Narrative Patterns in Narrative Patterns in Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights

AH, YES, THE FLASHBACKAH, YES, THE FLASHBACK

Everyone who has seen very many Everyone who has seen very many movies understands the technique of the movies understands the technique of the flashbackflashback..

When an author uses the When an author uses the flashbackflashback, he , he usually begins in the usually begins in the presentpresent (Mr. (Mr. Lockwood has rented a house, Lockwood has rented a house, Thrushcross Grange, and is mightily Thrushcross Grange, and is mightily intrigued by his rough and gruff landlord intrigued by his rough and gruff landlord and neighbor, Mr. Heathcliff (first and last and neighbor, Mr. Heathcliff (first and last name the same)name the same)

The present . . . The present . . .

When Mr. Lockwood visits the house When Mr. Lockwood visits the house known as Wuthering Heights– both of his known as Wuthering Heights– both of his visits are unwelcome– he is trapped there visits are unwelcome– he is trapped there by a snowstorm and strange things begin by a snowstorm and strange things begin to happen as he gets ready to go to bedto happen as he gets ready to go to bed

A tap, tapping at the window, a little voice A tap, tapping at the window, a little voice that cries that cries Do let me come inDo let me come in, and an icy , and an icy little hand that grabs Mr. Lockwood’s as he little hand that grabs Mr. Lockwood’s as he tries to shut the sash of the window set tries to shut the sash of the window set the stage for an intriguing story.the stage for an intriguing story.

Mr Lockwood unnervedMr Lockwood unnerved

Well, of course, Mr. Lockwood is Well, of course, Mr. Lockwood is unnerved– he thinks that he has had unnerved– he thinks that he has had a horrible dream UNTILa horrible dream UNTIL

Mr. Heathcliff rushes in, throws open Mr. Heathcliff rushes in, throws open the window, and howls for Cathy to the window, and howls for Cathy to haunt haunt himhim..

What’s a man to think?What’s a man to think?

Naturally, Mr. Lockwood wants to know Naturally, Mr. Lockwood wants to know the whole story behind the ghost, the the whole story behind the ghost, the unidentified girl who lives with unidentified girl who lives with Heathcliff, and whatever other Heathcliff, and whatever other mysteries surround the harsh mysteries surround the harsh environment of Wuthering Heights, but environment of Wuthering Heights, but how is he to find out what happened how is he to find out what happened twenty years ago– Heathcliff certainly twenty years ago– Heathcliff certainly isn’t going to isn’t going to gossipgossip

But Nelly Dean will gossipBut Nelly Dean will gossip

In the house that Mr. Lockwood rented In the house that Mr. Lockwood rented for the year there is a housekeeper, for the year there is a housekeeper, Nelly Dean. When Mr. Lockwood Nelly Dean. When Mr. Lockwood comes down with the flu ( he really comes down with the flu ( he really should have stayed in during the should have stayed in during the storm) Nelly Dean promises to stay by storm) Nelly Dean promises to stay by his sick bed and tell him the WHOLE his sick bed and tell him the WHOLE story about all of the strange goings story about all of the strange goings on at Wuthering Heights BECAUSEon at Wuthering Heights BECAUSE

NELLY THE NARRATORNELLY THE NARRATOR

Nelly lived at Wuthering Heights and Nelly lived at Wuthering Heights and worked for Catherine’s family (and worked for Catherine’s family (and later for Catherine) all of her life, and later for Catherine) all of her life, and she was around to witness AND to she was around to witness AND to participate in all of the events.participate in all of the events.

SO as Mr. Lockwood recuperates, Nelly SO as Mr. Lockwood recuperates, Nelly Dean entertains Lockwood by telling Dean entertains Lockwood by telling him the tragic and violent story of the him the tragic and violent story of the love between Heathcliff and Catherine love between Heathcliff and Catherine

THE PASTTHE PAST

Now, through Nellie, the reader is taken Now, through Nellie, the reader is taken back (flashback, get it) twenty years to back (flashback, get it) twenty years to the time when Mr Earnshaw brought the time when Mr Earnshaw brought home a waif from Liverpool and named home a waif from Liverpool and named him Heathcliff. him Heathcliff.

The reader will now, with the help of The reader will now, with the help of Nelly’s narration, progress through the Nelly’s narration, progress through the past and will eventually (toward the end past and will eventually (toward the end of the book) permanently return to the of the book) permanently return to the present.present.

But there is a “catch”But there is a “catch”

Remember reading the Remember reading the Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby in 11in 11thth grade grade??

Sometimes the narrator of a story Sometimes the narrator of a story may not be reliable or truthful. . . . may not be reliable or truthful. . . .

