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The style of Wuthering Heights is poetic and lyrical. Many critics have noted that Brontë’s use of romantic imagery and emotional dialogue in the novel evokes her previous work as a poet. The passionate feelings and dark events reveal the characters’ emotional intensity and are unusual in a Victorian novel. The structure of Wuthering Heights’ structure also heavily influences its style. The novel is essentially comprised of Lockwood’s diary, and it contains his own recollections of events as well as a retelling of events as related to him by Nelly. There are also direct quotes from other characters, such as Catherine and Heathcliff.
Accordingly, Brontë’s style alters depending on which character is speaking. For example, Heathcliff often rages in aggressive, succinct sentences, such as, “What can you mean by talking in this way to me! ... How-how dare you, under my roof.” Joseph, on the other hand, speaks in a Yorkshire dialect, representative of his servant status, “If there's to be fresh ortherings—just when I getten used to two maisters, if I mun hev' a mistress set o'er my heead, it's like time to be flitting.”
