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Why Does Mr. Lockwood Go to Wuthering Heights? What Role Does He Play in The Novel?

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Mr. Lockwood is the frame-narrator in Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights. He learns the story from the mansion’s servant Nelly Dean. Lockwood arrived at Thrushcross Grange to have a rest from city life and recover from a past relationship.

Detailed answer:

Mr. Lockwood is one of the central characters in the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë Wuthering Heights. He is the narrator of the story.

The book opens with Lockwood’s words. The man informs the reader that he just returned from visiting Mr. Heathcliff – his landlord in Thrushcross Grange. The narrator tells the story in his diary. That same story from the diary subsequently becomes a novel itself. Lockwood is deeply touched by the story and decides to share it with the world.

Before the novel’s events start to unravel, very little is known about Mr. Lockwood’s background and way of living. He decides not to reveal any personal details of his past or present life. Instead, he focuses on the story of Wuthering Heights.

Mr. Lockwood is a gentleman living in London. He decides to relocate to the remote farmland for some time due to personal circumstances. The narrator distinctly differs from other residents of the area. The man is not particularly sympathetic. Lockwood proclaims himself a misanthropist. He decides to rent a mansion to escape modern society and the city and get over a recent heartbreak.

The book starts with Lockwood’s arrival at Thrushcross Grange estate. The landlord – Heathcliff, surprises the narrator with his hostility. In reality, Mr. Lockwood is shocked by the unfriendly atmosphere of the place in general. A peaceful escape from reality did not start well for the man.

Instead, it left a bitter impression on him. During his second visit to Wuthering Heights, the narrator has to spend the night in the mansion. The miserable weather conditions do not allow him to travel. During the stay, he comes across a diary of a former resident Catherine.

From the diary, Lockwood learns about Catherine Earnshaw’s life and her love for Heathcliff. The narrator also learns about Hindley’s resentment and hatred towards Heathcliff. After reading the diary, Lockwood sees a nightmare. In his dream, Catherine’s ghost is asking to let her in through the window. The man gets deeply affected by the nightmare. When the man wakes up, he keeps seeing the woman’s specter. Lockwood shares his dream with Heathcliff. After hearing everything, the latter one gets furious. He orders the narrator to leave the manor immediately.

When Lockwood returns to Thrushcross Grange, he learns the whole story. He finds out about Heathcliff’s love towards Catherine. He also learns about Linton’s family, who lived in the Thrushcross Grange mansion, and the love triangle.

Nelly Dean’s retelling of the story makes up an extensive and significant part of the novel. Nevertheless, the main narrator – Mr. Lockwood, plays a crucial role in the book’s storyline. This character adds a unique attitude to the story. His narration makes it less dark and cruel. Apart from that, Mr. Lockwood appears as a mysterious character. He leaves the reader with a desire to find out more about his persona. However, his past and personal history remain unknown.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Why Does Mr. Lockwood Go to Wuthering Heights? What Role Does He Play in The Novel?" September 6, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/q/why-does-mr-lockwood-go-to-wuthering-heights-what-role-does-he-play-in-the-novel/.

1. IvyPanda. "Why Does Mr. Lockwood Go to Wuthering Heights? What Role Does He Play in The Novel?" September 6, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/q/why-does-mr-lockwood-go-to-wuthering-heights-what-role-does-he-play-in-the-novel/.


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IvyPanda. "Why Does Mr. Lockwood Go to Wuthering Heights? What Role Does He Play in The Novel?" September 6, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/q/why-does-mr-lockwood-go-to-wuthering-heights-what-role-does-he-play-in-the-novel/.

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