CHARACTER, ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCKWOOD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WUTHERING HEIGHTS: WAEC AND NECO QUESTIONS
The novel deals with the upheavals within an upper middle class English society due to internal and external forces. These generate sub-themes like marriage, revenge, property ownership, superstition, love, betrayal.
The story of two families told from the point view of second narrators. That is, Neally Dean and Mr Lockwood. The Lintons which include Mr and Mrs Linton, Edgar Linton and Isabella Linton live in Thrushcross grange while The Earnshaws which include Mr and Mrs Earnshaw, Catherine Earnshaw, Hindley Earnshaw and Heathcliff live in Wuthering Heights. Chaotic situations settle in the Earnshaw family after Mr Earnshaw brought home Heathcliff, a seven year old boy from one of his business trips to Liverpool. Hindley despises Heathcliff because his father showered on Heathcliff the love and attention meant for him. This hatred made Him maltreat him later in life after the death of Mr Earnshaw as he took control of Wuthering Heights. This also altered the love that had existed between Heathcliff and Catherine in his absence.
The last straw that broke the camel's back was Catherine spending of few weeks at Thrushcross Grange after she was biting by a dog on the night she and Heathcliff went there on a mischievous adventure. She fell in love with Edgar Linton during her stay at Thrushcross grange and eventually gets married to him. Heathcliff who had left Wuthering after he overheard Catherine's conversation with Nelly Dean on her decision to marry Edgar over him came back after three years educated and rich and also to revenge all the wrong that has been done to him. Heathcliff eventually took control of Wuthering Heights from Hindley, marries Isabella Linton to get back at Edgar Linton for marrying his childhood love, Catherine. Heathcliff later leaves the marriage and does not care about his son, Heathcliff Linton whom Isabella had in London before she dies. Heathcliff does not also send Hareton, Hindley and Frances son to school just to get revenge.
Catherine Earnshaw gives birth to Cathy Linton and dies. Her death caused serious health issue to Edgar. Heathcliff's desire to become the owner of Thrushcross Grange, what is due to Cathy Linton after Edgar- her father’s -death made him arranged a marriage between Cathy Linton and his son, Heathcliff Linton whom Isabella bore for him. But soon after their marriage, Heathcliff Linton dies. Cathy Linton reconciles with Hareton after the former mistaken him for a servant due to his shamble dressing and his inability to read and write. She tutors him how to read and write and they eventually get married. Both Hareton and Cathy Linton moved out of Wuthering Heights to Thrushcross Grange after the death of Heathcliff.
CHARACTER OF LOCKWOOD
Lockwood is a young London wealthy gentleman who comes to the Gimmerton countryside of England to spend a year at Thrushcross Grange. He rents a place of relaxation for himself at the old Linton estate. Thrushcross Grange from Heathcliff as a result of his adventurous nature.
Lockwood is Heathcliff’s tenant at Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff put up Thrushcross Grange for rent after the death of Edgar Linton and while Cathy Linton was living at Wuthering Heights after her marriage with Heathcliff Linton Lockwood is a narrator. He is a commentator, who provides a perspective of the narration. He is in Wuthering Heights to introduce himself to his landlord (Heathcliff) Lockwood is the narrator of the story of Wuthering Heights. The novel consists of his diary entries during a period of Heathcliff tenant and the records of the story he hears from Nelly Dean about all the character. He is a commentator, who provides a perspective of the narration, Lockwood is portrayed as a naive narrator, who is prone to making vain and amusing mistakes. He mistakes Cathy for Mrs Heathcliff even though it is clear to him that there was too great disparity between the ages of the parties to make it likely that they are man and wile. Lockwood is little more than a passive listener, confined to his bed with a cold for most of the novel, yet his impartial facade unsuccessfully hides his admiration for the second Catherine pg.5 He is conventional and outgoing. He is more sociable than Heathcliff who is reserve as he tries to compare his own attribute to Heathcliff.
He is noisy, persistent in seeking the knowledge to eccentric character of his landlord. He is an accomplice well travelled bachelor who enjoys the company of happy ladies, but never makes commitment. Mr Lockwood’s character does not experience much change over the course of the text. He spends the night at Wuthering Heights. On his second visit to his Landlord at Wuthering Heights, Lockwood could not return to Thrushcross Grange due to heavy snowfall that have cover his way back home. He pleads with Zillah, the servant at Wuthering Heights for a place to pass the night. Zillah leads him to the room that has been forbidden for everyone. He had an encounter with the ghost of Catherine in the room.
