Discuss the Use of the Narrative Voice in the Extracts. How Successful Are They at Introducing the Character in the Openings to the Novel?

The two extracts are taken from two books that differ in both style and language. The first is from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, which was written in 1847 and the second is from the Colour Purple by Alice Walker, which was written in the 1970s and is set in the 1930s. Both are narrated in the first person but with very different writing styles.

Wuthering Heights is written in high register, using a very descriptive style. The narrative is in the form of diary entry and written in the first person with quoted direct speech. The reader is introduced to two buildings; Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and, although this isn’t immediately apparent, the main character, Mr Heathcliff, and his relationship with Mr Lockwood, the narrator.

In direct contrast, the Colour Purple is written in low register with the minimum of description. The narrative is based on the written thoughts of a young girl, in letter format, which are addressed to God. The reader is introduced to the life of Celie, the narrator, and members of her family. Her story is a description of events only, rather than of the surroundings, in which the events took place.

The characters in Wuthering Heights are fully described using metaphors; for instance, Mr Heathcliff "is a dark skinned gypsy... in dress and manners a gentleman" and is "an erect and handsome figure" with a "degree of under-bred pride".

On the other hand, in the Colour Purple, it is left to our imagination as to the description of the narrator and the other characters. The only physical characteristics mentioned are that the narrator is "big" through being pregnant and of Shug Avery, who is described as being "the most beautiful woman she ever saw". These are comparative characteristics as opposed to the vividly pictorial descriptions of the characters in Wuthering Heights.

In Wuthering Heights, the buildings are described in minute detail using explicitly graphic phrases such as "grotesque carvings" and "crumbling griffins" at the threshold giving the impression that the house is a dark foreboding place. The reader is therefore led to perceive an impression of the narrator as a keen observer, which allows one to visualize the setting precisely. This contrasts greatly with the sparse use of visual description given by Celie in the Colour Purple. The omission of setting emphasises the fact that the thoughts of the narrator are more important than where they took place.

The Colour Purple is a more powerful and engrossing narrative because of the matter of fact approach. Through the sequence of events, the audience participates in Celie's experiences with her, which allows the reader to identify with the traumas that she suffers at the hand of her father. On the other hand, the narrative in Wuthering Heights is tediously flowery and desensitizes the reader to the actual events taking place. One is not caught up readily in the meeting of the two characters. Too much is given over to the description of the surrounding and this detracts from the storyline.

The tone of Wuthering Heights has an upbeat manner describing the educated city-born Mr Lockwood who is overwhelmed with the opportunity to live in the country and his excitement at being there, so much so that the cold and aloof Mr Heathcliff seems to be an approachable person who is pleased to see Mr Lockwood, when, in actual fact, he is not at all enamoured by their meeting. The overall naivety of the narrator dissuades the reader from taking his account as a true statement of the event taking place. This is supported by the fact that the narrative