In one horrific episode, the couple is denied housing when they show up with their children; a hyper-sensitive Father Time takes the hostility to heart with tragic consequences. He has too many scruples for his own good and is his own worst enemy. Jude clearly values education and the high calling of the church. Circumstances such as the snobbery of the university elite also pose huge roadblocks to his quest for betterment.
Poor Jude! There is nothing more deterrent than being humiliated for taking a step forward. Shallow and unprincipled characters like Arabella who are unscrupulous in furthering their own agenda end up getting what they want and having their own way. In contrast, characters with integrity like Jude get short-changed. Similarly, unconventional characters like Sue who value independence suffer because society is not ready for them.
Religion too is cast in an extremely poor light with guilt gnawing at the conscience, bringing destruction. The loss of her children precipitated a reinstatement of her marriage and conjugal rights to a man she loathes as penance for longing after a man she loves. It is grotesquely unfair. How could you, Mr.
The tragedy that unfolds in this story feels overblown and melodramatic. Hardy criticizes the Church whose religious conventions constrict rather than liberate the human soul. Likewise, he criticizes the institution of marriage. In other words, the characters aren't the point themselves so much as they're used to MAKE a point.
Hardy wrote a strong prose that was itself a pleasure. I had the privilege of reading it with a group of extremely well-read and erudite Goodreads members and learned so much from our group discussion. View all 39 comments. Aug 28, Dave Schaafsma rated it really liked it Shelves: fictionth-century. Each of them feature strong, independent and passionate women who are flawed, but are seriously interesting in their challenging of Victorian mores.
Jude Fawley is a working-class young man, a stonemason, who dreams of becoming a scholar, is largely self-taught, and is denied admission to a school very similar to Oxford Hardy was himself rejected by Oxford. They do live together for a time and have children together, but society condemns them, and Sue in particular, once the free, rebellious spirit, turns conservative and religious and actually, dutifully goes back to her unlovable husband like Sue, Hardy's first wife went from being free-spirited to becoming obsessively religious as she got older.
Both Sue and Jude are complex characters. When I first knew you I merely wanted you to love me. I did not exactly flirt with you, but that inborn craving which undermines some women's morals almost more than unbridled passion--the craving to attract and captivate, regardless of the injury it may do to the man--was in me; and when I found I had caught you, I was frightened. And then I couldn't bear to let you go--possibly to Arabella again--and so I got to love you, Jude.
But you see, however fondly it ended, it began in the selfish and cruel wish to make your heart ache for me without letting mine ache for you. And so how does it all work out? Well, let me say, amidst lots of lively social commentary and debate, you will read about murder, miscarriage, suicide, despair: Misery. I needed something happier to read, probably, with the dark days of winter settling in, so I take a star off what is probably a five-star book.
Misery, yes, but within a sadly beautiful indictment of Victorian morality that crushes individual joy and happiness. Hardy is worth reading, for sure. View all 5 comments. This was the second time that I read this novel, and this time around it impressed me a great deal more.
The first time I was certainly devastated by the story, and the story remains devastating, but this time I read it for the superb writing and what a rewarding exercise this was.
Jude sets out with such lofty ideals, but he makes bad decisions and is ultimately his own worst enemy. The result is that he never achieves what he wants, but is always on the outside looking in.
One mistake in parti This was the second time that I read this novel, and this time around it impressed me a great deal more. One mistake in particular spirals into a lifetime of misery and tragedy. This novel is as bleak as it gets and there is no silver lining to be seen. Although his novel writing was at its peak it was the last novel that Hardy wrote; the novel was so badly received that he devoted the rest of his writing career to poetry.
It is very well written, but Victorians might have felt uncomfortable reading about the burning of religious writings, men and women cohabitating without being married, bigamy, adultery, separation and divorce, suicide, a woman with a greater intellect than her husband Hardy tackles the institutions of religion and marriage, criticising religion and essentially asking whether an unhappy couple should remain married, or indeed whether a couple could live together decently without marriage.
Nope, the Victorians didn't like that at all! Mar 05, Erin rated it really liked it Recommended to Erin by: Jenn. Shelves: books , classics. He began to see that the town was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. These struggling men and women before him were the reality of Christminister, though they knew little about Christ or Minister.
That was one of the humours of things. The floating population of students and teachers, who did know both in a way,were not Christminister in a local sense at all. The above quote really reminds me of my university town for my B. Ed program. T He began to see that the town was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. The population was quiet in summer, but managed to triple in the fall.
