In your opinion, who is most to blame for the outcome in “On the Western Circuit”?

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Dani White  11/4 _                                                        January 2001

In your opinion, who is most to blame for the outcome in “On the Western Circuit”?

On the Western Circuit was published in 1984. It was written by Thomas Hardy who was known as one of the greatest novelist in the English language. He was born in 1839 and died in 1928. On the Western Circuit was taken from a collection of Thomas Hardy’s novels called ‘Life’s Little Ironies’. A lot of Thomas Hardy’s novels were viewed as negative and it would seem he had a pessimistic view on life. He thought it was impossible to find true happiness. Thomas Hardy wrote his novels in the Victorian era. At this point there were a lot of double standards and women were extremely repressed by men and society. Thomas Hardy was a realist and aware of the challenges and pressures faced by women. They had limited education, limited wealth and limited power. Society only had real respect for those women married and in a secure relationship. Hardy disagreed with Victorian values and was conscious of the difficulties society caused. In this particular novel there are themes of deception, powerless women, education, blame, Victorian values and society. The women in the story all set out with good intent but are not aware of what the repercussions that will ensue as a result of their actions and desires. As a result of their various desires they all find themselves trapped in situations they cannot change, without being looked down upon by society. The pressures of society’s ‘perfect’ expectations leads them to circumstances they would rather not be in. They are pulled down by society and not able to truthfully express their emotions.

In the story, Anna, an attractive but uneducated servant is spotted on a funfair by Charles Bradford Raye, a wealthy educated Esquire from London. Charles picks out Anna, as the prettiest, from a group of girls. At the beginning this gives us the impression that he may be quite superficial and considers appearance an important issue:

“…but by and by the observers eye centred on the prettiest girl out of the seven…”

 Whilst Charles is passing through Anna’s home of Melchester he has a relationship with her which results in them sleeping together. To Charles, it would seem that Anna was merely just a bit of fun, whilst on his businesses trip in Melchester. Anna takes the whole ordeal a lot more seriously. She imagines her and Charles being together. Anna was brought up in the country and the story would suggest she has not had many past relationships and Charles observes this as soon as he meets her:

“It was not difficult to fall into conversation with her. Unreserved  - too unreserved – by nature, she was not experienced enough to be reserved by art….”

Anna’s mistress also finds Charles very attractive and is interested in the young man. She wishes she was Anna’s age again and could be in her position.

When Charles leaves Melchester to return to his home of London, Anna continues her interest in him. She is determined to stay in contact with Charles and as she is not very well educated she asks, Edith Harnham, her mistress, to write him a letter from herself. Charles, is intrigued by the well-written letter and also continues to stay in contact, with what he thinks is the young girl he met in Melchester. As the letters continue, Edith finds herself being more and more drawn to Charles.

Anna, later declares herself to be pregnant with Charles’ baby. Edith is worried about the news but as Charles is so impressed and intrigued by, what he thinks are Anna’s letters he agrees to do the dutiful thing and decides to marry Anna. Anna is very happy and goes to see Charles, accompanied by Edith. Anna assumes she will be able to hide the secret that she is not able to write fluently and is not at all like the woman who wrote the letters, but not long after they are married, Charles asks her to go to the next room and write his sister a letter informing her about the ceremony:

“Say it in the pretty poetical way you know so well how to adopt…”

The secret is then soon discovered but Charles, (although he has a kiss with Edith) again, does the dutiful thing as stays with his pregnant wife. Edith is not in a position to pursue a relationship with Charles because of her marriage and because of Anna. Charles and Edith would be greatly frowned upon by society if they were to continue a life together. They have to hide and ignore their desires for one another.

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Blame is a large part of the story. All the characters play their part in causing the mess that has been caused, although, they do not set out to intentionally hurt one another. All the main characters carry out actions that may be wrong but if the story is looked closer at, it is clear that there are other parties to blame too. Edith’s husband does not provide a loving, caring relationship that she longs for. There marriage does not seem to be based on love:

“…but Mrs Harnham did not care much about him.”

Women were not as well ...

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