Mrs Nelly Dean

I was inexplicably drawn to Wuthering Heights after I first came across the Kate Bush hit by the same name. After years of enjoying the song, and finding it echoing in my mind for days after hearing it, I became frustrated at not being able to fully make out the actual lyrics. Upon researching them, I became intrigued by what they could mean. I found an oline page by page copy of the novel and devoured it in a day, only to find it just as haunting, intriguing, and fascinating as the song, and indeed Ms Bush... But that's another story.
Aside from the many things I think and wonder about this dark and tragic tale, the silliest thing pops into my mind. Nelly Dean is repeatedly referred to as Mrs. Dean throughout the novel. Despite telling the story as she knew it from the days of her childhood, having been in similar age to Heathcliff, Hindley and Catherine, never does she mention marrying herself. If it weren't for the title of Mrs. being added to her name, I would have thought her a spinster. The only area in the book I can see where she may have married was during the time the younger Catherine grew from birth to 12 yrs old. Most of this time was omitted in the novel with Nelly simply stating that they were amongst the happiest years of her life. However, if this was the case, never does she mention having a husband. As she would have been a full time employee, I would imagine her husband would also be one of the staff, but this would seem not to be the case.
Am I too easily distracted from the main focus of the story, or did other people wonder about this also?

Hi Belinda! I would firstly like to tell you ''welcome to the forum''. I see you're new over here, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this site!
Now, I would like to answer to your question which is very interesting. Frankly, I haven't thought too much about Nelly Dean's marital statute. I always considered her a spinster, because she didn't mention anything about being married.

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Originally Posted by belinda

The only area in the book I can see where she may have married was during the time the younger Catherine grew from birth to 12 yrs old. Most of this time was omitted in the novel with Nelly simply stating that they were amongst the happiest years of her life.

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I recall this part from the book, where she stated that the certain period was the happiest of her life, but you would enormously help me if you would tell me which is the chapter in which she says this- I've got the book and I could look for it. But I feel inclined to say that the happy part of her life consisted in the results of the education of young Catherine, because the little girl was beautiful, very nice and obidient, if I am not wrong.

You said that the single thing which makes you think that Nelly Dean was married is the fact that she is refered in the book as ''Mrs. Ellen Dean''. If I am not wrong, the single person who talks about her this way is Lockwood. I think that she was called so from respect, because she had attained a great age at the time Lockwood tells his story. How could he adress to her otherwise than ''Mrs''? ''Miss''? No, I don't think so.

I took the view that "Mrs" was a courtesy title. There is certainly no trace of any other relationship in the book.

Well thank you to all. I appreciate the welcome, and of course setting me straight on the title of "Mrs". That makes perfect sense.
As for where in the book she says Catherine's first 12 years were the happiest of Nelly's life:
The very beginning of chapter 18. After re-reading it, her happiness is very much in relation to Catherine's development, and nothing to do with her personal life.
Thanks again.
P.S. The story of Wuthering Heights has haunted me so deeply, that I'm currently reading Anne of Green Gables in order to contrast with its darkness and distract my mind!

You're welcome,belinda! Thanks for telling me the chapter, I looked again at it and I maintain my oppinion.
Have fun reading ''Anne''. Mabye you'll tell us what do you think about it-I haven't read the book,unfortunately!

Well Downing, I don't know your taste in books, but Anne was definitely a change from Wuthering. The way life is portrayed in Avonlea (Anne's town) is like saying all 16-25 year old females put on green face masks and cucumber slices on their eyes before having a pillow fight in their underwear when they get together - in other words, a nice fantasy, but thoroughly unrealistic. It's saving grace is that people DO actually die in Avonlea. Still, it has its charms. I mean, who could read the book, and NOT wish - even if just for a moment - that they could live at Green Gables? When picking up the book, you can expect a feeling like a warm hug to envelope you, and its comforting to have that reassurance. Thinking about it conjures up images of clear blue skies with perfect white clouds, with just the right amount of fluffiness; gentle rolling hills covered in soft, green grass; and dancing crystals of sunlight glistening off a cool, shallow stream... Despite there being no absence of death, the only occurrence which even gave me a slight lump in the throat was the death of a beloved pet parrot (which only the owner had any affection for due to its ill nature) in the second book - Anne of Avonlea. Yeah, I read the first, and then started the second. Not sure if I can read the rest, it looks like a candy coated rambling of joy about Anne, and then later her children. Great mood lifter, and nice to fall back on. Without the "Anne" type books, we'd all be suffering from depression induced by reading Wuthering Heights and Portrait of a Lady...

Nice review, belinda! You made me want to read it. I have already searched the internet and found out that it was written by a canadian author called Lucy Maud Montgomery and the subject is attaracting,too. I will search for it and I'll try reading it. Thanks so much about telling me of it.
I agree with you that humanity needs all kinds of books, not only ''depressive'' ones as Wuthering Heights as you might consider them or Portrait of a Lady(unfortunately I haven't read yet this book). But I really liked Wuthering Heights-I read it twice, once translated in my mother tongue and once in English, an uanabridged and complete version. The second read was fantastic-I will always try reading books in original in English, the difference between the original and the translated text is huge or so it did appear to me! Tell me your oppinion on Wuthering Height, belinda. Which are your favouite characters if you have any :lol: ? which were your feelings when you read this book?

