As we learned last year in AP Lang (juniors, your time will come), the normal frame narrative structure is not always the best structure for a novel to be as effective, easy to understand, and griping to a reader as possible Neil Postman once told us. Bronte is no exception in Wuthering Heights, as the structure is very experimental yet easy to follow. Often overlooked is the work it takes to make a highly successful and comprehensible experimental fiction novel, just ask any AP Lang student who was there for Josh Kuiper's "House of Leaves" PowerPoint last year. But Bronte through the diary entry-esque layout and use of flashbacks and double narratives, similar to in Tale of Two Cities, makes it look easy and more importantly the structure is what makes this book so noteworthy. The chronological structure beginning with the primary narrator Nelly's birth in 1758 and ending in the early 1800s is extremely unique as it is not until Nelly's stories catch up with the present that the reader realizes that they themselves are reading an experience that is still essentially playing itself out.
Although the structure is both unique and highly effective, there are some drawbacks to the point of view Bronte establishes. One main cause for ruckus is that Nelly herself is not a character heavily involved in the situation. She is simply one retelling her version and possibly what she has just heard from others. In addition, since Nelly herself wasn't present in many of these scenarios the actual feel for the setting could very well just be made up. Or, Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship being compared to Earth's natural elements may not be accurate at all. However, the language and diction used, especially in which the way Bronte personifies nature, are what to me take this novel to the next level.
Despite potential point of view drawbacks, the experimental structure and diction of Bronte's Wuthering Heights is extremely remarkable and was easily one of my favorite books from either of our two AP English classes.
Although the usage of a frame narrative makes "Wuthering Heights" a unique novel, I am grateful it is no where near as experimental as "House of Leaves" which had some chapters written in the corners of the pages. With Nelly being the primary narrator of the novel, the reader is forced to accept everything she states to be true. However, with the help of a secondary narrator and even a couple tertiary narrator, the events that took place at Wuthering Heights and at the Grange slowly come into view. Plus with the help of multiple doubles including Heathcliff vs. Edgar and Catherine vs. Isabella, Emily Bronte is able to give more insight to each individual character and demonstrates the drastic differences in each family. To make the book even more experimental, Emily begins the novel with Lockwood visiting Wuthering Heights to explain to Heathcliff that Lockwood is going to be his next tenant but will be leaving for Europe soon. While at the estate, Heathcliff specifically states Wuthering Heights has not had guests for years and as a result both his servants and even himself do not know the proper way to act. By convincing the reader that Lockwood's role in the plot comes at the end of the actual history behind all the characters and locatiosn, we are forced to believe that all of Nelly's recounted stories were from many years ago. However as the plot continues to move forward, the reader becomes astonished to find from Nelly that her stories are only now finding their results, six months after Lockwood leaves Wuthering Heights. In conclusion, Emily Bronte deceives the reader into believing the novel only makes usage of unique literary devices. But as the novel comes closer to the end, a deeper, more experimental background once hidden, begins to unfold.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have not taken AP Lang, I agree that the language in Wuthering Heights can make it confusing for the reader, however it does serve an ultimate purpose. I find it interesting that Emily Bronte explores a more experimental background rather than just one with literary devices. The fact that you connected the structure of Wuthering Heights to other literary works was impressive to me and was a good addition to your post.
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ReplyDeleteGood post Parker. I really like your point about the immersive and surprising nature of the chronology of Wuthering Heights as Bronte uses flashbacks and unreliable narrators to tell the story. However, I think that some of your points need more substance and text evidence. For instance, to point out the fallibility of Nelly, saying that Nelly could have made up parts of the story is not as effective as pointing out an instance where Nelly lies or skews the truth with text evidence. A good example of Nelly’s unreliability as a narrator could be found in her recounting of the lies that she continually told to Linton in order to get him to go and stay with Heathcliff. This example with text evidence would prove that Nelly is motivated to not tell the truth in order to manipulate the feelings of those she tells the story to, like how she told Linton a lie to persuade him to feel better about going to his death. Overall, good post as I just thought that would enhance your post.
Plee, I agree with you that Bronte's form and structure was unique, but she created it in such an intricate way that made it effective. I also understand where you are coming from in your argument about Nelly being an unreliable narrator. She is rarely in the situation, instead hearing retellings of the conflicts from other members of either TG or Withering Heights. An example of when she was unreliable would be helpful to strengthen your argument though, Plee, such as the one Casey brought up about her recounting of her lies that she told Linton to get him to stay with Heathcliff. Her manipulative behavior though, just like you stated, makes her unreliable, and creates an aura of skepticism throughout the entire story. Is what we are reading true? What is the OTHER side of the story that Nelly isn't possibly skewing? I thought this was a great post Plee, and agree that this would have fit perfectly in our Experimental Unit last year in AP Lang due to its absolutely odd structure and use frame narrative.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your claim that Nelly is an unreliable source. She seems to have a biased view. She speaks inthe favor of whoever has her favor at the time. At the moment it is Hareton and Cathy, so she speaks in their favor. When she says that they are happy together it could just be one of her fantasies that would benefit her. That is why she tried to ward of Mr.Lockwood, just like she tried to reel him in with Cathy previously. Her view can be very much clouded by her sense of judgement and right and wrong. There is no substantial evidence saying that Hindley and Heathcliff are as despicable as she describes, in fact my first reaction to the two, before she placed her subjective views on their characters, was that they were two emotionally scarred little boys that felt a kinship they would never speak of even though they tortured each other.
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