Lockwood

He is 'tolerably attractive.'

Mr. Lockwood introduces himself to readers on the first page of the novel. Written as if in a diary—dated 1801—he details his first meeting with Heathcliff.

And so, the story begins.

“Mr. Heathcliff?” I said.

A nod was the answer.

“Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard, yesterday, you had had some thoughts—”

“Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir,” he interrupted, wincing, “I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it—walk in!”

Last November I wrote more about this episode, in a lengthy essay I called, “A Perfect Misanthropist’s Heaven.” I think it’s a good introduction to Mr. Lockwood, Heathcliff and, ‘the whole establishment of domestics’ at Wuthering Heights.

I am grateful to Janet Gezari, editor of The Annotated Wuthering Heights, for her analysis of Lockwood. He is young, ‘tolerably attractive,’ (at least, according to him!) and owing to his insatiable curiosity, we are provided a glimpse into the tumultuous lives of a small group of people, ‘so completely removed from the stir of society.’