Powys's novel is set in the same Dorsetshire landscape Hardy wrote about, and is similar too in its immersion in the rhythms of rural life and the natural world.
Born in Dorset, Thomas Hardy wrote about his native region all his life, calling it "Wessex" in his novels. Hardy was apprenticed to an architect at 15, but began to write novels in his spare time when he was in his 20s. His first novel was rejected by George Meredith, a reader for the publisher he sent it to, but he was considered promising, and Meredith encouraged him to try again. Hardy, who had also been writing poetry, gave it up temporarily for fiction, and his first novel was published th more...
Born in Dorset, Thomas Hardy wrote about his native region all his life, calling it "Wessex" in his novels. Hardy was apprenticed to an architect at 15, but began to write novels in his spare time when he was in his 20s. His first novel was rejected by George Meredith, a reader for the publisher he sent it to, but he was considered promising, and Meredith encouraged him to try again. Hardy, who had also been writing poetry, gave it up temporarily for fiction, and his first novel was published three years later. He abandoned architecture for the life of a writer, producing a series of masterpieces that ended with "Jude the Obscure" in 1896. That novel's frankness and unsparing bleakness met with such a hostile reception that Hardy returned to writing poetry, which he continued to produce until the end of his life. His novels are strongly determinist, demonstrating the ways in which the forces of nature shape human existence: People are at the mercy of their passions; fate and chance rule their lives, and the only heroic path is endurance. His poetry contains similar themes, and all of his work is permeated with a melancholy that often turns to tragedy.less...
I found Jude the Obscure to be surprisingly moving, which many of you may find peculiar due to its pessimistic view on marriage, religion, education, children, life really. But the truth is: Hardy told the truth; and many of us, especially our Victorian ancestors, wish to avoid acknowledging it at all costs- even to go as far as lying to oneself.
I found the novel to be similar to Voltaire's Candid or the Book of Job insofar as the protagonist's existence is simply plagued, and Hardy does a meticulous (if I may say: timeless) job of portraying the doubt, the loathing, the reproach, and the questioning that this type of existence ought to borne. Religion is shown to be completely irrational, paradoxical, and down right harmful, paying much homage to Marx's quote that "religion is the opiate of the masses"; university education is depicted as an education saved only for the rich and powerful rather than for the intellectually gifted though poor and unknown, and most prominent of all is Hardy's defacement of traditional marriage and family life. Hardy was for natural marriage of two individuals without the "legal contract" of the government or the "santification" by religion. He shows the horror of the traditional religious marriage: what constraints in puts upon ones own will power and desires, the false sentimentality, the hidden sadness and loss of volition, and all of this because one is terrified of sin and its promised aftermath.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about engagement in the near future (or, remember to read this book before getting any matrimonial ideas). Especially through the musings of Mr. Phillotson, you will be forced to consider the impact of, the rationality of, the projected future of, and most importantly the story behind what you are about to commit to. Do not get lost thinking this book to be a typical boring Victorian novel: for Jude the Obscure will question one main thing that each and every one of us thinks about: marriage. And why do I find this book to be moving in light of its pessimism? Hardy was courageous enough to challenge the masses' irrational and customary views on religion, education, and marriage and speak the "hushed" truth about these topics; the truth that most of the Victorian masses knew all along though were utterly terrified to ever admit it or state publicly. And that, to me, is moving.
Sad thing is, much of the "Victorian Values" regarding marriage especially are alive and thriving today; and more and more couples enter into a legal and "sancified" bond and never truly question, transcendentally, why this is.
I think this page has been develped by iRead guys themselves. What is surprising is that they couldnt find any photo of Thomas Hardy to put on. Plz do so, asap.
If you dont know the importance of a photo for a profile on a site like this, you should read Steven D.Levitt's Freakonomics
:-0
I found Jude the Obscure to be surprisingly moving, which many of you may find peculiar due to its pessimistic view on marriage, religion, education, children, life really. But the truth is: Hardy told the truth; and many of us, especially our Victorian ancestors, wish to avoid acknowledging it at all costs- even to go as far as lying to oneself.
I found the novel to be similar to Voltaire's Candid or the Book of Job insofar as the protagonist's existence is simply plagued, and Hardy does a meticulous (if I may say: timeless) job of portraying the doubt, the loathing, the reproach, and the questioning that this type of existence ought to borne. Religion is shown to be completely irrational, paradoxical, and down right harmful, paying much homage to Marx's quote that "religion is the opiate of the masses"; university education is depicted as an education saved only for the rich and powerful rather than for the intellectually gifted though poor and unknown, and most prominent of all is Hardy's defacement of traditional marriage and family life. Hardy was for natural marriage of two individuals without the "legal contract" of the government or the "santification" by religion. He shows the horror of the traditional religious marriage: what constraints in puts upon ones own will power and desires, the false sentimentality, the hidden sadness and loss of volition, and all of this because one is terrified of sin and its promised aftermath.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about engagement in the near future (or, remember to read this book before getting any matrimonial ideas). Especially through the musings of Mr. Phillotson, you will be forced to consider the impact of, the rationality of, the projected future of, and most importantly the story behind what you are about to commit to. Do not get lost thinking this book to be a typical boring Victorian novel: for Jude the Obscure will question one main thing that each and every one of us thinks about: marriage. And why do I find this book to be moving in light of its pessimism? Hardy was courageous enough to challenge the masses' irrational and customary views on religion, education, and marriage and speak the "hushed" truth about these topics; the truth that most of the Victorian masses knew all along though were utterly terrified to ever admit it or state publicly. And that, to me, is moving.
Sad thing is, much of the "Victorian Values" regarding marriage especially are alive and thriving today; and more and more couples enter into a legal and "sancified" bond and never truly question, transcendentally, why this is.
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