## Characters
**Mr. Lockwood** (narrator)
- New tenant of Thrushcross Grange
- Self-described misanthropist who sees himself as socially awkward
- Physical details: rides a horse, wears a coat
- Personality: reserved, analytical, prone to overthinking social situations
- Key actions: visits Heathcliff as his new landlord, gets attacked by dogs, drinks wine with Heathcliff
- Recently had a romantic encounter at the sea-coast where he retreated from a woman who showed interest in him
- His mother used to say he would never have a comfortable home
**Mr. Heathcliff**
- Landlord and owner of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange
- Physical details: black eyes, dark-skinned, "gipsy in aspect," erect and handsome figure, somewhat slovenly but gentlemanly
- Personality: extremely reserved, suspicious, morose, potentially proud
- Key actions: reluctantly welcomes Lockwood, calls for Joseph and wine, handles the dog situation
- Lives at Wuthering Heights
- Relationship: Lockwood's landlord
**Joseph**
- Elderly servant at Wuthering Heights
- Physical details: very old but hale and sinewy
- Personality: peevish, sourly religious (uses pious ejaculations)
- Key actions: takes Lockwood's horse, is called by Heathcliff from the cellar
- Relationship: works for Heathcliff
**Unnamed lusty dame**
- Kitchen servant at Wuthering Heights
- Physical details: tucked-up gown, bare arms, fire-flushed cheeks
- Key actions: stops the dog fight with a frying-pan
- Relationship: works for Heathcliff
**Hareton Earnshaw** (mentioned only)
- Name carved above the door dated 1500
- Historical connection to the house
**Lockwood's mother** (mentioned)
- Deceased
- Said Lockwood would never have a comfortable home
**Unnamed woman from sea-coast** (mentioned)
- Described as "a real goddess" and "fascinating creature"
- Had romantic interaction with Lockwood the previous summer
## Timeline & Events
**1801** - The chapter takes place in this year
**Previous day** - Lockwood heard Heathcliff had thoughts about the Grange rental
**Last summer** - Lockwood's romantic encounter at the sea-coast
**Today** - Lockwood visits Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights
**Sequence of events:**
1. Lockwood rides to Wuthering Heights to visit Heathcliff
2. Heathcliff greets him suspiciously but invites him in
3. Joseph takes Lockwood's horse
4. Lockwood observes the house's architecture and carved date of 1500
5. They enter the main sitting room
6. Lockwood attempts to pet the dogs and is attacked
7. A kitchen servant breaks up the dog fight
8. Heathcliff and Lockwood drink wine and converse
9. Lockwood plans to visit again tomorrow
## Key Facts
**Property Details:**
- Wuthering Heights: Heathcliff's dwelling, built strong with narrow deep-set windows, large jutting stones at corners
- House carved with date "1500" and name "Hareton Earnshaw"
- "Wuthering" describes atmospheric tumult in stormy weather
- Thrushcross Grange: property Lockwood is renting from Heathcliff
- Main room called "the house" serves as family sitting-room, kitchen forced to separate quarter
- Floor of smooth white stone
- Chairs are high-backed, primitive, painted green with some heavy black ones
- Huge oak dresser with pewter dishes, silver jugs and tankards
- Old guns and horse-pistols above chimney
- Three painted canisters on chimney ledge
- Arch under dresser houses liver-colored pointer bitch with puppies
**Household:**
- Multiple dogs including sheep-dogs and pointer with puppies
- Minimal staff (Joseph and kitchen dame mentioned)
- Grass grows between flagstones, cattle serve as hedge-cutters
## Ages, Dates & Arithmetic
**1801** - Current year of events
**1500** - Date carved on house (301 years before current events)
**Last summer** - Lockwood's romantic encounter (approximately 1800)
**Joseph** - described as "very old" but no specific age given
## Unexplained Changes
None noted - this is the opening chapter introducing all characters.
## Plot Developments
**New threads introduced:**
- Lockwood's tenancy at Thrushcross Grange and relationship with landlord Heathcliff
- Mystery around Heathcliff's character and background
- Historical significance of Wuthering Heights and the Earnshaw name
- Lockwood's pattern of social withdrawal and romantic failures
**Existing threads:** None (opening chapter)
## Foreshadowing & Setups
**Objects given emphasis:**
- The guns and horse-pistols displayed above the chimney
- The carved name "Hareton Earnshaw" and date 1500 - suggests family history
- The isolated, storm-battered setting of Wuthering Heights
**Statements hinting at secrets:**
- Lockwood's observation that Heathcliff "forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living"
- Description of Heathcliff as "dark-skinned gipsy in aspect" but gentleman in manner
- The house's ancient carved name suggesting previous inhabitants
**Unresolved questions:**
- Who was Hareton Earnshaw and what happened to the Earnshaw family?
- What is Heathcliff's true background and how did he acquire the properties?
- Why is Heathcliff so isolated and misanthropic?
- Will Lockwood overcome his social awkwardness?
**Lockwood's planned return visit tomorrow** sets up immediate future developments.