The two characters Heathcliff and Lockwood are definitely set against each other in Wuthering Heights, and, at first glance, do have some compelling comparisons. Both are outsiders to the bleak world of the moors and both appear to like the solitude and want to reject human contact. This is the first impression that Lockwood has of Heathcliff - this impression is so strong, in fact, that it compels Lockwood to get to know Heathcliff more, in spite of his inhospitality:
A perfect misanthropist's Heaven: and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us. A capital fellow!
However, after this, the comparisons run dry, and we begin to realise how truly different these two characters are. First of all, it is hard to ignore that Lockwood is an unreliable narrator - in the first chapter he constantly misreads a number of situations, most laugably in trying to work out the position of the younger Catherine in Wuthering Heights. He is from the South and a stranger to the ways of the Yorkshire moors. He definitely does not understand the distinct culture of this area of Britain. Whilst Heathcliff is an outsider, he has grown up in the moors and therefore knows the culture and customs. And of course, Lockwood changes his mind very quickly about the "capital fellow", Heathcliff, when he sees how he responds to Lockwood's second visit.
This is a narrative technique used by Bronte to distance us from the action - a very Gothic technique that serves to make the narrative unreliable and vague.
The two characters, Heathcliff and Lockwood, in the story Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, can be described as very opposite. Although Heathcliff and Lockwood have many differences, they also share a few common characteristics. Lockwood’s first impression of Heathcliff was not very positive. However, this impression changed dramatically by the time he leaves Wuthering Heights.
ReplyDeleteHeathcliff and Lockwood are considered two extremely different people. For example, Heathcliff has a deep amount of passion whereas Lockwood is incapable of it. Heathcliff reaches out to Catherine even in death which proves his capability to love. Lockwood, however, cowardly backs off of a woman he admires once she showed her attraction to him. His view on love is also shallow and vain. He believed that he will win Cathy’s heart because he believes himself to be quite attractive. Heathcliff and Lockwood also come from different places. Heathcliff was an orphan who was taken in by Mr. Earnshaw. He grew up with the Moors and learns their cultures and customs. On the other hand, Lockwood comes from the South. This makes him unfamiliar with the cultures of the Moors which cause him to misunderstand them and misread a lot of situations. Because of where he’s from, Lockwood believes social manner is the most important. Therefore, he often finds himself left out and confused when he witnesses Wuthering Height’s disinterest in social conventions. Lockwood is a civilized being. He considers dogs to be a pet, whereas, Heathcliff and the others in Wuthering Heights believe they are beasts. Lockwood is a vain and presumptuous person. Heathcliff is powerful, cruel, and passionate. He spent most of his life seeking revenge on Hindley and Catherine. He was also abusive to Isabella which he found amusing since she always return no matter how much he hurts her. He was frequently compared to a demon by the others. This characteristic of him probably developed due to Hindley bullying him as a child. So when he returned to Wuthering Heights with power and money, he returned as a villain.