The Significance of Narrators and Narrative Structure in the Works of the Brontës

Essay from the year 2016 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Durham University, language: English, abstract: Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights' was written between October 1845 and June 1846 and was first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell. The narrative structure in 'Wuthering Heights' is striking. Interestingly, there is not only one narrator. The main narration, narrated by Nelly Dean, is embedded into Lockwood's report of events. In addition, Lockwood finds a diary entry from Catherine in the beginning and quotes parts of it, and Nelly includes the contents of a letter written by Isabella, as well as several eyewitness accounts into her narrative. The following essay aims to identify the significance of Lockwood and Nelly as narrators in 'Wuthering Heights', and to work out their impacts on the reader. There will first be a general examination of the narrative style of Lockwood and Nelly respectively, and then the effect of these styles on the reader will be examined in more detail. An attempt will then be made to prove that 'Wuthering Heights' is in fact a story about exclusion and deficient sympathy between human beings, and that the narrative voices serve to demonstrate and highlight these elements.