The Essays I wrote

Cruncher 1

I don't actually agree with this view of Nelly "recounting her crimes". Nelly is not the villain nor is she the prime master manipulator. To say that she was manipulative the whole time and promoted strife is an unjustifiable reason to announce her as the villain.

Just about everyone in this novel is manipulative and caused and promoted strife. Heathcliff and Hindley did that and more, and even Joseph, the butler, did this many, many times. Nelly became more and more manipulative- because she really wasn't as much in the early chapters- to help herself, to climb up the social ladder, to put herself in the best position she could achieve. She was just like any of the other characters, having to fend for themselves and taking advantage of situations and people to boost their chances of a better and easier life.

Now, Nelly was not a master manipulator, especially not in the beginning. It really shows her growth, in fact. When Heathcliff first arrived, she didn't acknowledge the manipulative schemes that he was planning. She describes him as hardened, but not manipulative.