In chapter two various characters were introduced and the reader learned a lot more about Mr. Heathcliff. Certain traits of Mr. Lockwood’s character also became clearer. Such as the fact that Mr. Lockwood constantly makes assumptions about the people and the things he observes. Usually his assumptions are wrong, which makes the lives of the residents of the Wuthering Heights manor even more mysterious and confusing. I guess it also makes Mr. Lockwood more curious and inquisitive – despite him saying before that he is a very introverted person - about their lives. And it’s through Lockwood’s subtle curiosity that the reader finds out about the past of both Mr. Heathcliff and Wuthering Heights. So Lockwood’s inaccurate conjectures helps the reader discover more and more about the people living in Withering Heights manor.
Before discussing the characters that were introduced in this chapter I think it’s important to note now how certain descriptions of Withering Heights manor and the weather reflect Mr. Heathcliff’s character. For example the fact that the house is closed and its hard for Lockwood to enter may show how Heathcliff is a very private person or that he holds lots of secrets or hides lots of things. Well, the fact alone that guests are very unwelcome to the house makes it clear that they are hiding something. And the crazy, wild, and dangerous weather may possibly symbolize Mr. Heathcliff’s crazy, wild, and dangerous past and maybe his present. I could be very wrong or overanalyzing, but I know there is something about the weather. From what we learned an author – even in this case in which its Brontë’s first and only novel - never wastes a lot of time describing the weather or the environment just for the sake of doing it, especially in this case where the place is so characteristic and important to the plot.
One theme that comes up a few times as well is happiness, or the fact that the residents of Wuthering Heights manor supposedly chose to live far away from the city to - just how Lockwood mentions on page 12 - find happiness. So the idea that happiness can be found in such a remote and exiled place is questioned. Mr. Lockwood’s comment even seems a bit ironic because as far as the reader can tell none of the residents of Wuthering Heights manor are happy. Mr. Heathcliff seems to hold some sort of grudge of the past and he apparently hates the people who live with him, just like they hate everyone else. Mrs. Heathcliff and Mr. Earnshaw are also obviously discontent, and so is Joseph. The reader also questions their will to live in that place, what brought all of these conflicting individuals to live under the same roof? Are they there by choice?
In terms of vocabulary and understanding, this chapter was quite easy to follow except for a few words here and there, such as “hemmed”, “deigned”, “canister”, “box his ears”, and “rafter”. Now the hard parts were when Joseph spoke. I don’t know if he is he speaks like that because he is uneducated and of “lower class” or if it’s some sort of accent. The point is that even after reading his lines various times, I think I only get the general idea of his speeches. For example, in page eight all I got was that he can’t open the door because Mr. Heathcliff is not there yet, and Mrs. Heathcliff won’t open the door as well. But I don’t know what he meant by “Goa rahned by th’ end ut’ laith…” (8). And the part when Joseph is, I think, chastising Mrs. Heathcliff in page 14 and 15, is also very unclear. Is he accusing her of sorcery? But besides Joseph’s dialogues, everything is relatively clear. Actually, because the vocabulary is a little challenging, I’m never certain about any assumptions I make. For example, I have the impression that the narrator is often ironic, but then again, I’m never certain. The most clear example for me is at the end of page 13, when Lockwood says that he “began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle”. I find that very ironic, because it is very clear that he is not in a “pleasant family circle”. And he says that after being accused by Mr. Earnshaw of offending him by simply assuming that he was Mr. Heathcliff’s son. Later on he also says that he “heard another specimen of their civil behavior amongst each other” (16), which I guess can also be ironic because they don’t act civilized with one another, in fact that are all quite rude with each another. But I’m really not sure about this.
In terms of the characters, the reader learns that there are a total of five people living at the Withering Heights manor: Zillah, an apparently nice housewife; Joseph, a very rude servant; Hareton Earnshaw, a young and hostile man; Mrs. Heathcliff, the young and stubborn daughter-in-law of Mr. Heathcliff; and Mr. Heathcliff himself. Mr. Heathcliff appears to be around forty and is the master of the house. A quote I particularly liked when he is described is the following: “his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling… He’ll love and hate equally under cover” (4). I think that sums his personality quite well. He shows nothing but dislike concerning both Mrs. Heathcliff and Mr. Earnshaw, who both seem to dislike Mr. Heathcliff in return. I also got the impression, though I’m not sure, that both his wife and his son are dead. I think it’s also important to notice how Zillah seems to be the only compassionate person of the house and how Joseph really hates and fears Mrs. Heathcliff and apparently her mother as well. But I think that the other characters can also be compassionate and nicer, they are just covering it all up with some sort of anger or grudge form the past. I’m also curious to understand how Mr. Earnshaw fits in the story. Because he is neither Mr. Heathcliff’s son, nor Mrs. Heathcliff’s husband, nor is he a servant. So I’m curious to understand how he connects to the others. The last thing I should note is that Mrs. Heathcliff, who by the way is about 17 years of age, is apparently kept in the house. It seems that she is prohibited to leave the property, which makes us – the readers – wonder why.
