# Nelly Dean — Wuthering Heights character guide > Nelly Dean in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ellen, Nell, Ellen Dean, Dear Ellen, Wicked Ellen **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Housekeeper to both families and the story's chief teller, whose plain-spoken judgments shape how we see everyone she has served. ## Who they are Nelly has watched the Earnshaws and Lintons for most of her life, nursing the sick, minding the children, and quietly disapproving of nearly everyone's choices. She is practical, opinionated, and not always kind, and her account of events is filtered through her own sympathies and resentments. As Lockwood's informant she carries the whole tangled history, and her reliability is one of the novel's most interesting puzzles. ## Relationships ### [Catherine Linton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/catherine_linton) _professional_ A close but complicated mistress-servant relationship where Nelly acts as a mother figure and confidante. ### [Heathcliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/heathcliff) _professional_ A tense, wary relationship where Nelly serves as Heathcliff's reluctant confidante and moral counterpoint. ### [Hareton Earnshaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/hareton_earnshaw) _friendship_ A kind, pitying relationship where Nelly observes Hareton's degradation and later helps him improve. ### [Edgar Linton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/edgar_linton) _professional_ A respectful, loyal employer-servant relationship where Nelly serves as a trusted household manager. ### [Catherine Linton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/catherine_linton) _professional_ A close but complicated mistress-servant relationship where Nelly acts as a mother figure and confidante. ### [Heathcliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/heathcliff) _professional_ A tense, wary relationship where Nelly serves as Heathcliff's reluctant confidante and moral counterpoint. ### [Edgar Linton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/edgar_linton) _professional_ A respectful, loyal employer-servant relationship where Nelly serves as a trusted household manager. ### [Heathcliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/heathcliff) _professional_ A tense, wary relationship where Nelly serves as Heathcliff's reluctant confidante and moral counterpoint. ### [Hareton Earnshaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/hareton_earnshaw) _friendship_ A kind, pitying relationship where Nelly observes Hareton's degradation and later helps him improve. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as the housekeeper who led Lockwood upstairs and noted the master's odd notions about the chamber. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/iv) Narrates the history of Wuthering Heights, recalling her childhood as a servant and her initial dislike of Heathcliff. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/v) Narrates the events; observes the household dynamics and mourns Mr. Earnshaw's death. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/vi) Listens to Heathcliff's account and warns him of consequences. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/vii) Attempts to comfort and advise Heathcliff; observes Catherine's hidden distress; facilitates Catherine's visit to Heathcliff in the garret. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/viii) Narrates the chapter, observing Catherine's double character and the conflict between Heathcliff and Edgar. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/ix) Nurses Catherine through her fever, argues with her about her marriage motives, and is forced to leave Wuthering Heights to serve at Thrushcross Grange. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/x) Observes and comments on the interactions between Catherine, Isabella, Heathcliff, and Edgar. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xi) Narrates the events, observes Heathcliff's actions, and intervenes to protect the household. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xii) Narrates the events, tends to Catherine, and discovers Isabella's elopement with Heathcliff. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xiv) Nelly acts as a messenger between Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights, delivering Edgar's cold refusal to Isabella and reporting on Catherine's illness to Heathcliff. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xv) Narrates the events, delivers Heathcliff's letter to Catherine, and mediates the confrontation. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xvi) Narrates the events, opens a window for Heathcliff to see Catherine's corpse, and reflects on the peace of death. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xvii) Receives Isabella's account and facilitates her escape, providing a shawl and arranging the carriage. She also reports Heathcliff's later inquiries about Isabella and her child. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xviii) Nelly narrates the chapter, recounting the happy years raising Cathy and her anxiety when Cathy goes missing. She persuades Cathy to keep the visit to Wuthering Heights secret from Edgar. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xix) Observes and assists with the arrival, noting Linton's frailty and the tension when Joseph comes to claim him for Heathcliff. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xx) Nelly transports Linton to Wuthering Heights and observes Heathcliff's treatment of his son. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxi) Accompanies Cathy on her ramble, observes Heathcliff's schemes, and reflects on Linton's character. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxii) Accompanies Cathy on walks, tries to comfort and divert her, and reluctantly agrees to take her to Wuthering Heights. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxiii) Accompanies Catherine to Wuthering Heights, tries to prevent further visits, and later falls ill for three weeks, during which Catherine nurses her. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxiv) Discovers Catherine's secret rides and reports them to Edgar Linton. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxv) Narrates the events, observes Edgar's decline, and agrees to chaperone Catherine's meetings with Linton. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxvi) Accompanies Catherine, observes Linton's poor health and the tension, counsels caution. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxvii) Accompanies Catherine and attempts to protect her. She is physically overpowered by Heathcliff when she tries to intervene. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxviii) Narrates the events; helps Catherine return and confronts Linton Heathcliff about his cruelty. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxix) Pleads with Heathcliff to let Catherine stay at the Grange, but is refused; she witnesses Heathcliff's disturbing confession about the grave. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxx) Narrates Zillah's story to Lockwood; she sympathizes with Catherine but feels powerless to intervene. ### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxxi) Sends a letter to Catherine via Lockwood, hoping to maintain contact. ### [Chapter XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxxii) Now living at Wuthering Heights, she narrates the events after Heathcliff's death and facilitates Catherine and Hareton's relationship. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxxiii) Observes the interactions between Catherine and Hareton with maternal pride; listens to Heathcliff's confessions about his inner state. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/chapters/xxxiv) Nelly observes Heathcliff's deteriorating condition, tries to persuade him to eat and rest, and later finds his body. She reflects on his life and the fulfillment of his desire to be buried next to Catherine. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters/nelly_dean - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wuthering_heights_se/characters