Lockwood’s narrative input forms a frame around Nelly’s, forming a link between Nelly and the reader. The reader immediately questions the reliability of Lockwood’s perception of facts. As he is a man of bad-judgement, he frequently makes mistakes. An example of this is in him assuming that Heathcliff is a gentlemen with a house full of servants, however it is apparent to the reader that Heathcliff is a rough and cruel man with a houseful of dogs. This nature is expressed during the situation with the dogs. Where Heathcliff leaves him in a room of snarling dogs, as he appears not to trust him, luckily the housekeeper saves him. Despite Lockwood being angry he eventually warms to Heathcliff and although his welcoming to Wuthering Heights was anything but that of a warm nature, he volunteers to visit again the following day. Nelly dean is more knowledgeable about events, as she has participated in many of them first hand; this makes her trustworthy in some ways yet biased in others. She frequently miss’s her own role in the story’s events, in particular when she has behaved badly, however she is generally a reliable source of information.
Apart of establishing the manner and quality of the narration another important nature of these early chapters is to fulfil the reader’s curiosity about the strange histories of Wuthering Heights. The family relationships, including the Earnshaws, Catherines, Lintons and Heathcliffs seem at this point in the novel be more complex and seem full of hidden resentments. The physical landscape of the novel is often used to reflect the mental and emotional landscapes of those who live there. ‘Wuthering’ is the local adjective used to describe the fierce and wild winds that blow during storms on the moor, giving us somewhat of an insight to the surroundings and atmosphere involved. Also described are ‘stunted firs’ and ‘gaunt thorns’ near the farmhouse, which are similar to the emotional state of the people living there. Their lives are bitter and unhappy, unable to ‘grow’. Empathy is also used as Wuthering Height’s blackness mirrors Lockwood’s negative feeling.
Lockwood and Heathcliff are both ‘0utsider’s’ but for different reasons, Lockwood as he is a visitor. A contradictory side is described in Heathcliff’s character as he is referred to as both a gentlemen and a gypsy. Possibly referring to his appearance on the outside being that of a gypsy and his inner personality that of a gentlemen. Lockwood’s tactlessness is also out across in certain situations, making the assumption that Cathy is Heathcliff’s wife and Hareton is his son. He also expects Wuthering Heights to be warm and welcoming but instead it is dark and unwelcoming, similar to Mrs, Heathcliff who he had expected to be pleasant due to her pretty appearance however she is rude. This is also apparent in the way Lockwood expects Heathcliff to be pleasant.
During one of Lockwood’s diary entries in which he is describing his first day as a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, the date 1801 is mentioned. This is significant as it was published in 1847 therefore it is not historical, however it does present how life has changed, so events are not in comprehendible. These opening chapters begin in a calm nature and end in disarray.
