Nelly Dean is the narrator employed by Emily Bronte that helps in linking the
present events of Wuthering Heights to that of their history since she is an eye
witness, the first person participant narrator of the events that took place in the
past. Hence, most of her accounts can be counted as credible. However, in
several accounts, her apparent dislike for Catherine Earnshaw is witnessed and
hence, her accounts of the past events is normally seen through colored glasses.
Nelly's apparent dislike for Catherine Earnshaw is apparent in chapter 9 of
volume 1. Here, readers witness a distraught Catherine in distress with her face
streaked with tears and 'her lips half asunder as if she meant to speak'. However,
irregardless of her subservient position as a servant, Nelly dismisses Catherine's
disconsolation and replies sarcastically that it is 'a pity' that Catherine still 'can't
be contented' with 'so many friends and so few cares' upon Catherine's remark
that she is 'very unhappy'. Nelly's dislike for Catherine reveals many gremlins in
her narration. Firstly, her unsympathetic nature in regard to Catherine clouds the
revelation of the true extent of how Catherine is feeling and misleads the reader
into accepting Nelly's views as their own since she is the only participant narrator
in the events and hence, forming a bad impression of Catherine.
Also, Nelly's lack of regard for her status is linked to her being a motherly figure
to the participants of Wuthering Heights and this allows for her to further narrate
the intimate events that take place in Catherine and Heathcliff's life. Her motherly
figure allows for readers to access to the inner thoughts of Catherine as Nelly is
also portrayed as a confidante in this episode. Here, Catherine is seen 'kneeli
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