Who Nelly Dean is
Nelly Dean is both a witness to the family conflicts and a person caught up in them. She grows up at Wuthering Heights as a servant's child, playing with the children of the house. When Mr Lockwood asks about Heathcliff and his household, she tells him the story stretching back to their childhood. Her account gives readers a close view of Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff and the people around them.
Nelly Dean and the others in the story
Nelly sees the bond between Catherine and Heathcliff grow, and she hears Catherine explain her decision to marry Edgar Linton. She challenges Catherine's belief that she can marry Edgar while keeping Heathcliff close and helping him with her new wealth.
Nelly can be kind, offering Heathcliff advice when he feels ashamed of his appearance beside the refined Edgar. Yet she also judges, meddles, keeps secrets and sometimes delays messages, so her place in the story is never merely that of an observer.
Questions
Who is Nelly Dean in Wuthering Heights?
Nelly Dean is a housekeeper who knows the Earnshaws and Lintons and recounts much of their history to Mr Lockwood.
Is Nelly Dean a reliable narrator?
Nelly is observant but not impartial. Her opinions and involvement in events give readers reasons to weigh her account carefully.
How does Nelly Dean know Catherine Earnshaw?
Nelly grows up alongside Catherine at Wuthering Heights and later accompanies her to Thrushcross Grange after her marriage to Edgar.
