What are Hardy's intentions in his presentation of Eustacia Vye chapters 1-7? How successful do you think he is?
What are Hardy's intentions in his presentation of Eustacia Vye chapters 1-7? How successful do you think he is? 'Return of the Native' by Thomas Hardy is a novel emphasising the mysteries of 'Egdon Heath', also the mysteries of one of the main characters, Eustacia. The incredibly deep female protagonist of the novel. The story of 'tempestuous' Eustacia Vye, who longs freedom and love and in doing so causes tragic consequences. Hardy has already made the first chapter of the novel very different to other Victorian novels, by the fact that we are not introduced to any characters and no events take place. We are not introduced to one of the main characters Eustacia Vye until page thirty three but we are introduced through other characters. Hardy does this to give Eustacia an air of mystery, this makes the readers more interested to find out more about her. From the other characters we learn that she is unmarried and very attractive. The first time we visually see Eustacia is on top of a burial mound, we only know it is a female because of the womanly silhouette in front of the sky back pantomime. She is the point of a helmet and part of the heath. The first sign that Eustacia prefers solitude is when she is seen ,leaving the mound like the 'glide of a water-drop', when another group of people are seen approaching the mound. Eustacia is very much like the heath. She is an
Clement Yeobright - Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
Clement Yeobright Clym is the protagonist of the novel and the native who has returned to Egdon Heath. By nature, he is a proud and philosophical man, who wants a quiet, peaceful existence in the country. He loves Egdon in all its moods, and it is his concern about uplifting the heath-dwellers that has caused his permanent return from Paris. Clym is known for his high ideals and his high expectations of other people. Clym is characterized by his rigidity and hardness. His mother warns Eustacia that "you will find that though he is as gentle as a child with you now, he can be as hard as steel!" Mrs. Yeobright experiences her son's toughness when he decides to marry Eustacia in spite of her motherly advice against it. When she nags him about his decision, Clym moves out of her house, and mother and son do not speak for a long while. Clym knows he should reconcile with his mother, but cannot bring himself to do so easily, for he feels torn between the two women in his life. In the end, it is Mrs. Yeobright who tries to make the first move towards reconciliation. Unfortunately, she dies before it comes to pass. Eustacia also finds Clym to be tough and hard. Her husband is set in his ways and does not listen to her wants and needs. He does not understand her desire to move from the heath or to be loved passionately. Because of their
What elements create suspense in the pre twentieth century story 'the withered arm' and the post twentieth century stories ' the darkness out there'?
What elements create suspense in the pre twentieth century story 'the withered arm' and the post twentieth century stories ' the darkness out there'? In the two stories suspense is produced before you have even read a line in the book, the titles form suspense 'the withered arm' immediately you're wondering what it means. When you carry on reading the book and nothing is mention about an arm you are kept in an aspect of mystery and the same with 'the darkness out there' you are reading the story and it seems all nice, vivid, the sun is glowing and you're just waiting for some think to occur! Penelope lively the author of 'the darkness out there' drops a few red herrings, for instance when Mrs Rutter sends Kerry out into packers end to accumulate some fire wood, you think some think might happen then, because Sandra had been saying how much see was petrified of Packers end' you didn't go in by yourself through packers end if you could help it, not after tea time anyway'. Thomas Hardy the author of 'the withered arm' also drops a red herring or two in, one good illustration of this is when farmer Lodge tells Gertrude he is going on holiday to a fair, Gertrude thinks he is going of on holiday because of her arm and she is hideous, we know it is because his son is in court and he is helping Rhoda and paying for it all, a quote in the book shows how cleverly Rhoda covers up 'men
Tess of The DUrbervilles. Explore Hardy's presentation of Angel Clare
Lara Groves Explore Hardy’s presentation of Angel The character of Angel Clare is one that is central not only to Thomas Hardy’s nineteenth century novel Tess of The D’Urbervilles1, but to the character of Tess herself. Angel is presented and developed by Hardy as a many sided character, and he can be seen as responsible for a great part of Tess’s actions through the novel, good and bad. Superficially, it is easy to see how Hardy wishes Angel to be seen by the reader. The fact that he is named ‘Angel’ bares significance as it’s shown that he will be portrayed as a man of good morals and heart and perhaps ‘saviour’ like. His surname also indicates this – ‘Clare’ is similar to the French ‘clair’ , meaning clarity or light. Hardy’s immediate, obvious manipulation of his name suggests that there may be more to his character than the reader’s first impressions, and this is maintained by Hardy’s development of him throughout the novel. When Angel is first presented in Chapter 2 in the May Dance, his importance is not made immediately clear. It is not until later on, when Tess begins her time at Talbothay’s Dairy in Phase the Third, fate ensures they meet again, and Angel is fully introduced. Hardy does not present Angel as a strong character here – he is depicted as somewhat ‘preoccupied, vague’. Even Tess regards him mainly as an
Michael Henchard possesses all the features of a tragic hero. Discuss.
