Wuthering Heights Quotes: Chapter 2

What does the language emphasize through alliteration in the quote 'On that bleak hill-top the earth was hard with a black frost'?

How does Lockwood describe the inmates?

What does Joseph's dialect convey about him?

What is Lockwood's opinion of Cathy in the quote 'amiable hostess, more repellingly than Heathcliff himself'?

What does Lockwood notice about Cathy's appearance in the quote 'the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding'?

How is Heathcliff described in the quote 'his thick, brown curls were rough and uncultivated'?

What cannot Lockwood believe about the universal scowl in the quote 'it was impossible that the universal scowl they wore was their everyday countenance'?

What does Lockwood's comment 'I was tolerably attractive' reveal about him?

What does Lockwood feel about being part of the family circle in the quote 'I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle'?

What does the phrase 'one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow' imply about Wuthering Heights?

Setting and Atmosphere

Imagery of a harsh environment: "On that bleak hill-top the earth was hard with a black frost" evokes a sense of desolation.
Alliteration enhances bleakness and the chilling atmosphere: "the air made me shiver through every limb."
Reference to "Wretched inmates!" conveys characters as prisoners in their own home, emphasizing a gothic element.

Character Descriptions

Joseph's dialect, "I'll hae no hend wi't," highlights his outdated religious views, suggesting a disconnect with modernity.
Lockwood's perception of Cathy as "amiable hostess, more repellingly than Heathcliff himself" illustrates his negative impression of her character.
Cathy's beauty is emphasized through Lockwood's remark: "the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding."

Heathcliff's Characterization

Heathcliff depicted with animalistic traits: "his thick, brown curls were rough and uncultivated" and "his whiskers encroached bearishly over his cheeks."
This description suggests his untamed nature and possibly his unrefined social status.

Domestic Conflict and Isolation

Lockwood remarks on the disbelief of the universal scowl: "it was impossible that the universal scowl they wore was their everyday countenance," highlighting the tension in Wuthering Heights.
His self-reflection, "I was tolerably attractive," reveals Lockwood's self-doubt and ambition to maintain a realistic view of himself.

Observational Perspective

Lockwood’s feeling of being "unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle" questions the authenticity of the described atmosphere and his role as an observer.
The phrase "one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow" contrasts the shelter of Wuthering Heights with the hostility of the outside world, hinting at the complex dynamics within the household.

Explore key quotes from Chapter 2 of Wuthering Heights. This quiz will help you understand the significance of various phrases and their implications in the novel's setting and gothic elements. Test your knowledge of the characters and the themes expressed through the language used.