Well, my first impression was that my emotions would not be too tortured over it's content. This was for two reasons: Catherine and Heathcliff didn't seem to be terrribly likeable characters, and having the story told by a third party, I thought would allow me some distance between myself and the story. I was wrong.
Despite at first not particularly liking the prideful and arrogant Catherine, and finding Heathcliff difficult to relate to, I quickly became absorbed by the tale and its tragic turns.
It's darkness became addictive, and the tragedy so engrossing I had to read on in order to find out how this tale ended. The overall feeling was of greyness and gloom, hope and heartache.
I never felt close to the characters, but always felt a sympathy, and almost an infatuation for Heathcliff - strange!
I've concluded that I have placed myself in Catherine's position and am in love with the devotion, and most likely obsession he had for her. I think most if not all women yearn for that.
Like Isabella, I longed to love the pain out of his heart, but alas, his heart would only ever beat for one woman, and he could only see her in his haunted dreams.
I saw his maltreatment of those around him a symptom of his anguish, and so pitied him all the more.
So, I must conclude, rather unoriginally, Heathcliff, or my fantasy of the young, loyal, and fiery Heathcliff, is my favourite character.

How about you? What is it that you love so much, and who are your favourites?

It was very interesting to read your nice post.
Unfortunately I do not recall my impression when I started reading the book-that happpened during the winter from 2006, but I had already known the subject by the time I started reading the book, because I had seen the film(the 1939 version starring Merle Oberon and Laurance Olivier which is exquisite and I strongly recommend to you!).
I also pitied Heathcliff because of his anguish, because of the treatment he received in childhood, because of his poor origin and because of his death, but at times I really thought he was a demonic creature-the treatment he gave Linton(his son) and Hindley seem unearthly to me.
I am very sorry for not remembering the novel in too many details-how does time erase these things!- but I believe that Heathcliff never was my favourite character. I think it is rather difficult to choose a favourite character from these strange ones created by Emily Bronte, but I think that the one which I sympathise the most with is Hareton Earnshaw. He impressed me because his noble soul, yet altered by Heathcliff, his father, and the atmosphere in which he lived. I admired his feelings for young Catherine and for Heathcliff- do you remember Nelly Dean's reply from the final chapter:

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But poor Hareton, the most wronged, was the only one who really suffered much. He sat by the corpse all night, weeping in bitter earnest. He pressed its hand, and kissed the sarcastic, savage face that every one else shrank from contemplating; and bemoaned him with that strong grief which springs naturally from a generous heart, though it be tough as tempered steel.

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and also admired him for his wish to learn.

How do you enjoy LitNet so far, Belinda? Why don't you go to other threads too? I hope you're having a great time here! Hope seeing you around soon!

Great reasons! I never felt that I actually got to know Hareton in the novel, however, you have accurately seen him. I would love to see the 1939 movie, I have heard excellent reviews.

I have visited other posts, and have commented where I felt I had adequate knowledge/opinion to do so, but for most of them, I was happy to just read.

Also, I've found it difficult to get deep into the depths of litforum to find the wuthering heights section, so I've bookmarked this page, and explore from here.

I'll probably move all over the site depending which book I'm reading. I've just finished reading five books of the eight in the Anne serious now, so I might venture to the Anne sections.

It's been great chatting with you downing, and I can't wait till our paths cross in here again. :-)

Hareton doesn't appear in the 1939 movie: it only features the first half of the story.

I have four versions of the novel on DVD and the 1939 is actually the least accurate by far of the four. It's a good film and I enjoyed it but, if you watch it, try and forget that it is supposed to be Wuthering Heights.

My favourite, BTW, is the 1998 TV series starring Robert Cavanah and Orla Brady.

Thanks Paul, I was going to go to my local dvd library and see what I could find. I'd like to see them all, but I must confess, I get really ticked off when movies don't accurately portray the novel that they're based on.

If you want to see my reviews of the four films, visit the page on my website:
"Movies and TV"

Hey thanks! That's been a great help. I had previously decided that the Juliette Binoche/Ralph Fiennes version looked the best, and didn't know about the television one. Now I just have to find them all...

There are also some rumors flying about a new version with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp staring which might be interesting even though I think both actors are horribly wrong for the parts. (I love Johnny- the man could read the phone book and I'd be enraptured but he's too old, too lithe, and doesn't really have that "brutish" quality. And don't get me started on Angelina....)

Thread revival.

I've been thinking about Mrs Nelly Dean. I know in other countries (e.g. France and Germany) they used to call unmarried women Madame or Frau instead of Mademoiselle or Fräulein when they got a bit older, but in Britain there was not really any stigma in staying a Miss. It may have been because the 20th century wars killed so many men. I think maybe Nelly Dean was called Mrs because she was a mother substitute to Hareton and then Cathy. It seems she gave up the chance of marrying and having children of her own in order to look after other people's children. It would be somewhat tactless to draw attention to it by calling her Miss.

I believe in the days when families kept servants, it was standard to refer to the cook or housekeeper as "Mrs" whether or not she was married. And there was certainly stigma attached to being an old maid.

In Restoration comedies, all women were Mrs - presumably pronounced Mistress.