“Michael Henchard possesses all the features of a tragic hero” With reference to appropriately selected parts of the novel, and relevant external and contextual information on the nature of the tragic hero, give your response to the above view. Aristotle’s poetics defined a tragic hero as “tragedy [that] depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods.” It starts with a person of noble, elevated status with many admirable qualities, but in spite of his qualities he possesses a flaw (hubris) and then does something that includes his flaw (hamactia) and the consequence of this act(s) lead to his downfall and/or demise (peripeteia). But during the persons downfall, they achieve insight/wisdom over the situation; an epiphany (anagnorisis). After this, the audience/reader who witnesses the spectacle experiences purgation in their emotions (catharsis). 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' presents Henchard as a typical tragic hero in that he rises, suffers and dies through his own character and a concentration of events. Michael Henchard contains admirable qualities and a status of nobility, as he is a working class skilled labourer who rises to eminent status in his rural town as the Mayor. Casterbridge is a town which is of meritocracy society; power can be entrusted in individuals according to merit.
Compare and contrast the ways in which Thomas Hardy presents Troys seduction of Bathsheba in Far From The Madding Crowd.
Compare and contrast the ways in which Thomas Hardy presents Troy’s seduction of Bathsheba in “Far From The Madding Crowd.” Hardy presents Troy’s seduction through his use of form, structure and language in order to present the bewitching nature of her courtship with Troy. I have taken a particular scene from the novel, in order to illustrate the point presented above. This scene takes place soon after Troy, a soldier, has met with Bathsheba Everdene, a stern young woman who has inherited her uncle’s farm, is to observe Troy’s sword practices. She is certain that she will not attend but not long before their meeting, Bathsheba relents and goes to see him. She is enthralled and frightened by his practises, as he comes very close to harming her with his sword. In the closing parts of the scene Troy kisses Bathsheba, and leaves her feeling quite ashamed. Hardy’s narration in this particular scene is very much focused on Bathsheba. The reader is only able to observe the movements of Troy and his speech. As a result, the reader is able to grasp Bathsheba’s enchantment whiles watching Troy. The sword practice does, in fact, enchant Bathsheba. She believes that the sword has “passed through her body,” by some sort of “magic.” She describes the swords gleaming reflection of sunlight, as if the sword itself is “greeting” her. She is enthralled by all the
Thomas Hardy's use of Imagery in Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Hardy uses imagery in Tess of D’Urbervilles for a number of things including; to foreshadow upcoming events, accentuate Tess’s purity, and to represent characters hidden personalities. It is to allow the reader to have a secondary understanding of the novel as it goes on. Hardy uses imagery to foreshadow upcoming events which in turn creates a sense of dramatic irony to add a sense of foreboding and ominousness. In phase I, during Princes death, Hardy uses violent, sexual imagery in the line “The pointed shaft of the cart had entered the breast of the unhappy Prince” which can be analysed to foreshadow Tess’s rape. This is due to what could be described as sexual language; “Pointed Shaft” and “breast” but also the choice of wording in “Unhappy Prince” is important because it is an odd choice as the horse is dying. This is just like Tess’ rape as she is unhappy but doesn’t necessarily try to stop it occurring. Hardy foreshadows Angel Clare abandoning Tess for the second time following the Pagan Dance; “He had not observed her, and with that in mind, he left the pasture”. The fact that Hardy tells the reader that Angel realises he had missed her, but still “he left the pasture” leaving her alone gazing after him. This is also similar to when he abandons her once she admits she is not ‘pure’ and he leaves. Hardy also subtly foreshadows
Practical Critical Essay on 'Jude' Part 6 Ch.2.