In the morning, Lockwood narrates his conversation with the ghost of Catherine and ran all the way home trembling. Heathcliff did not take Lockwood sleeping in Cathering room lightly. He is tormented once again over the loss of Catherine Earnshaw which is considered unnatural. Heathcliff pines for Catherine. Heathcliff is violent in matters concerning Catherine.
ROLES OF LOCKWOOD
Wuthering Heights He introduces himself to Heathcliff, as his new tenant, and expresses the hope that he Lockwood is a young gentleman who is the second hand narrator of the story of has not caused his landlord any inconvenience through his persistent soliciting to occupy Thrushcross Grange. . He makes two visits to his landlord. His purpose of first visit is to introduce himself and have an acquaintance with the landlord Heathcliff who lives at Wuthering Heights.
The visit shows the unfriendly nature of both Wuthering Heights and its occupants. He is unfairly treated during his first visit and did not get to see his Landlord. He is not welcomed into Wuthering Heights. He is accused of stealing a Lantern by Joseph. His encounter with Catherin ghost in her old room gives him a terrifying experience about Wuthering Heights.
The second visit is based on his promise to visit Heathcliff on the next day. When Heathcliff arrives, he reproves Lockwood for walking in snowstorm to come and visit him just because of his promise to visit him since he is not ready to give him any guide to accompany him back to Thrushcross Grange. Lockwood insisted to spend the night at Wuthering Heights inspite of the hostile attitudes of the landlord and the inmates, Through Nelly Dean, Lockwood provides a key to unlock the details about Heathcliff and how he has become the owner of Thrushcross Grange. He learns of the circumstances of Heathcliff’s violent, vengeful nature and death.
He takes much interest in the fittings and furniture with view, and his eyes on old guns and other kinds of arms makes him considers the house and it occupants as
being at odds. through his comments, enquires, and reflection on judgements that we are introduced to the character, their histories and actions.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCKWOOD’S VISITS TO WUTHERING HEIGHT
The visit introduces the reader to the power play or conflict in the household of Wuthering Heights. Lockwood visits Wuthering Heights at a time Cathy Linton had been forced to marry Heathcliff Linton and live in Wuthering Heights. Cathy had just lost his father and what is due to her is under Heathcliff's possession. A time Cathy is having a rough time with Hareton who had sworn not to talk to her again after she mistook him for a servant.
Lockwood’s visit to Wuthering Heights also shows that Heathcliff has control over Cathy and he disdains Hareton with a passion. He controls Cathy and rebukes her for being stubborn but would never hit her because he sees her in Catherine. Cathy's inheritance is in Heathcliff’s possession having forced her to marry his son who dies shortly after the marriage. His dislike for Hareton is borne out of revenge. Hareton's father, Hindley Earnshaw maltreats Hearhcliff when he returns from London with his wife, Frances after the death of his father and to take over the control of Wuthering Heights. He makes Heathcliff work as a servant even though he was adopted by his father. Heathcliff therefore refuses to send Hareton to school as the guardian after the death of Hindley.
Lockwood's visit also portrayed Hareton as being aggressive and uncouth because of his sensibility to his ‘ Status. Hareton becomes extremely angry after being called a servant.
Lockwood was utterly disturbed in Wuthering Heights with the offensive behaviour of the inmates of the house. His relationship with Heathcliff and the occupants is suggestive of the unfriendliness. He is uncomfortable at Wuthering Heights for hostile atmosphere pervading the house.
Lockwood narration provides vital information about Wuthering Heights. Useful historical information about Wuthering house is given. For instance, ‘1500’ and Hareton Earnshaw suggests was built and its owner respectively.
Lockwood passing of the night on the weird dwelling that Wuthering Heights " represents. The dwelling reveals its gothic atmosphere. Lockwood’s cold disposition, foreshadows the unfriendliness, violent of Wuthering ° Heights.
His weak attempt to win Catherine so as to protect his male ego is an expression of the male chauvinism tendency common then. The experience of Lockwood in late Catherine’s room where he is to pass the night revealed the character of late Catherine as not only as avid reader but a very attentive writer.
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