Emily Brontë’s "Wuthering Heights" was written between October 1845 and June 1846 and was first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell. The narrative structure in "Wuthering Heights" is striking. Interestingly, there is not only one narrator. The main narration, narrated by Nelly Dean, is embedded into Lockwood’s report of events. In addition, Lockwood finds a diary entry from Catherine in the beginning and quotes parts of it, and Nelly includes the contents of a letter written by Isabella, as well as several eyewitness accounts into her narrative. The following essay aims to identify the significance of Lockwood and Nelly as narrators in "Wuthering Heights", and to work out their impacts on the reader. There will first be a general examination of the narrative style of Lockwood and Nelly respectively, and then the effect of these styles on the reader will be examined in more detail. An attempt will then be made to prove that "Wuthering Heights" is in fact a story about exclusion and deficient sympathy between human beings, and that the narrative voices serve to demonstrate and highlight these elements.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
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Narrators and Narrative Structure
- Lockwood's Narrative
- Nelly's Narrative
- Comparing the Narrators
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the significance of narrators and narrative structure in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. It analyzes the narrative styles of Lockwood and Nelly Dean, considering their impact on the reader's understanding of the story. The essay also examines how the narrative voices contribute to the central theme of exclusion and deficient sympathy between characters.
- The role of narrators in shaping the reader's perception of events
- The impact of narrative style on understanding characters' motivations
- The theme of exclusion and deficient sympathy in human relationships
- The significance of physical and emotional proximity to Wuthering Heights
- The portrayal of social class and its influence on interactions
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The essay begins with an examination of Lockwood's narrative, highlighting his detached and analytical approach to the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. Lockwood's social background and limited emotional capacity are shown to hinder his understanding of the characters and their relationships.
- Nelly Dean's narrative is then explored, emphasizing her more intimate and emotional perspective on the events at Wuthering Heights. The essay discusses Nelly's biased portrayal of characters and her tendency to judge their actions based on her own experiences and values.
- The essay compares the narrative styles of Lockwood and Nelly, demonstrating how their distinct perspectives influence the reader's understanding of the story. The essay argues that both narrators fail to fully comprehend the complexities of the characters and their relationships, leaving the reader to interpret events through multiple lenses.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this essay include: narrators, narrative structure, Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Lockwood, Nelly Dean, exclusion, deficient sympathy, social class, emotional understanding, perspective, bias, and interpretation. These keywords reflect the primary themes and concepts explored in the essay, highlighting the importance of narrative voice in shaping the reader's understanding of a complex and multifaceted story.
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- Franziska Müller (Autor:in), 2016, The Significance of Narrators and Narrative Structure in the Works of the Brontës, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/345645