But I digress A number of years ago, I was sitting on a train discussing books with a fellow English teacher. I told her that I recently had "discovered" Thomas Hardy and was left emotionally drained by Tess of the D'Ubervilles. She then asked me "Have you read Hardy's "Jude the Obscure? She smiled and told me not to forget about it. However,"Jude" remained in my TBR pile crying out to be read.
I just wasn't listening. Boy, am I glad that I did! Jude Fawley, an orphan, raised by his elderly aunt is growing up in a small English village.
His life at first glance,appears to be nothing special nor any different than any other young boy. However, when our story opens the village schoolmaster, Richard Philliston who I kept calling Philistine is packing up to move to the larger centre of Christminister.
No one is more devastated than young Jude, who has come to appreciate the pleasure of books. Jude dreams of one day also being able to make his way to this place of higher learning and applies the remainder of his youthful pursuits to reading Greek, Latin, and other classical texts.
Jude, we also see is no stranger to hard work and applies himself to an apprenticeship. Things seem to be be leading Jude to make his dreams come true. Except that Jude meets Arabella Donn. A young woman who sees the innocent Jude as a potential husband. Hardy presents Arabella as an opportunistic and cunning woman who takes advantage of the good natured Jude, who does fall head over heels with youthful affection.
In fact, it's Arabella's female friends that guide Arabella in how to ensnare Jude into matrimony. Just like all the soap opera characters, Arabella announces that she's pregnant and Jude does the noble thing and marries her. It is not too long after that Arabella reveals her fib and the young couple almost appears to drown in their misery.
Married life seems to plod along and both wonder what's to become of it. Until Arabella leaves Jude behind and emigrates to Australia. Keep in mind they're still married. Oh, and we will meet up with Arabella again! Jude, not wanting to stay in a town that knows his story sets out for Christminister. Before his departure his aunt cautions Jude to not contact his cousin, Sue, who lives in that city. It is revealed that there is a history between the two families and that no good would ever come of the two young people being friends or more.
Of course, Jude and Sue do meet and discover a mutual attraction to one another. Over a matter of years, their relationship will evolve from friend to lovers. Both the characters and readers will be sent on a very emotional roller coaster taking place over a number of years. I won't say anything more regarding all the details. But like its predecessor, "Tess", this book isn't going to have a Walt Disney ending. So why read it? First, it's the last book Hardy ever wrote and coupled with Tess, the most controversial books that he wrote.
Who doesn't like a little controversy? The 19th century was pretty shaken up by Hardy's flexible manner on marriage, religious beliefs, sexuality, class division, access to education, etc. Although we like to consider ourselves further evolved than the Victorians, there is plenty of what Hardy discusses then that is incredibly relevant today. Second, Hardy's characterization of men and women is multi-faceted. Hardy doesn't expect us to like his characters in everything they do. Hardy just allows them to be who they are.
I knew from the moment that Jude was warned about Sue, I was going to be sitting up and paying attention to every detail. I grew fearful and irritated,but not always at the same time. Is it wrong,Jude, for a husband or wife to tell a third person that they are unhappy in their marriage? If a marriage is a religious thing,it is possibly wrong; but if it is only a sordid contract, based on material convenience to householding, rating, and taxing, and the inheritance of land and money by children, making it necessary that the male parent should be known- which it seems to be - why surely a person may say, even proclaim upon the housetops, that it hurts and grieves him or her?
View all 7 comments. Jun 12, P. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? For now should I have lain still and been quiet.
I should have slept: then had I been at rest! The small and the great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul?
Thomas Hardy is certainly articulate with this. Their relationship is a manipulative relationship on spiritual grounds. Until she says by a look "Come on", he is always afraid to, and if you never say it, or look it, he never comes. Also, Sue takes entire responsability for a former admirer Was it that they were, instead of more sensitive, as reputed, more callous, and less romantic; or they were more heroic?
Or was Sue simply so perverse that she wilfully gave herself and him pain for the odd and mournful luxury of practising long-suffering in her own person, and of being touched with tender pity for him at having made him practise it?
His supper still remained spread; and going to the front door, and softly setting it open, he returned to the room and sat as the watchers sit on Old Midsummer eves, expecting the phantom of the Beloved.
Jude making terms, excellent elucidation of the process in forlorn lovers. All above accounting for Hardy's tourmented view on women at best. Sue observes artful silences on her motives She seems stangely contrived and dubious with duplicity, or is it duality? A study in progress on the wrongness of always being the Rightful One. How Jude broods and bear obvious grudges to Sue. Self-imposing, agravating, judgemental, devious and mean.
