Others & Outliers
The Curate, The Doctor and The Lawyer
Shielders
We are introduced to the curate by Ellen “Nelly” Dean in Volume I: Chapter V; she explains to Mr. Lockwood that the curate (‘who made the living answer by teaching the little Lintons and Earnshaws, and farming his bit of land himself’) encouraged Old Mr. Earnshaw to send Hindley to college. Some years later, when Hindley returns, his younger sister and Heathcliff find themselves in some trouble at Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff tells Nelly what was said about the family:
‘What culpable carelessness in her brother!’ exclaimed Mr. Linton, turning from me to Catherine. ‘I’ve understood from Shielders’ (that was the curate, sir) ‘that he lets her grow up in absolute heathenism. But who is this? Where did she pick up this companion? Oho! I declare he is that strange acquisition my late neighbour made in his journey to Liverpool—a little Lascar, or an American or Spanish castaway.’
Volume I: Chapter VI
Kenneth
Sometimes referred to as, ‘the doctor,’ and other times, simply, Kenneth. The country doctor is a fixture in the lives of the inhabitants Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. He is a very no nonsense, practical man. He says it like it is and often, those hearing his diagnoses are unwilling to accept their loved ones’ fates.
When Hindley Earnshaw receives unsettling news he chooses to drink himself silly. While others believe Hindley is bent on self-destruction, Kenneth believes otherwise. Sixteen-year-old Heathcliff tells Nelly:
“It’s a pity he cannot kill himself with drink,” observed Heathcliff, muttering an echo of curses back when the door was shut. “He’s doing his very utmost; but his constitution defies him. Mr. Kenneth says he would wager his mare, that he’ll outlive any man on this side Gimmerton, and go to the grave a hoary sinner; unless some happy chance out of the common course befall him.”
Volume I: Chapter IX
Note: When Hareton is born, ‘the cherub’ is brought downstairs and handed to Hindley by Dame Archer, who we can assume is Kenneth’s rural midwife.
Green
“When day breaks, I’ll send for Green,’’ [Heathcliff] said; “I wish to make some legal inquiries of him while I can bestow a thought on those matters…”
It is in Volume II of Wuthering Heights, we meet Mr. Green, the lawyer. He seems to be everybody’s lawyer—as Kenneth is everyone’s doctor. It was the 18th C after all.