Veracity of the NarratorVeracity of the Narrator

Veracity of the narratorVeracity of the narrator is a is a literary term which indicates that the literary term which indicates that the reader must judge whether or not a reader must judge whether or not a character who narrates a story is character who narrates a story is truthful, is untruthful because he is truthful, is untruthful because he is deliberately lying, or is untruthful deliberately lying, or is untruthful because his perception is skewed by because his perception is skewed by his own experiences and personalityhis own experiences and personality

FOR EXAMPLEFOR EXAMPLE

Mr. Lockwood indicates to us (the Mr. Lockwood indicates to us (the readers) that Heathcliff is crude, readers) that Heathcliff is crude, crass, rough, and illiteratecrass, rough, and illiterate

HOWEVERHOWEVER

We soon see that Mr. Lockwood is a We soon see that Mr. Lockwood is a “city slicker” who is just a little (no, a “city slicker” who is just a little (no, a lot) effeminate SOlot) effeminate SO

MR LOCKWOODMR LOCKWOOD

Of course he sees Heathcliff as a Of course he sees Heathcliff as a BRUTEBRUTE

However, Nelly Dean’s story seems to However, Nelly Dean’s story seems to confirm Mr. Lockwood’s perception confirm Mr. Lockwood’s perception

EXCEPTEXCEPT

Dastardly NELLY?Dastardly NELLY? Watch for what Nelly says about Watch for what Nelly says about

Heathcliff. She states that she Heathcliff. She states that she ALWAYS-- from the very first day of ALWAYS-- from the very first day of his arrival-- hated Heathcliff his arrival-- hated Heathcliff

In factIn fact when he was a young child when he was a young child stricken with a severe case of stricken with a severe case of measles, and she was his nurse, she measles, and she was his nurse, she secretly took the child out on the secretly took the child out on the cold stairs hoping that the chill would cold stairs hoping that the chill would kill him.kill him.

DEMON CHILDDEMON CHILD And when the freezing air didn’t kill And when the freezing air didn’t kill

the young child, she pronounced the young child, she pronounced him him a demon child. a demon child.

( I just ask you, who’s the demon ( I just ask you, who’s the demon here?)here?)

But what about Joseph, the bad But what about Joseph, the bad tempered gardener, who tempered gardener, who CONSTANTLY tells us that Heathcliff CONSTANTLY tells us that Heathcliff and Catherine are products of the and Catherine are products of the devil?devil?

JosephJoseph

However, as you read you should see However, as you read you should see that Joseph believes that EVERYONE that Joseph believes that EVERYONE (except for him) is doomed to down (except for him) is doomed to down underunder

ULTIMATELYULTIMATELY

YOUYOU

The reader must draw his own The reader must draw his own conclusions about the story and conclusions about the story and especially about the people who especially about the people who relate the events.relate the events.

Be suspicious. See if you can make a Be suspicious. See if you can make a case for Nelly Dean as a principal case for Nelly Dean as a principal villainvillain

Some other things to think Some other things to think aboutabout

What factors will motivate whom you What factors will motivate whom you marry?marry?

Will you marry for love, security, Will you marry for love, security, social strata or passion? social strata or passion?

What about Catherine? Who will she What about Catherine? Who will she marry?marry?

Decide Decide whichwhich if any of her decisions if any of her decisions are wrong.are wrong.

HeathcliffHeathcliff

What about Heathcliff’s total disregard What about Heathcliff’s total disregard of all the conventions of society? Is he of all the conventions of society? Is he a free spirit that lives a genuine, a free spirit that lives a genuine, authentic life without regard to “what authentic life without regard to “what other people think”?other people think”?

OROR

Is he a horribly destructive force that Is he a horribly destructive force that threatens the fabric of society?threatens the fabric of society?

RevengeRevenge

AS YOU READ, EXAMINE…AS YOU READ, EXAMINE… Does Heathcliff ever want revenge?Does Heathcliff ever want revenge? Whom does Heathcliff have a grudge Whom does Heathcliff have a grudge

against?against? Does he punish anyone?Does he punish anyone? What are the results of his revenge?What are the results of his revenge? Does it satisfy him?Does it satisfy him?

Nature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture

An age-old question– why do we An age-old question– why do we become who we are? Is it because of become who we are? Is it because of our nature—we were born to be what our nature—we were born to be what we becomewe become

OROR

Is it because of the environment in Is it because of the environment in which we are brought up?which we are brought up?

What makes Heathcliff SOOOO bitter?What makes Heathcliff SOOOO bitter?

LOVE STORYLOVE STORY

Why are Heathcliff and Catherine the Why are Heathcliff and Catherine the ARCHETYPES of masculinity and ARCHETYPES of masculinity and femininity ?femininity ?

Why is their story so enduring?Why is their story so enduring? Why do girls ALWAYS choose the “bad Why do girls ALWAYS choose the “bad

boys” who NEVER treat them wellboys” who NEVER treat them well Why do girls NEVER appreciate the Why do girls NEVER appreciate the

suitors who are REALLY in love with suitors who are REALLY in love with them?them?

UnconditionalUnconditional

Is this story so appealing because Is this story so appealing because Heathcliff’s love is unchanging and Heathcliff’s love is unchanging and unconditional? Be ready to share unconditional? Be ready to share your view at the end of the reading your view at the end of the reading of this novel.of this novel.

R for ViolenceR for Violence

Watch out as you read -- how many Watch out as you read -- how many scenes of violence can you identify? scenes of violence can you identify? (Be careful, you may get so used to (Be careful, you may get so used to all of the scenes of violence that you all of the scenes of violence that you began not to notice them.)began not to notice them.)

MoorlandsMoorlands

Walker on The Bronte WayWalker on The Bronte Way