OK, I revise my opinion : Suzanne does seem torn apart by inner conflict between her legal bond and her involvement with Jude. Sue undertook responsability for an admirer We learn about this past relationship with a former enamoured friend driven to suicide But I haven't the courage of my views, as I said before.
I didn't marry him alotogether because of the scandal. But sometimes a woman's love of being loved gets the better of her conscience, and though she is agonised at the thought of treating a man cruelly, she encourages him to love her while she doesn't love him at all.
Then, when she sees him suffering, her remorse sets in, and she does what she can to repair the wrong' p. I did not exactly flirt with you, but that inborn craving which undermines some women's morals almost more than unbridled passion - the craving to attract and captivate, regardless of the injury it may do to the man - was in me; and when I found I had caught you, I was frightened.
And then - I don't know how it was - I coulndn't bear to let you go - possibly to Arabella again - and so I got to love you, Jude. There would be a much likelier chance of his doing if he were told not to love. I tried to do the latter, and I failed. But I don't admit that my failure proved my view to be a wrong one, or that my success would have made it a right one; though that's how we appraise such attempts nowadays - I mean, not by their essential soundness, but by their accidental outcomes.
If I had ended by becoming like one of these gentlemen in red and black that we saw dropping in here by now, everybody would have said : 'See how wise that young man was, to follow the bent of his nature!
The melancholy when Sue and Jude reenact the mariage between Sue and Phillotson Jude's and Sue's second marriages with their betrothed. Also, it is curious how the world hardly moves around Sue and Jude : Vilbert the quack doctor, Mrs Edlin the widow friend of Mrs Fawley still alive and kicking at the end of the day.
See the exquisite pain in Jude raving mad at suffering : "I don't care which! Say cherry brandy. Sue has served me badly, very badly. I didn't expect it of Sue! I stuck to her, and she ought to have stuck to me. I'd have sold my soul for her sake, but she wouldn't risk hers a jot for me. To save her own soul she lets mine go damn!
But it isn't her fault, poor little girl - I am sure it isn't! Honestly, I can't make these two extremes meet in so short a span with no intermission whatsoever. Not only. At any rate, Sue is not meek and subdued. Raskolnikov and Jude are both dashing, something of a self-taught man dissatisfied with their status, audacious, both acquainted at some point with alcohol.
Both harvest deeply ingrained contradictions. And both contemplate an idea impossible to fulfill. Sep 08, Apatt rated it it was amazing Shelves: classics , fave-classics. This is especially true for a Thomas Hardy protagonist. Certainly Jude Fawley did let a certain lady under his skin and proceeds to make things much worse spoiler?
Read Far From the Madding Crowd instead, that is a comparatively positive book not dominated by tragedy. The opening chapter of the book depicts a poor little orphan boy bidding farewell to his favorite schoolteacher who is moving to another town nearby. In most novels you would expect this to be the beginning of a rags-to-riches story, but with Hardy you can reasonably expect rags-to-even-more-rags sorry about the hyphens, they seem to be required for some reason.
Jude is a very appealing protagonist, a poor stonemason who wants to advance himself above his given social situation through obtaining higher education. Unfortunately, he is "knocked about from pillar to post" by the social mores of the time no opening in academia for poor plebeian types , and he also stacks the odds higher against himself by getting involved with unsuitable women who completely derail his life plan. When she departs for greener pastures Jude attempts to get back on track is foiled by his own lust for his cousin Sue Bridehead.
Both Jude and Sue are very likable, complex and sympathetic characters but you must try very hard not to like them because their situation goes from bad to worst, and even make a pit stop at horrifying. I feel I ought to put in a "but" at this point but I can't think of any reservation to follow it with. If you are up for a heartfelt critique of societal norms through a tragic love story that makes you reflect on the unfairness of life or if you are a goth then this book is definitely for you.
Audiobook credit : I listened to the free Librivox audiobook version , beautifully and passionately read by "Tadhg". Thank you! Whovian Corner Hi Cecily! Mar 19, Alok Mishra rated it it was amazing. I will certainly call it Hardy's Masterpiece as he designed it in a way that it posed a serious challenge to the society at that time.
Later, though, denied the due for his artistic intelligence, the author had to shun the writing many believe so. Jude, whatever be said by whoever, is a character who is sincere and honest and brave enough to accept what is thrown at him as a challenge, could not defeat the society and today, we have overcome that. When Shakespeare said that love knows no bound I will certainly call it Hardy's Masterpiece as he designed it in a way that it posed a serious challenge to the society at that time.
