Jude the Obscure

Number 4 or 5 on my list of Hardy novels, which means it is excellent but not outstanding. It's odd that one can remain so emotionally detached from the characters, but yet still enjoy the book so much. With all Hardy's work its as if the reader is apart from the action and very truly involved with the characters to the point that they feel for them. If anything like what happens to Hardy...more

Number 4 or 5 on my list of Hardy novels, which means it is excellent but not outstanding. It's odd that one can remain so emotionally detached from the characters, but yet still enjoy the book so much. With all Hardy's work its as if the reader is apart from the action and very truly involved with the characters to the point that they feel for them. If anything like what happens to Hardy characters happened to characters in Where a Red Fern Grows, Harry Potter, or most other modern fiction one would certainly not be so unaffected.   hide

This has to be one of the most tragic stories ever- the poor little babies...

classic misery

A fascinating study of romantic relationships and personality, wrapped up in a thick layer of selfishness, evil, and slavish devotion to social conventions. Well developed main characters, depressing story.

A very tragic tale of Jude whos schoolmaster leaves the area for Christminster, where Jude aspires to go to be with him. He marries Arabella, a barmaid, who gets in the way of his dream. He divorces her when she leaves for Australia, not knowing that she was pregnant with his son, whom they call Father Time. Jude then falls in love with Sue Bridehead, who marries the schoolmaster though she...more

A very tragic tale of Jude whos schoolmaster leaves the area for Christminster, where Jude aspires to go to be with him. He marries Arabella, a barmaid, who gets in the way of his dream. He divorces her when she leaves for Australia, not knowing that she was pregnant with his son, whom they call Father Time. Jude then falls in love with Sue Bridehead, who marries the schoolmaster though she doesn't love him. She leaves him for Jude, but although Jude and Sue never get married, they have 2 kids and take care of Father Time. FT kills the 2 young ones and himself when he learns that Sue will have another baby soon. The baby also dies during childbirth, and Sue soon after leaves Jude to go back to her "true husband." She remarries him, and Jude remarries Arabella, though none of them are happy except Phillotson, the schoolmaster. Jude dies of poor health.   hide

This book made me certain that art serves a function in society, which is to broaden the constrictive boundaries of social control over an individual's life, or at least to help keep society elastic. What I mean is that if a novel challenges conventions and expresses with poetry the pitfalls of hardened, normative behavior, then it also helps to change the ideology of society at large (at...more

This book made me certain that art serves a function in society, which is to broaden the constrictive boundaries of social control over an individual's life, or at least to help keep society elastic. What I mean is that if a novel challenges conventions and expresses with poetry the pitfalls of hardened, normative behavior, then it also helps to change the ideology of society at large (at least planting a seed of ambiguity as to how a person should or shouldn't live their life.) The goal is to eventually change the behavior of society and I think this starts with the heart of the individual - this is what art can do. What a tragic tale about the real life emotional consequences of trying to live a life that is outside the accepted parameters of "proper" social etiquette.   hide

This book presents life at face value. It's intentionally rapid paced as we follow the many dilemmas which Jude Fawley faces. As the book progresses, there's an obvious shift in tone as the main character and protagonist (if he can be truly called that as there is no opposite) of the story matures emotionally and psychiologically. It's not meant to be your average happy-go-lucky tale. Instead,...more

This book presents life at face value. It's intentionally rapid paced as we follow the many dilemmas which Jude Fawley faces. As the book progresses, there's an obvious shift in tone as the main character and protagonist (if he can be truly called that as there is no opposite) of the story matures emotionally and psychiologically. It's not meant to be your average happy-go-lucky tale. Instead, Hardy presents the failing of a young man, time and time again, mixed with the uplifting tales of gaiety at intervals. The only reason that I gave it a four star because I couldn't bear the ending. It reminded me of The Count of Monte Cristo in some ways, almost as the doppleganger. Ultimately, my greatest love of the book is how it questions the ideals of morality and religion.   hide

This book is fantastically depressing. So many horrible things happen to Jude in his attempts to pursue an education but he never gives up. The two main women in the book are both very frustrating characters. They both represent characteristics that I despise in women. First is Arabella who uses her feminine whiles to manipulate men and get what she wants when she doesn't care about the man...more

This book is fantastically depressing. So many horrible things happen to Jude in his attempts to pursue an education but he never gives up. The two main women in the book are both very frustrating characters. They both represent characteristics that I despise in women. First is Arabella who uses her feminine whiles to manipulate men and get what she wants when she doesn't care about the man at all. Then there's Sue who can never make a decision and then when she does she changes her mind about seven times and then beats herself up and punishes herself for making the decision. But even though it's depressing it's a really good read. And an easy read too. I really liked this book although it was terribly depressing at parts and thoroughly frustrating at others. The female characters are the main source of frustration because one is conniving and backhanded and the other is so indecisive and proud you can't help but want to smack them sometime. But overall I really did enjoy the book.   hide

Probably his saddest novel, certainly his gloomiest. Jude is not the most appealing of characters, but Hardy makes you feel his ambition, his suffering, his tragedy. This book always sticks in my head, an example of how callous social structures can be, and how Hardy's humanity shows this.