Practical Critical Essay on 'Jude' Part 6 Ch.2 16/01/04 p.336 "done because..." - p.337 "he had died" Little Father Time has just hanged himself and the other two children. Jude and Sue have just come across this scene of horror. Hardy cuts "upon the floor, on which was written, in the boy's hand, with the bit..." into short segments with commas giving the narration a breathless effect. It demonstrates Jude and Sue's feelings towards the scene they have just witnessed. These commas also fashion the sentence as if it were being spoken by a child. There is no complex diction in this passage so it reflects the innocence of the children involved, which is quite a contrast from the adult and gothic language such as "half paralyzed" and "grotesque and hideous horror" used in the last paragraph. There is a pattern that emerges so whenever the narrator describes the scene (usually the most horrific parts), he uses simple, unadorned, monosyllabic words, i.e. "the little bed", and - placing the negative first - "no children were there". However, when describing the parents' reaction, he uses more complicated and descriptive lexis. This gives rise to an unnerving, disturbing feeling for the reader. The note written to Jude and Sue by Little Father Time, "Done because we are too menny" explains clearly, why he had performed this task. This is a succinct, poignant note
Compare and contrast The Withered Arm and The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion
Compare and contrast "The Withered Arm" and "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion" Thomas Hardy, born in 1840, lived until 1928. During his lifetime he wrote many short stories and poems. Although his poems are little known, some of his other writings are landmarks in the history of literature. Many of the short stories and poems that he wrote were sold to newspapers and magazines when he needed money. Whilst reading two of these short stories I have noticed many similarities; the main theme to both stories being love. Both stories have many ironic coincidences, concluded by a dramatic denouement. Many of the main occurrences in the stories transpire because of folklore or local gossip, given that Hardy's stories are set in the fictional, rural county of Wessex. As in many rural areas much of the local news is spread by word of mouth and changed and twisted as it passes from person to person. In 'The Withered Arm' it is because of local gossip that Gertrude discovers that Rhoda is thought of locally as a witch and of Rhoda's former relationship with Farmer Lodge, now Gertrude's husband. Folklore in 'The Melancholy Hussar' allows Phyllis to hear of the rumour that her fiancé, Humphrey Gould has been untrue to her, because of her knowledge of this she continuous to rendezvous with Matthaus Tina, a young man she eventually falls in love with regardless of social
To what extent do you believe that there is a fateful inevitability to Henchard’s tragedy and to what extent is it Henchard’s temperament that causes his downfall? How does Hardy gain the reader’s sympathy towards Henchard?
Sarah Emily Titchmarsh "The Mayor of Casterbridge" Thomas Hardy "Character is fate," writes Hardy, yet Henchard believes that some power is "working against him" and is "bent on punishing him." To what extent do you believe that there is a fateful inevitability to Henchard's tragedy and to what extent is it Henchard's temperament that causes his downfall? How does Hardy gain the reader's sympathy towards Henchard? "The Mayor of Casterbridge," a novel set in the early 1800s tells the story of the rise and subsequent decline of Michael Henchard, a self made man. The novel is mostly set in Casterbridge a typical, busy, country, farming town. Fate plays a large part in "The Mayor of Casterbridge." For example the plot of the novel relies on a number of coincidences. Many of these are to do with timing. The key initial event in the novel is the arrival of Newson at the furmity tent as Henchard sells his wife. Farfrae "who might possibly have passed by without stopping" arrives in Casterbridge, just as Henchard is being criticised for the quality of his corn. Henchard brings his fate upon himself for after much persuasion he convinces Farfrae to stay and employs him (an ironic twist of fate as one day it will be Farfrae who employs Henchard.) Henchard covers for the magistrate on the day when the furmity woman is on trial. This event like so many others is a fateful
