THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING AND NARRATIVE DEVICES IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING IN THE WUTHERING HEIGHTS

 The theme of love and revenge is played out in the relationship between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Examination of the settings reveals traditional links between the push and pull of the theme. The setting of an event or place may be described as ‘location’. Other types of setting can be described in literary terminology, such as time-setting.  The setting in these locations gives an opportunity to the writer to compare and contrast symbolically producing a powerful plot built on suspense. The description of  Wuthering Heights gives the location a symbolic setting. Wuthering Heights ‘being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather’.

 The inhabitants have fiery passions and are mostly violent in nature expressing strong and passionate feelings for one another both in love and in hate. It is isolated in that it is on top of a hill and surrounded by moorland, the nearest house. Thrushcross Grange, is four miles away from Wuthering Heights and the route is so precarious that numerous characters get lost when walking between the two in treacherous weather.  Thrushcross Grange described as ‘a splendid place carpeted with cuisine’ unlike Wuthering Heights, it has light, which is a metaphor for the more inviting, more pleasant atmosphere. The residents are calm even in hate, and well behaved. Wuthering Heights has Influences on its characters. The inhabitants are stormy and wild. For instance,  Hindley beats Heathcliff, the adopted, ‘dark-skinned gypsy’ as a revenge. Hindley Earnshaw hits Heathcliff with an iron weight. Heathcliff’s violent behaviour results from Hindley’s overbearing treatment. Heathcliff becomes fond of drunken rags and he derives joy from the sight of Hindley coming home drunk. Hindley acts with wild passion, oftentimes, resulting in violence. 

 Thrushcross Grange setting also has its influence on its characters. Just as the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights parallel their home, so too do the inhabitants of Thrushcross Grange. They are calm, leisurely and refined, Edgar and Isabella Linton both grew up at Thrushcross Grange as calm and reposed children. Catherine is forced to stay at Thrushcross Grange when Skuller, the Linton’s dog bites her. This serenity of the place transforms her into a much calmer aid and more mannerly person. After Catherine’s death, Edgar cares for young Cathy and educates her. 

The time Setting of the novel is set in the nineteenth century in the middle of the Industrial Revolution. Events related to the revolution took place in distant places but the major characters are affected, even if indirectly, Heathcliff is picked up in Liverpool, a city which, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, is so busy that people no longer care for each other. The Industrial Revolution could also account for Heathcliff’s sudden riches. The setting of Wuthering Heights has its Significances. The winds which blow across the moors during the storms may represent the conflicts which occur so often in Wuthering Heights between the characters, e.g. Heathcliff and Catherine and also Hindley and Heathcliff. The settings lend themselves to the supematural aspects of a Gothic novel (Catherine’s appearance at Lockwood’s window). They create a sense of horror and act as a sanctuary, The setting is instrumental to the readers understanding of the character by conveying their attitudes and emotions which are tied to different places throughout the novel. (v) Bronte uses setting to establish contrast, and the wild moors act as a barrier differentiating the two. 

THE NARRATIVE DEVICES IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Narrative device is the writing technique an author can use to present his story. It comprises of tone, point of view contrast irony (dramatic and situational) fore shadowing multi-narrator technique, non-chronological plotting, symbolism etc. 

The following narrative techniques used are: 

Point of view — the principal characters Mr. Lockwood, the tenant and Nelly Dean are: First person narrators because they are also involved in the event. It’s also used omniscient narration point of view. 

Use of contrast - These abound e.g. the fireless grate at Thrushcross Grange is contrasted with racing fire at Wuthering Heights in terms of location, Wuthering Heights is located on a hill while Thrushcross Grange is situated in a valley a distance of four miles apart. There is contrast in the socio economic status of the master/mistresses of the two manor houses e.g Mr & Mrs Linton’s are wealthier and more comfortable than Mr & Mrs Earnshaw Catherine and Healthchff see through the corridor of Thrushcross Grange and a vision of life and luxury. There is contrast in the personality of Catherine and Isabella, Healthcliff and Edgar, Linton Herocliff and Hareton, W. Heights character are seen as offsprings of storm while those in Thrushcross Grange are seen as offspring of calm. Other contrasts are the difference between Good and Evil, Love and Obsession of the characters. 

Foreshadowing - Heathcliff’s seizure of Hindley's colt in their teens foreshadows the eventual seizure of his father's property. The deprivation of Hlindley’s fatherly love results in his frustration and alcoholism, The variation in Cathy’s love relationship with Linton and Earnshaw foreshadows her unhappy life thereafter, 

A Dramatic Irony - Heathcliff eavesdropping Catherine/Nelly Dean’s conversation, the audience knows she would never marry Healthcliff whom she is considered too low ‘beneath’ her grade. Isabella's love for Heathcliff. 

Symbolism - The titles "Wuthenng Heights,” Thrushcross Grange, the Moors are all symbolic of the evils in the society, The mother too is symbolic. The gothic nature in the novel symbolizes the past dark side of man and emotions. 6. Use of flashback - The whole story is an example of flashback. It makes reference to the period between 1501 - 1803 when Lockwood rent the apartment and now the focus in the novel. 

5. Epistolaric method - The letter written to Nelly Dean by Isabella’s show that her marriage to Heathcliff is a great error - showing the mind of Isabella to realism of love. 

Other devices are Irony, dreams, multiple narrators, etc.