The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy: Rhoda Brooke - a thin, fading woman

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The Withered Arm

The first three chapters are mainly focused on Rhoda Brook and you instantly recognise how emotionally isolated she is, other members of the milking farm chat together about the happenings of the past week in their neighbourhood of Holmstoke but Rhoda does not seem to join in, she is described as.

“ A thin, fading women of thirty that milked somewhat apart from the rest.”

The use of the word “fading” indicates that she is seen as a stranger in the background and she is ignored because she fading into the surroundings. The phrase “milked somewhat apart from the rest.” I believes that Hardy is trying to tell us that she is not a social person and that she “milks apart from the rest” not just specifically at the dairy but in all public places. She stays away from social attention.

It is also interesting how Rhoda does not respond to the people talking about her and shows that this has been going on for a long time and she is used to this happening.

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“ Tis hard for she, signifying the thin ,worn milkmaid”

The word “worn” shows that even though she seems to be ignoring the gossip about her, its is wearing her out inside and she is emotionally worn as well as physically worn. Rhoda is referred to as a “she” , not a person but an inferior being because of her disgraceful affair with the wealthy farmer Lodge.

“He hadn’t spoken to Rhoda for years.”

This is a statement made by another milkmaid, this is significant because upfront it obviously means that farmer Lodge has not has anything to do with ...

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