Thomas Hardy Essay

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Thomas Hardy Essay

English novelist, short story writer and poet Thomas Hardy was born in   in Dorchester, England. His short stories included The Withered Arm and Tony Kytes, The Arch Deceiver. When Hardy is writing short stories, the technique he uses is called Suspense. Suspense is the tension of the story which is the interest about the outcome of certain actions often used in short stories, it creates a dramatic impact and a mood of tension encouraging the reader to engage with the text. Hardy has also deliberately used frequent omissions and the alternate use of long and short sentences to create drama and the effect of leaving the reader guessing.

In his short story called The Withered Arm, Hardy creates the theme of suspense throughout the portrayal of one main character named Rhoda Brooks. He describes Rhoda as being lonely and apart from the others, as ‘a thin and fading woman’. This creates immediate atmosphere of suspense making the reader draw into empathisement with her.

It appears that Farmer Lodge and Rhoda have had a past relationship previously and resulting from the affair, the farmer had fathered Rhoda’s son. This becomes part of the first impressions we receive from Rhoda.

In the story, Rhoda sends her son to spy on Farmer Lodge’s new bride named Gertrude which leads us to conclude that there is bitterness and resentment in Rhoda. Hardy also deliberately withholds information from the reader of Rhoda’s son such as his name and introduction which creates suspense throughout his behaviour whilst he is spying on Gertrude.

Another impression of Rhoda which Hardy describes is the image of the cottage that reflects her physically. “It was built of mud-walls, the surface of which had been washed by many rains into channels and depressions that left none of the original flat face visible; while here and there in the thatch above a rafter showed like a bone protruding through the skin.” The phrase ‘bone protruding’ reflects Rhoda wealth stating she is poor and a thin and fading woman adding a very vivid image creating suspense. Gertrude creates further suspense in the story when mentioned in connection with Rhoda. The image of Gertrude represents innocence and she seems to have luminosity, “A lady complete.” as readers, we feel empathy for her. When Rhoda and Gertrude do finally meet, it is interesting how Rhoda immediately likes Gertrude and feels guilt for her previous bitterness. Hardy may have been keeping us in a guessing game to increase the tension of the story.

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Gertrude’s introduction also creates suspense as she is described from a complimentary way such as “A lady complete.” She is suggested as a classy and wealthy lady. Rhoda’s son also describes her positively, “Her hair is lightish, and her face as comely as a live doll’s.” He mentions how Gertrude is pleasing to look at.

Hardy uses this certain type of language to make readers feel sympathetic towards Gertrude as he portrays her as an innocent and harmless lady who is despised by Rhoda Brooks when Gertrude has not done anything to deliberately harm her. We are informed ...

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