Wuthering Heights English Coursework: How does Bronte convey a sense of Heathcliffs character? - WJEC English Lit.

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Wuthering Heights English Coursework:

How does Bronte convey a sense of Heathcliff’s character?

Bronte depicts Heathcliff differently to us throughout different stages of the book. Heathcliff’s character changes in both the sense of his attitude to other people, and his overall appearance. The character we see in the present is very different to the young Heathcliff we see.

In Chapter 1, Mr Lockwood is narrating, so we see Heathcliff through the eyes of a stranger. This means that Mr Lockwood’s depiction of Heathcliff is unbiased. At the point Lockwood meets Heathcliff, Cathy has already died as have Hindley and Linton. However, Hareton and Catherine are alive. The fact that these characters are living/dead, must be taken into consideration when we evaluate Heathcliff’s character as their death/birth may have had an impact on the development of his character. The fact that Lockwood is narrating gives us an unbiased evaluation of Heathcliff as a character, due to the fact Lockwood doesn’t know what Heathcliff used to be like. This means that any comment Lockwood makes about Heathcliff, is most likely an accurate representation of Heathcliff. For example, where Lockwood calls Heathcliff ‘reserved’, Lockwood’s comment is based upon what he sees in front of him, so we learn a lot about Heathcliff’s character through Lockwood’s narration.

Lockwood describes Heathcliff as his ‘troublesome neighbour’. This suggests that Heathcliff portrays a sense of mischief. Throughout the chapter, Lockwood keeps stating that Heathcliff is even more socially inept that himself, this is important as it highlights to us just how solitary Heathcliff is. The solitary view we see of Heathcliff leads us as readers to want to know why he is acting in this unsociable manner. The word troublesome implies a sense of danger, which we find enticing as it conveys a message of more trouble to come, thus making us wanting to read more and making Heathcliff’s character highly complex.

In Chapter 1, Heathcliff’s manner of speaking is very gruff, and animalistic. This is a reflection of his character towards Lockwood, for example:

Heathcliff ‘growled’ at Lockwood which is not dignified behaviour for a gentleman to make. Growling is behaviour that would typically be conveyed by gypsies in Lockwood’s mind, as gypsies are seen as like dogs in the era of this book. This is important because Heathcliff was originally a gypsy and is affiliated with dogs throughout this chapter and the entire novel. Lockwood states that Heathcliff is a ‘surly owner’, and this indicates to us that he is obviously both rude and unsociable. This indication leaves us with a feeling of distaste toward Heathcliff at this point as Lockwood points out his floors including his ‘impatience’. This ‘impatience’ Lockwood talks about conveys a sense of danger in the fact that Heathcliff seems like he could erupt any minute, implying that he is highly unpredictable.

We see the affiliation to dogs when Heathcliff explains his dog’s defensiveness. ‘I and my dogs, hardly know how to receive them (guests).’ This shows us that Heathcliff compares himself with dogs, perhaps because he felt like one during his turbulent childhood. It also tells us that he is not used to visitors and that due to both his and his dogs reaction, guests aren’t particularly welcome. This unwelcome feeling he conveys to guests gives us another indication of his surly, impolite features in his character.

When the narrator changes to Nelly in Chapter 4, we go back in time to when Heathcliff originally arrived at Wuthering Heights. Nelly’s view of Heathcliff will be more biased than Lockwood as she raised Heathcliff herself. Heathcliff’s entrance is particularly important, as it lay’s the path for his future within the house. Heathcliff is brought back from Liverpool with Mr Earnshaw into the unwelcoming arms of the rest of the family.

Nelly tells us about the arrival of Heathcliff and what happened on that day. Heathcliff was described as ‘dirty, ragged, black-haired child..............gipsy brat’. We can see from that sentence that he was obviously looked down upon for his heritage, which may have caused anger on Heathcliff’s part. This anger is what causes Heathcliffs character to be gruff, and cruel and therefore Bronte depicts to us that Heathcliff has reasons to be as angry as he is.

We also learn that Heathcliff was both verbally and physically abused as a child. Nelly portrays this abuse through describing Hindley and Heathcliff’s relationship. Hindley’s hatred of Heathcliff is realised in this passage: ‘Take my colt, gipsy then! And I pray that he may break your neck: take him, and be damned your beggardly interloper! And wheedle my father out of all he has.’

This passage shows us that Hindley believes Heathcliff is just here to use Mr Earnshaw’s charity against him. Hindley is basically wishing Heathcliff to die, so his hatred is extreme. The passage also shows us that Heathcliff has learnt to blackmail Hindley so as to get his own back. This is showing us a glimpse of things to come in the future, where Heathcliff makes a living out of blackmail. An example of Heathcliff’s blackmail is where he strips Hindley of all his money and worth, and he leaves him practically pennyless. The blackmail which Heathcliff becomes associated with helps to portray a sense of evil and slyness in his character.

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Nelly also states that Heathcliff grew accustomed to ‘Hindley’s blows without winking or shedding a tear’. This shows us that even as a child, Heathcliff was strong and didn’t let his emotions get to him. This lack of emotions gives us an insight as to why Heathcliff is such a cold character who doesn’t sympathise with anyone, Bronte is trying to make the audience understand Heathcliffs motives, and why he doesn’t understand others emotions.

In Chapter 9, Heathcliff is seen to have different sides to his character, which are conveyed through the actions he takes in this ...

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