My first Thomas Hardy novel; I expect to read more.This was his final novel; some speculate he was discouraged by adverse reaction to it, though I don't find that terribly plausible (unburdened by any knowledge on this topic, however).
The book appears on "best novel" lists; it also appears on "most depressing novel" lists - both rankings make sense.
It made me rather unhappy quite regularly, yet tugged me along. I'd recommend it, although initially I felt otherwise. The characters are interesting, complicated - no one-dimensional villains.
Themes: difficulty of lower classes to access higher education; class distinctions; difficulties with the institution of marriage as then in force; the Church; smothering effect of these. In 1895 - controversial. But very thoughtful and sympathetic; perhaps even "ethical," I'd say. Modern, but not modern (1895, after all).
Sue Bridehead - clear-thinking, delightful heroine, but fragile, and endures too much.
Jude Fawley - always working uphill. Working class with dreams of academia (or clergy); makes a living, such as it was, by working as a stonemason. From childhood, loves the town of Christminster as a place of dreams or opportunities.
Jude's schoolmaster for a brief period in early childhood - Philottson - moves to Christminster at beginning of the novel - later re-enters the story - also shows quite a bit of capacity for independent thinking but is duly punished.
Arabella - a survivor!
Father Time - one of the grimmest characters I've ever encountered.
No comments:
Post a Comment