Nelly Dean is the most prominent narrator in the novel; she narrates the story of “Wuthering Heights” to Lockwood with great detail and as vividly as if it were yesterday, when in fact many of the events occurred years before. Nelly shapes the readers perceptions of the other characters and uses the actual words of other characters in the novel to foretell the story, making use of other narrators. Nelly’s vivid foretelling of the events allows the reader to relive the actual events of the “heights”, allowing the reader an insight to the story. Nelly’s narrative is filled with dates, permitting the reader to work out when important dates occurred. At times her narration becomes highly dramatised for example in chapter 10 Heathcliff returns from a three year departure unfolds in the actual words of Heathcliff, Cathy, Edgar and Nelly. This allows the reader to change their perceptions as if they were physically witnessing it in front of them. The reader feels as though they are a character in the novel witnessing this event, as the actual meeting between Heathcliff and Catherine is not told, as Nelly did not witness it, it is left to the imagination of the reader. At times however Nelly interferes and becomes involved in the action of the novel. She discourages the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff as when Cathy confesses her love for Heathcliff and then says “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff…” Nelly “became sensible of Heath cliff’s presence”. He had overheard how degrading it would be for Cathy to marry him, after which he left. However, Nelly doesn’t tell Cathy that he has run off because he has heard this, as she doesn’t want their relationship to continue, therefore interfering with the events. For this reason Nelly can be an unreliable narrator, she tells the story the way that she would like Lockwood to see it, discouraging and encouraging relationships etc. This therefore shapes the readers perception of events and not presenting all the facts for the reader to make up their own minds about the events.
Initially through Lockwood the young Catherine Earnshaw is brought forward as a narrator. Lockwood stays a night at the “heights” and reads part of Catherine’s diary. This gives the reader a direct glimpse into the lives of the main characters Catherine and Heathcliff as children. This allows the reader to see events from the young Cathy’s point of view “I wish my father were back again. Hindley is a detestable substitute-his conduct to Heathcliff is atrocious-H.and I are going to rebel-we took our initiatory step this evening.” This shows the reader how poorly the children were treated by Hindley and possibly what shaped Heathcliff’s personality when he grew up. Catherine then later becomes a narrator in chapter 9 where she confesses her love for Heathcliff, showing a softer side to Catherine previously unseen, and this also highlights Nelly’s ability to get things wrong as she has very little comprehension of what Cathy is actually saying.
Heathcliff becomes a narrator in chapter six of the novel where he tells Nelly that Cathy is staying with the Linton’s after their dog attacked her. Heathcliff gives a very detailed, precise narration; he is full of life, well spoken and wild. He uses violent imagery which forewarns the reader of his nature “I’d not exchange for a thousand lives, my condition here, for Edgar Linton’s at Thrushcross Grange-not if I might have the privilege of flinging Joseph off the highest gable and painting the house front with Hindley’s blood.” This encourages the reader to think that the Linton’s are spoilt children and that Cathy and Heathcliff are to be looked upon more favourably. Heathcliff is then a narrator in chapter 15 part two; he tells Nelly that he had pulled one side of Cathy’s coffin loose so that when he is buried next to her they can be together. This narration portrays Heathcliff as being slightly deranged and very strange and allows the reader to understand that the love between Cathy and Heathcliff will never die even though they have, viewing their relationship in a more positive way.
Isabella becomes a narrator in Chapter 13 via a letter written to Nelly, she is now married to Heathcliff and living at the “Heights”. This technique is very useful as it allows the reader a view into the Heights when Nelly the primary narrator is not working there. Isabella is very poorly treated by Heathcliff and Isabella asks “is Mr Heathcliff a man? If so is he mad? And if not is he a Devil?” portraying Heathcliff in a very bad way. This encourages the reader to dislike Heathcliff even more if the reader thought Nelly an unreliable narrator.
The statement above is valid with reference to the novel “Wuthering Heights”, the initial narrator, Lockwood cleverly draws in the reader, and however the reader is not sure whether or not to trust his judgements of the “heights” as he is not a good judge of character. Other narrators such as Catherine, Heathcliff and Isabella give a different perspective to the reader and add depth to the story. The main narrator Nelly Dean, presents the information is such a way that it reflects her morals and judgements for example the way in which she discourages the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff. The reader also wonders how bias Nelly is being in her narration to Lockwood as she is very involved in the events of the novel and if an outside omniscient narrator would be more reliable, in accurately telling the story. The narrative techniques employed in this novel by Bronte are very skilful as the story speaks for itself via the characters and the author’s viewpoint is not necessary.