Heathcliff: Lockwood's Narrative

The first time Heathcliff is introduced to the reader in the novel is through Lockwood’s narrative, where he is established in the very first sentence. Lockwood has just returned from a visit, and he describes him as a ‘solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with’ and hints about him being a misanthropist. This is followed by a much stronger statement ‘A capital fellow!’ The fact that Lockwood claims that his heart warmed towards him, implies that Heathcliff is a strong, but reasonable man although there is an underlying sense that perhaps there is something dark and sinister about his personality and history. This is also emphasised by the way his dialogs and actions are described. Heathcliff does not speak, he growls. He does not smile; he grins and sometimes even sneers. Lockwood uses adjectives like ‘diabolical’ which add to the reader’s interpretation of the character. The effect of the choice of words is further enhanced by the introduction of his dogs; this creates a link between the dogs and himself, and an image of him not being human. The dogs are an ingenious way to portray a man like Heathcliff because dogs can be dirty and pitiful, strong and powerful guards, or even violent and aggressive at the same time. Dogs are often referenced to as being a man’s best friend; this suggests that he is loving, affectionate and loyal to those he loves, and also hints that perhaps he doesn’t know how to construct relationships with other people. I feel that the film is a disappointing portrayal of the Byronic hero. Emily Bronte devotes the majority of the novel to persuade the readers to not only like Heathcliff, but to sympathise with a character that in reality most would disassociate themselves from. In the film however, I do not feel that the audience is encouraged to like Heathcliff. Ralph Fiennes representation of Heathcliff lacks the integrity of the character in the novel. I feel that in the film, Heathcliff is presented as being misunderstood