How does Emily Bronte manipulate the structure of the narrative enhance the nature of the tragedy of Wuthering Heights?

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Sophie Johnstone

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How does Emily Bronte manipulate the structure of the narrative enhance the nature of the tragedy of Wuthering Heights?

The novel, Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte is framed by dual narration; Lockwood and Nelly. The novel relies on these two characters, mainly Nelly to help enhance the nature of tragedy.

As a reader we are introduced to Lockwood at the beginning of the novel and we soon learn that he is extremely unreliable. He mistakes social relationships and constantly misreads Heathcliff,

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“…in dress and manners a gentleman…”

The narration switches between Lockwood and Nelly, she is the second and the dominant narrational voice in Wuthering Heights. She takes up the novel from Lockwood and gives it substance and the reader trusts the information she gives.

Lockwood is unable to read the signs of culture,

“Unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits.”

And so cannot sustain the story, although it acts to remind us that all narrational voices are partial and the story is in the past.

Nelly Dean is a local and has known each generation of the Earnshaw ...

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