"From what you've learnt from Lockwood in the first 3 chapters, to what extent would it surprise you to learn how little Nelly's "extraordinary tale of passion" seem to affect him?
We first meet Lockwood as narrator when he gives an account of his first meeting with Heathcliff. He misreads Heathcliff as a misanthropist loner, and talks in sarcastic tone when talking about Heathcliff being a "capitol fellow". The account he gives us is intended to make us sympathise with himself and to disregard Heathcliff as a jealous possessive man, incapable of friendly chat that Lockwood tries hard to engage him in. Lockwood is fully aware of his intrusion into Heathcliffs solitary world, as he is the one giving the account and includes the manner in which Heathcliff addresses him. "The walk-in was uttered with closed teeth and expressed the sentiment, 'go to the Deuce'". Here Lockwood contradicts himself by calling himself "exaggeratedly reserved", but continues to struggle to interact with Heathcliff. There is even a physical barrier - the gate on which Heathcliff leans - stopping him interacting with Heathcliff, but Lockwood continues to endure harshness of Heathcliffs language and tone, until he is invited in, and he physically breaks through the barrier with his horse. From this opening we learn that Lockwood lives in land owned by Heathcliff, and that Heathcliff is unsociable towards Lockwood, who refuses to leave though unwelcomed. This tells us that Lockwood has a strong character, and is "thoroughly sociable and anxious to remain that way", despite identifying himself as 'exaggeratedly reserved'. We get the impression that he has moved to The Grange to appear fashionable, and assumes Heathcliff has too, and we get the contrast in characters.
We first meet Lockwood as narrator when he gives an account of his first meeting with Heathcliff. He misreads Heathcliff as a misanthropist loner, and talks in sarcastic tone when talking about Heathcliff being a "capitol fellow". The account he gives us is intended to make us sympathise with himself and to disregard Heathcliff as a jealous possessive man, incapable of friendly chat that Lockwood tries hard to engage him in. Lockwood is fully aware of his intrusion into Heathcliffs solitary world, as he is the one giving the account and includes the manner in which Heathcliff addresses him. "The walk-in was uttered with closed teeth and expressed the sentiment, 'go to the Deuce'". Here Lockwood contradicts himself by calling himself "exaggeratedly reserved", but continues to struggle to interact with Heathcliff. There is even a physical barrier - the gate on which Heathcliff leans - stopping him interacting with Heathcliff, but Lockwood continues to endure harshness of Heathcliffs language and tone, until he is invited in, and he physically breaks through the barrier with his horse. From this opening we learn that Lockwood lives in land owned by Heathcliff, and that Heathcliff is unsociable towards Lockwood, who refuses to leave though unwelcomed. This tells us that Lockwood has a strong character, and is "thoroughly sociable and anxious to remain that way", despite identifying himself as 'exaggeratedly reserved'. We get the impression that he has moved to The Grange to appear fashionable, and assumes Heathcliff has too, and we get the contrast in characters.
