Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
Born in Dorset, England.
Attended school from age 8 to age
16 and is then apprenticed to a Dorchester architect, John Hicks.
Hardy is one of the most famous
and important Victorian novelists and an important Modernist poet--his
work bridges two centuries and two distinct genres (fiction and poetry).
Important novels include Far
from the Madding Crowd (1874) Mayor of Casterbridge (1886),
Tess of the d'Ubervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895).
His work is controversial for his
treatment of male and female relationships and also because of the way
he represents class tensions in Victorian England. Jude was the
last novel he wrote--perhaps because it was so heavily censored. In fact,
the novel in serial form did not have all the text that you are reading
in the Norton edition.
Discuss the representation of
Victorian culture and values--how these become upset or challenged:
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Arabella wants to be taken care of
and does not appreciate Jude's aspirations for higher learning.
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Desire for learning is criticized--stay
in your place
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Men should be active and manly; there
is no room for sensitivity or compassion.
-
Cruel logic in the world--What was
good for God's birds was bad for God's gardener.
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Economic considerations take priority
over social considerations/humanity
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Class system--Drusilla Fawley more
of the middle class--Farmer Troutham takes his frustration out on Jude
that the Fawley's are a higher class.
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Propriety says that Arabella will not
slaughter the pig--this is Challow's job.
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Victorian culture pretends to value
purity, but then Arabella and her friends conspire to deceive Jude--premarital
sex.
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Women should drink tea, arrive at a
reasonable hour.
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Women should have a chaperone.
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Daughters are liabilities until married
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Importance of honor and purity