Introduction to the Novel & Narrative Patterns in Wuthering Heights.

Introduction Introduction to the Novel & to the Novel & Narrative Narrative Patterns in Patterns in Wuthering Wuthering HeightsHeights

Emily Bronte (1818-1848)Emily Bronte (1818-1848)One of the famed Bronte sisters, wrote her only novel, Wuthering Heights (1847) under the masculine pen name Ellis Bell.

Emily had four older siblings and one younger:•Maria (1814-1825)- died at age 11 when Emily was 7•Elizabeth (1815-1825)- died at age 10 when Emily was 7•Charlotte (1816-1855)• Patrick “Branwell” (1817-1848)- died at age 31 when Emily was 29•Younger sister Anne (1820-1849) died six months after Emily

Emily Bronte (1818-1848)Emily Bronte (1818-1848)The four surviving Bronte siblings would often entertain themselves by making up wild stories & poems, effectually creating an imaginary world with corresponding personas.

Bronte’s own home in the bleak Yorkshire moors provides the setting for the at-times other-worldly passions of the Byronic Heathcliff and Catherine in W.H..

Set in 18th C. England when social and economic values were changing and land ownership did not always the man make, it is a world of patriarchal values juxtaposed with the natural elements.

Yorkshire, EnglandYorkshire, England

Yorkshire, EnglandYorkshire, England

The present . . . (our ‘frame’)The present . . . (our ‘frame’)

he is trapped there by a he is trapped there by a snowstorm and strange snowstorm and strange things begin to happen things begin to happen as he gets ready to go as he gets ready to go to bed…Along with to bed…Along with some VERY angry some VERY angry people, a small child (or people, a small child (or possible ghost??) set possible ghost??) set the stage for an the stage for an intriguing story.intriguing story.

When Mr. Lockwood visits the house known as When Mr. Lockwood visits the house known as Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights– both of his visits are unwelcome–– both of his visits are unwelcome–

Mr. Lockwood unnervedMr. Lockwood unnerved

Well, of course, Mr. Lockwood is unnerved– he thinks Well, of course, Mr. Lockwood is unnerved– he thinks that he has had a horrible dream until…Mr. Heathcliff that he has had a horrible dream until…Mr. Heathcliff rushes in, throws open the window, and howls for Cathy rushes in, throws open the window, and howls for Cathy to haunt to haunt himhim..

What’s a man to think?What’s a man to think?

Naturally, Mr. Lockwood wants to know the Naturally, Mr. Lockwood wants to know the whole story behind the ghost, the unidentified whole story behind the ghost, the unidentified girl who lives with Heathcliff, and whatever girl who lives with Heathcliff, and whatever other mysteries surround the harsh other mysteries surround the harsh environment of Wuthering Heights, but how is environment of Wuthering Heights, but how is he to find out what happened twenty years he to find out what happened twenty years ago? ago?

Enter Nelly Dean…Enter Nelly Dean…

Nelly Dean: housekeeper Nelly Dean: housekeeper who has seen it allwho has seen it all

Nelly works in the house that Mr. Nelly works in the house that Mr. Lockwood rented for the year Lockwood rented for the year (Thrushcross Grange). When Mr. (Thrushcross Grange). When Mr. Lockwood becomes ill, Nelly Lockwood becomes ill, Nelly promises to tell him the WHOLE promises to tell him the WHOLE story about all of the strange goings story about all of the strange goings on at Wuthering Heights…on at Wuthering Heights…

Nelly lived at Wuthering Heights and Nelly lived at Wuthering Heights and worked for Catherine’s family (and worked for Catherine’s family (and later for Catherine) all of her life, and later for Catherine) all of her life, and she was around to witness AND to she was around to witness AND to participate in all of the events.participate in all of the events.

THE PASTTHE PAST

Now, through Nellie, the reader is Now, through Nellie, the reader is taken taken back twenty yearsback twenty years to the time when Mr to the time when Mr Earnshaw brought home a waif (“it”) Earnshaw brought home a waif (“it”) from London and named him Heathcliff from London and named him Heathcliff (why just one name? why (why just one name? why thatthat name?) name?)

The reader will now, with the help of The reader will now, with the help of Nelly’s narration, progress through the Nelly’s narration, progress through the past and will eventually (toward the end past and will eventually (toward the end of the book) permanently return to the of the book) permanently return to the present.present.

But there is a “catch”But there is a “catch”

Remember reading Remember reading Frankenstein?Frankenstein?

Sometimes the narrator Sometimes the narrator of a story may not be of a story may not be reliable or truthful. . . .reliable or truthful. . . .

How, exactly, How, exactly, doesdoes she she feel about Heathcliff, for feel about Heathcliff, for example? example?

Some Things to Ponder…Some Things to Ponder… How does Religion play into How does Religion play into

all of this?all of this? What about social norms? DO What about social norms? DO

they count in a society of they count in a society of basically TWO houses? basically TWO houses?

How does setting play into the How does setting play into the tale- both the natural, outdoor tale- both the natural, outdoor setting and each of the two setting and each of the two homes?homes?

Who are the monsters? Who Who are the monsters? Who are the saints? What is hell or are the saints? What is hell or heaven? Lots of opposites heaven? Lots of opposites again!again!

Some other things to think aboutSome other things to think about

What factors motivate why What factors motivate why people marry? Love, people marry? Love, security, social strata or security, social strata or passion? What about passion? What about Catherine? Catherine?

Is revenge inherently Is revenge inherently destructive to the self? destructive to the self? How is revenge a force in How is revenge a force in the text? Is it somehow the text? Is it somehow connected with love?connected with love?

What about Heathcliff’s total What about Heathcliff’s total disregard of all the disregard of all the conventions of society? conventions of society?

Is he a free spirit that lives a Is he a free spirit that lives a genuine, authentic life genuine, authentic life without regard to “what without regard to “what other people think”?other people think”?

OROR Is he a horribly destructive Is he a horribly destructive

force that threatens the force that threatens the fabric of society?fabric of society?

HeathcliffHeathcliff

GenderGender

Are Heathcliff and Catherine Are Heathcliff and Catherine the ARCHETYPES of the ARCHETYPES of masculinity and femininity? masculinity and femininity?

Why is their story so enduring?Why is their story so enduring? Why do girls often choose the Why do girls often choose the

“bad boys” who never treat “bad boys” who never treat them well?them well?

What characters fit and bend What characters fit and bend gender stereotypes?gender stereotypes?