Joseph in Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë‘s novel Wuthering Heights is a classic of English literature, noted for its intricate characters and complex narrative structure. Among the residents of the farmhouse in Wuthering Heights is Joseph, a surly and pious servant whose presence throughout the novel provides both a sense of stability and unyielding morality. Despite being a supporting character, Joseph’s influence within the novel is undeniable as he consistently reinforces the rigid social and religious ethos of the late Georgian and early Regency periods.

Joseph’s character is a symbol of immovable traditionalism in the ever-tumultuous world of Wuthering Heights. His frequent biblical references and devout demeanor offer a stark contrast to the passionate and often chaotic lives of the main characters. As the narrative progresses, Joseph remains a steadfast fixture, reacting to the dramatic events that unfold around him with judgmental or self-righteous comments. Emily Brontë uses Joseph to embody the strict, often hypocritical, moral codes of the time. His interactions with other characters serve to highlight their vices and virtues, often provoking a critical evaluation of morality and piety among readers.

Recommended: Read Wuthering Heights at PageVio

1. Joseph Character Analysis

Joseph is a cantankerous servant serving the Earnshaw family for many years. His strict adherence to his religious beliefs and his distinctive Yorkshire dialect set him apart from other characters in the narrative.

Relations with the Earnshaw Family

Joseph’s long-term service at Wuthering Heights places him close to the Earnshaw family’s dynamics. Despite being a servant, he often displays a cantankerous attitude towards family members. While Joseph does have some influence on Hareton Earnshaw, especially in terms of religious indoctrination, Hindley‘s neglect of Hareton is more a result of his issues rather than a deliberate delegation of responsibility to Joseph. Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff also interact with Joseph during their childhood, although he is generally unkind and impatient with them.

Interactions with Other Characters

Lockwood, the narrator who rents Thrushcross Grange, is among the other characters that Joseph interacts with. Joseph’s curt responses to Lockwood‘s inquiries are laced with the servant’s thick Yorkshire dialect, contributing to the rustic and somewhat unwelcoming atmosphere of Wuthering Heights. Joseph’s interactions are not limited to the main family, as the housekeeper Zillah and Nelly Dean also have to deal with his unpleasant demeanor, further illustrating his judgmental and cantankerous nature.

Importance in the Narrative

• Provides a consistent representation of old values and order.
• Serves as a contrast to the passionate and tumultuous lives of the Earnshaws and Lintons.
• Works as a secondary character who enhances the atmosphere and authenticity of the household’s daily life, serving as a reminder of the harsh and unforgiving aspects of life at Wuthering Heights.

Symbolism and Religious Overtones

Joseph represents the strict religious orthodoxy of the time, often quoting the Bible and preaching about God and heaven. His character embodies the themes of judgment and morality, adding a dimension of religious symbolism to the novel. Through Joseph, Brontë explores the influence of religion on people’s lives and the extent to which it can be a force for both good and repression. His rigid piety often comes across as hypocritical, especially when contrasted with his lack of compassion and kindness, adding complexity to the novel’s exploration of religion and morality.

• Religious Symbol: A living embodiment of fire-and-brimstone piety
• Biblical Quotations: Uses them to assert authority and express personal views

Through these attributes and interactions, Joseph’s character provides depth to the setting and heightens the novel’s exploration of themes such as religion, social hierarchies, and the effects of isolation.

2. The Social Context of Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights, set against the backdrop of Yorkshire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, explores intricate social dynamics. 

Class and Social Relations

The rigidity of the social hierarchy in the late Georgian and early Regency periods is evident in Wuthering Heights as relationships and interactions are largely defined by social station. Servants like Joseph have an ingrained sense of duty to their employers, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, yet they also exhibit an implicit awareness of social divides. These divides extend to the relationships within families, where characters such as Hindley Earnshaw assert superiority over others like Heathcliff, who is relegated to a servant-like status following Mr. Earnshaw‘s death. However, the novel also portrays complex relationships between servants and their masters, with instances of defiance and resentment.

Dialect and Language

Emily Brontë’s incorporation of the Yorkshire dialect, particularly in Joseph’s speech, serves two purposes. Firstly, it affirms the regional authenticity, rooting the story in a specific locale. Secondly, the distinct dialects underline social classes and origins, contrasting the refined language of characters like Edgar and Isabella Linton with the rough vernacular of the servant class.