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by Thomas Hardy
To continue our readings of Thomas Hardy's novels, my mother read Hardy's final novel. The preface of this book says that Hardy became so irritated with those pesky critics explaining what he meant by this and that, and what he was trying to prove that he decided to put an end to his writing career. What a shame!
However, I do see how this novel was deemed so controversial, even more so than Tess. The couple just live together while having children without ever being married. This is common nowadays, but was absolutely unheard of during the Victorian period. And the two lovers have already been married and divorced legally, but are they divorced in the sight of God? Especially since there were children produced from this illicit union. But unfortunately, superstitions and social pressures cannot be overcome, and the woman returns unhappily to her first, childless marriage. Now, I don't want to do what Hardy stopped writing for, but I cannot help from commenting on this obvious paradox. How could anyone justify abandoning their partner whom they had children with, to return to a loveless marriage? Would God require any of his beloved children to live in a loveless marriage, just because of a foolish mistake made in their youth? And is Hardy persuading the reader that social customs associated with marriage and divorce are in desperate need of reform.
This novel was as as good as Tess, but it was all part of the experience. I noticed Hardy used a great deal of the same vocabulary words he used in his previous novel. My mother and I kept making crazy predictions like Sue being a lesbian, but nothing prepared us for the shocking twist that came. Very strange book!
©N. Kent Last Updated: February 5, 2008 mail Nicole Kent
