to rent Thrushcross Grange from him. This first description of Heathcliff informs the reader that he is not a friendly man. Upon his first meeting with his new tenant, Heathcliff tells him “I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it walk in!” From this pronouncement, it is clear that Heathcliff is not fond of interacting with other people as he views it as an inconvenience. Bronte also writes “The ‘walk in’ was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment, ‘Go to the Deuce’” to describe how Heathcliff interacts with Lockwood, further clarifying that Heathcliff is a very hostile man.

Heathcliff’s servant, Nelly, tells Lockwood to avoid Heathcliff and says “Rough as saw- edge, and hard as whinstone! The less you meddle with him the better.” Nelly’s words matter because she also tells Lockwood that she has known Heathcliff since he was a young boy therefore she must know him better than anybody, having lived with him for many years. The fact that Heathcliff’s own servant would speak of him in this way communicates the sentiment that Heathcliff possesses very few or perhaps even no redeeming qualities. From Nelly’s testimonial, it is apparent that she believes Heathcliff to be cold and she know that Lockwood would do better to avoid conversing with the old man.

Lockwood describes Heathcliff as a “dark skinned gipsy” and he is curious as to how a man of such an appearance could live in such a grand home. In Lockwood’s opinion, there is a juxtaposition in Heathcliff’s gipsy appearance to his upperclass, gentleman status as Lockwood does not believe that a gipsy could achieve such a thing. Lockwood also states “I know, by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling” as he believes that Heathcliff’s demeanour is reflective of his background.