Before discussing the characters that were introduced in this chapter I think it’s important to note now how certain descriptions of Withering Heights manor and the weather reflect Mr. Heathcliff’s character. For example the fact that the house is closed and its hard for Lockwood to enter may show how Heathcliff is a very private person or that he holds lots of secrets or hides lots of things. Well, the fact alone that guests are very unwelcome to the house makes it clear that they are hiding something. And the crazy, wild, and dangerous weather may possibly symbolize Mr. Heathcliff’s crazy, wild, and dangerous past and maybe his present. I could be very wrong or overanalyzing, but I know there is something about the weather. From what we learned an author – even in this case in which its Brontë’s first and only novel - never wastes a lot of time describing the weather or the environment just for the sake of doing it, especially in this case where the place is so characteristic and important to the plot.
One theme that comes up a few times as well is happiness, or the fact that the residents of Wuthering Heights manor supposedly chose to live far away from the city to - just how Lockwood mentions on page 12 - find happiness. So the idea that happiness can be found in such a remote and exiled place is questioned. Mr. Lockwood’s comment even seems a bit ironic because as far as the reader can tell none of the residents of Wuthering Heights manor are happy. Mr. Heathcliff seems to hold some sort of grudge of the past and he apparently hates the people who live with him, just like they hate everyone else. Mrs. Heathcliff and Mr. Earnshaw are also obviously discontent, and so is Joseph. The reader also questions their will to live in that place, what brought all of these conflicting individuals to live under the same roof? Are they there by choice?
In terms of vocabulary and understanding, this chapter was quite easy to follow except for a few words here and there, such as “hemmed”, “deigned”, “canister”, “box his ears”, and “rafter”. Now the hard parts were when Joseph spoke. I don’t know if he is he speaks like that because he is uneducated and of “lower class” or if it’s some sort of accent. The point is that even after reading his lines various times, I think I only get the general idea of his speeches. For example, in page eight all I got was that he can’t open the door because Mr. Heathcliff is not there yet, and Mrs. Heathcliff won’t open the door as well. But I don’t know what he meant by “Goa rahned by th’ end ut’ laith…” (8). And the part when Joseph is, I think, chastising Mrs. Heathcliff in page 14 and 15, is also very unclear. Is he accusing her of sorcery? But besides Joseph’s dialogues, everything is relatively clear. Actually, because the vocabulary is a little challenging, I’m never certain about any assumptions I make. For example, I have the impression that the narrator is often ironic, but then again, I’m never certain. The most clear example for me is at the end of page 13, when Lockwood says that he “began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle”. I find that very ironic, because it is very clear that he is not in a “pleasant family circle”. And he says that after being accused by Mr. Earnshaw of offending him by simply assuming that he was Mr. Heathcliff’s son. Later on he also says that he “heard another specimen of their civil behavior amongst each other” (16), which I guess can also be ironic because they don’t act civilized with one another, in fact that are all quite rude with each another. But I’m really not sure about this.
In terms of the characters, the reader learns that there are a total of five people living at the Withering Heights manor: Zillah, an apparently nice housewife; Joseph, a very rude servant; Hareton Earnshaw, a young and hostile man; Mrs. Heathcliff, the young and stubborn daughter-in-law of Mr. Heathcliff; and Mr. Heathcliff himself. Mr. Heathcliff appears to be around forty and is the master of the house. A quote I particularly liked when he is described is the following: “his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling… He’ll love and hate equally under cover” (4). I think that sums his personality quite well. He shows nothing but dislike concerning both Mrs. Heathcliff and Mr. Earnshaw, who both seem to dislike Mr. Heathcliff in return. I also got the impression, though I’m not sure, that both his wife and his son are dead. I think it’s also important to notice how Zillah seems to be the only compassionate person of the house and how Joseph really hates and fears Mrs. Heathcliff and apparently her mother as well. But I think that the other characters can also be compassionate and nicer, they are just covering it all up with some sort of anger or grudge form the past. I’m also curious to understand how Mr. Earnshaw fits in the story. Because he is neither Mr. Heathcliff’s son, nor Mrs. Heathcliff’s husband, nor is he a servant. So I’m curious to understand how he connects to the others. The last thing I should note is that Mrs. Heathcliff, who by the way is about 17 years of age, is apparently kept in the house. It seems that she is prohibited to leave the property, which makes us – the readers – wonder why.
I think the story is getting more interesting, as the story becomes more complicated. But so far it’s still not very entertaining. It still seems like one of those books that a few months after you finish reading, you already forg
1 comment:
Rafa, very specific,observant comments. Unfortunatley I cannot give you retroactive credit for your first post as the 3rd quarter grades are already closed. It was, however, excellent. I think your confusion with the persona used as a narrator, the subsequent clarification, and the implications of this were all very good. I understand the confusion with the dialect speech. It denotes both class and region. Perhaps it could have been done differently. Please be sure to interact with the other members of your group by reading their entries and responding.
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