s.
She is a discreet narrator, rarely reminding the listener of her presence in the story, so that the events she recounts appear immediate. She says she had grown up at Wuthering Heights. Her personality means that the events she recounts are presented in a particular way. She is practical and, like a good housekeeper, tends to incline to the side of order. Even when she was young, she did not really participate in the private lives of the children of Wuthering Heights, and has little access to the relationship of Heathcliff and Catherine. She tells of the passionate love story of Heathcliff and Cathy.
Lockwoods reaction to the story of Heathcliff and Cathys story is too be expected from what we already know about him. He is unable to relate to the story and the characters because he doesnt understand them and the feelings they have for each other. He thinks that himself and Heathcliff are alike in the fact that they like to hide their feelings and is confused when he hears of this story where Heathcliff is making a show of his feelings towards Cathy and this is beyond Lockwood He is the first of many narrators to tell the story from a point of view that is neither omniscient nor unbiased.
In Wuthering Heights, stories are often told within stories, with much of the information being revealed second-handed. Lockwood is an outsider, who serves as the motion for This is proven by the experience in his life before he came to the Heights. Lockwood, a self-described pessimist, is renting Thrushcross Grange in an effort to get away from society following a failure at love. He had fallen in love with a “real goddess,” but when she returned his affection he acted so coldly she “persuaded her mamma to decamp.
He was to scared to return the love towards that goddess and he lost her, its just not within him to fell or understand the feelings of love. He doesnt realised how much he has hurt this poor girl who he had been pursuing and doesnt seem to care he just seems empty and confused. He seems to come across as quite confused as he misinterprets the character of Heathcliff, he thinks Heathcliff is a gentleman when its obvious to the readers and other characters around him that is not the case.
Heathcliff is quite the opposite and shows his dislike and annoyance of the fact that Lockwood keeps returning to the Heights. Heathcliff even allows the dogs to attack him and still Lockwood thinks hes a good guy. “What the devil, indeed! ” I muttered. “The herd of possessed swine could have had no worse spirits in them than those animals of yours, sir. You might as well leave a stranger with a brood of tigers! ” “They won’t meddle with persons who touch nothing,” he
When Lockwood has the dream about Cathy and Heathcliff finds out he proves that he doesnt understand it as it makes him uncomfortable. Lockwood goes to the kitchen, but hears on his way Heathcliff at the window, despairingly begging “Cathy” to come in “at last. ” Lockwood is embarrassed by his host’s obvious agony and doesnt seem to realise that this type of behaviour, grieving is a normal thing. He thinks that Heathcliff showing his emotion is abnormal and that it isnt the done thing among certain classes, which have structured his life.