When Shakespeare said that love knows no bound and east can overturn itself into the direction where Juliet be, why deny Jude his Sue! I loved reading this novel and I liked the idea of getting out of the Hardian shelf and writing something unHardy.
Nov 14, Jessica rated it liked it Recommends it for: YOU, if you've finished all the chicken soup for the soul books already. Recommended to Jessica by: the guy at the crisis hotline. Shelves: kind-of-depressing. If I remember correctly, this book is a real laff riot, with a touchingly sweet and uplifting message.
I think I read somewhere that Hardy was feted in the streets of his hometown Christminster and given the Feelgood Author of Award for this baby, and rightly so!
What a heartwarming gift for someone who's feeling down, such as a student who's just lost his financial aid, or someone you know who's trying to make an unconventional relationship work despite social strictures.
Okay, full disclo If I remember correctly, this book is a real laff riot, with a touchingly sweet and uplifting message. Okay, full disclosure, I read Jude the Obscure in college and honestly remember little about this book, except for the warm fuzzy sensation I got when I finished it: a wonderful, comforting feeling that wrapped all around me, like the soft yellow blanket my grandma knitted for me when I was a baby.
A special, safe feeling like I knew no matter what happened in anyone's life, things would eventually work themselves out just fine. And isn't that truly why we read literature? For such comfort and solace in an uncertain world? If you love stories of working-class heroes and close loving families fighting hard in the face of adversity to triumph in the end over all obstacles, this book is for you.
Have fun! View all 42 comments. Instead, the tragic events happen as a matter of course. There was a feeling of predestination in the prose, from the very beginning of the story. All of the characters in this novel can be exasperating, and it is interesting to compare them and think about who is most to blame.
But if you go deeper, you find a multitude of themes within these pages. The active theme is about the risk of allowing dreams to die. This is the story of two dreamers with lofty, unconventional ideas.
Jude believes he can be a self-taught scholar, and make his way from poverty to study in the hallowed halls of his beloved Christminster. Sue dreams of living the fulfillment of her ancient, possibly pagan beliefs, which she favors to those that are predominate in her own time.
Jude works terribly hard as a boy, all on his own, to make himself into his dream. While fulfilling his job driving a cart, he teaches himself Greek and Latin by strapping a classic text to the cart and holding open a dictionary in his lap, working it all out as he drove.
What can go wrong for someone with such a desire to learn? Alas, the tragedy comes when he allows life to steer him off course, and is intimidated into giving up his goals. Sue is confusing, because she is a free-thinking woman at a time when she was not allowed to be, which creates all kinds of conflict—within and around her. Both Jude and Sue suffer great tragedy, because they cannot bear the repercussions of their ideals.
We still see sensitive, idealistic people suffering the wrath of the mainstream. Some strong characters break through anyway, but how many of the sensitive ones would you find littered by the side of that road who have given up, or worse? Edith Wharton. Mary Barton. Elizabeth Gaskell. Nicholas Nickleby. Felix Holt, the Radical. The Female Quixote. Charlotte Lennox. Frances Burney. Sense and Sensibility. David Copperfield.
Martin Chuzzlewit. The Rainbow. Two on a Tower. A Room with a View. Of Human Bondage. Somerset Maugham. The Heart of the Matter. Graham Greene. The Wings of the Dove. Mansfield Park. Vanity Fair. William Makepeace Thackeray. Tales From Shakespeare. Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb. Cyrano de Bergerac. Edmond Rostand.
Praise "The greatest tragic writer among English novelists. Many of the changes to a much-edited text were dictated by concerns about public taste, for instance Jude originally Jack and Sue Bridehead never become lovers, and Arabella Donn does not seduce Jude. This version continued the bowdlerising of all references to sex and religion begun at the serial stage.
This first edition would eventually become replaced in by the third, and now definitive, version of the novel, published by his principal publisher, Macmillan. That was not the end of the matter. Hardy continued to tinker with the text for the rest of his life.
There's a copy in the Dorset County museum which contains many of Hardy's second and third thoughts about the edition. Plainly the furore aroused by first publication, in which the bishop of Wakefield was said to have burned his copy of the book, affected him deeply.
Hardy exposed his deepest feelings in this bleak, angry novel and, stung by the hostile response, he never wrote another Robert McCrum introduces the series. Thomas Hardy in Jude the Obscure was his last novel.
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