bronte's hiding things from reader

[janel34]

I just finished Wuthering Heights and Villette. In both books, there are some major surprises (I thought). For instance, in Villette (Charlotte Bronte), well into the relationship between Lucy and Dr. John, we find that Lucy (the narrator) has known that Dr. John is Graham from her youth and kept it from the reader. Then, in WH, well into Catherine's 'illness' after Heathcliff's visit to Thrushcross Grange (conflict with Edgar and servants) Nelly closes the subject with basically "she died 7 hours after giving birth to the Catherine you [Mr. Lockwood] just saw at WH." Did I miss something or were there other signs that Catherine was pregnant during that time when she was stuck at home? Anyone else have any insight into this? It's rather frustrating to be so surprised.

[C. Earnshaw]

i didn't read villette, about wuthering heights (if i've understood the meaning of your question) i remember catherine told something to heathcliff on her pregnancy... when he asks if isabella will have edgar's money and properties after his deaths, catherine answers she hopes to have a lot of children. i suppose she already know to be pregant.

[PaulT]

Remember this is Ellen telling the story to Lockwood. They both already know that Cathy is Catherine's daughter so there's no need to point out that Catherine was pregnant before she gives birth. It would be stating the obvious.

[meenakshi]

In chapter 13 Nelly says "....and there was double cause to desire it,for on her existence depended that of another:we cherished the hope that in a little while Mr Linton's heart would be gladdend,and his lands secured from a stranger's gripe,by the birth of an heir." Now this is ample proof that she was pregnant.