Wuthering Heights Response #1

After reading the first 3 chapters I would characterize Lockwood as a gentleman, however not a perfect one. I am led to believe he is a gentleman through some of his actions at Wuthering Heights but some of his other actions also contradict this characterization, so this is why he is not a true gentleman. Lockwood’s characterization is shown in his response to Mrs. Heathcliff, “You must excuse me for troubling you – I presume, because, with that face, I’m sure you cannot help being good-hearted.” This type of flattering to the hostess helps to show his characterization of a gentleman however his actions toward the dogs of the Wuthering Heights are not so gentlemanly at all. His character affects his role as narrator of the novel because he gives a bias view of the people in Wuthering Heights because they are not pictures of perfect poise and not necessarily people he is normally associated with. This also makes him unqualified to comment on the society at Wuthering Heights because clearly he is not used to this type of atmosphere and although it may seem dysfunctional to him, it may be very functional for the purpose of Wuthering Heights.