Prose Study " The Withered Arm And Other Wessex Tales" By Thomas Hardy

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Danielle Lant                                                                      Friday 25th February, 2005

Prose Study “ The Withered Arm And Other Wessex Tales” By Thomas Hardy

Relationships Between Men And Women Are Central To These Stories. How Do They Reflect The Time In Which The Stories Were Written And What Effects Does Hardy Intend His Characters To Have Upon The Reader?

I am going to be writing about “ The Withered Arm” By Thomas Hardy. There are three main characters in the tale, Gertrude Lodge, Farmer Lodge and Rhoda Brook. The story begins twelve years after Farmer Lodge gets Rhoda Brook pregnant. Farmer Lodge and Gertrude are married much to the dismay of a bitter Rhoda Brook and her twelve-year-old son. Farmer Lodge is the proprietor of two dairy farms but they also deal in agriculture, the women living on his estate work on the farms.

When Farmer Lodge brought Gertrude home, Rhoda Brook felt unwanted, it was as if the door that linked Rhoda to Lodge’s relationship together had permanently been shut, there was to be no hope of a reunion. Realising this Rhoda starts to develop an obsessive interest in Gertrude,

 ‘ Well did you see her?’  ‘ Yes; quite plain.’ ‘Is she ladylike?’  ‘ Yes and more. A lady complete.’

These questions asked by Rhoda are to determine in her mind who the better woman is between herself and Gertrude.

Hardy contrasts the descriptions of the three main characters. Lodge is described as “ A yeoman in the prime of life, cleanly shaven like an actor, his face being toned to that bluish-vermilion hue which so often graces a thriving farmers features.”  The physical appearance of Lodge leads the reader to assume that Lodge is very self-confident, healthy and strong.

In comparison, Gertrude is  described as being very delicate and fragile, “ The curve of her little nostril to the colour of her eyes.”  The word “ little” is used here to suggest the vulnerability and the youth of Gertrude.

There is always the impression that Rhoda Brook used to have an uncanny resemblance to Gertrude. But age slowly took its toll and the working life has made her become a “ thin fading woman of thirty. “ Hardy makes this one of the reasons that Rhoda focuses on the personality and appearance of Gertrude.

During section three Rhoda has a dream or a vision, This is a fiction trigger that signals the rest of the events that follow throughout the story. Through all of Rhoda’s vision Hardy describes Gertrude wearing colours that suggest purity and innocence, a “ white bonnet” and a “ pale silk dress” demonstrate this to the audience. Hardy uses these specific words to show Gertrude’s naivety and youth.

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The basis of the dream was to emphasise to Rhoda the fact that Gertrude was young, pretty and married to the father of her son. In the “ vision “ Gertrude is portrayed as an incubus.

“ The pressure of Mrs Lodge grew heavier; the blue eyes peered cruelly into her face.”

I think that Hardy created this because Rhoda hoped that Mrs Lodge would be such a bad person that her thoughts consumed her. The vision made Gertrude be exactly the type of person that Rhoda Brook had hoped that she would be.

                Gertrude’s wedding ring was waved “ mockingly “ in Brook’s face this was used in the vision as a sign of Gertrude’s marital status, something that Brook wanted, and resented Gertrude for having.

                After Gertrude’s disfigurement Lodge’s attitude changed,

                “ If I hadn’t a notion that it makes my husband- dislike me- no love me less.”

This shows how much Lodge as well as other Victorian men valued physical appearance

Later once Rhoda had had the vision and Gertrude had been scarred, Gertrude visited Rhoda, and Hardy uses irony after Gertrude says that Lodge only likes her for her beauty. Rhoda replies; “Some do- he for one.” She’s speaking from an experience that Gertrude is unaware of.

                Lodge’s relationship with his wife deteriorated further when Gertrude went behind Lodge’s back to see a “ White Wizard”. Lodge had already said to Gertrude that he didn’t like or believe any superstition. This was probably because if Lodge gave into superstition, his worst fears of witchcraft and devilry may be confirmed.

                When Brook took Gertrude to see the conjuror, Gertrude saw something unexpected. This was largely the reason for Rhoda and her son’s departure. After this Gertrude and Lodge’s relationship dwindled into nothingness. Lodge was “gloomy and silent” rarely speaking to Gertrude. Their marriage wasn’t for love anymore,

                “ Six years of marriage, and only a few months of love. “

Even though Gertrude married Lodge for love, Lodge only married Gertrude for her untarnished beauty. Gertrude knew this and tried countless ointments and charms trying to rekindle his love and her beauty.

                “ Ever secretly hoping against hope to win back his heart again by regaining some at least of her personal beauty.”

Gertrude’s face hadn’t changed but Lodge concentrated on an imperfection invisible to the human eye.                

Lodge also looked on the fact that six years had passed without a child because Gertrude was incapable of carrying a baby.

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                “ She had bought him no child,”

Danielle Lant

Without a child Lodge’s reign over the valley could not continue. Throughout the story he feels guilty for mistreating the only possible heir to the business, Rhoda’s son.

For this Lodge “ feared that this might be a judgement from heaven upon him” because Lodge had finally run out of options. This demonstrates the way that most Victorian marriages disintegrated, most were loveless marriages because men felt that they had free choice on pretty women and their behaviour towards them.

                Gertrude soon decides to take drastic action to rid herself ...

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