Teresa
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy explores the themes of marriage, religion, woman in society, fate, as well as critics society in the form of classism and social standards.
The story of a man who wants to better himself, but never stood a chance. Poverty, classism, and bad relationships, as well as decisions keep Jude from claiming what he wants, an education and a better life. One bad decision after another lead to bad endings.
Jude, as a young boy, is not wanted by those who raise him. They look down on him and never give him a chance. He aspires to attend college in Christminster, Jude’s holy land, but is blocked by his poverty and the classism of the society. Jude studies by himself while working, but it is not structured so his education lags.
Jude was never really taught the intricacies of society since no one took responsibility for him. This leads him into trouble. He is taken advantage of by several members of the community. He enters into a contrived and unhappy marriage. He is soon abandoned by his wife and falls for his cousin. He enters into a relationship with her. His cousin wants the image of marriage, but not the official marriage itself, scorning societies emphasis on marriage. Both women tempt and derail him from his life goal. One by sexual infatuation the other by disregarding societal norms.
The book critiques marriage, asking why one marries. Is it for love, society, or survival? The book also touches on social critic in the extreme rigidity of Victorian morality and societal judgment. Class and economic disparity is touched on in Jude not being able to attend school due to his poverty and thus the higher class who do look down on him. Religion is brought up, the flashy and new is considered better than the old and “rotten”. It is also seen by the change in views of Jude and his cousin. When they first meet, Jude is religiously inclined. His cousin is not. However, the hardships they endure cause their views to switch. Jude becomes anti-religious. His cousin becomes religious. One runs from, the other runs to. Both as a punishment for themselves for the circumstances they encouraged in themselves.
This is not a happy book with a good ending. No character is truly happy. They simply live their lives and do “that which was right in [their] own eyes”. Unfortunately, this leads to several unhappy and tragic endings.
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy explores the themes of marriage, religion, woman in society, fate, as well as critics society in the form of classism and social standards.
The story of a man who wants to better himself, but never stood a chance. Poverty, classism, and bad relationships, as well as decisions keep Jude from claiming what he wants, an education and a better life. One bad decision after another lead to bad endings.
Jude, as a young boy, is not wanted by those who raise him. They look down on him and never give him a chance. He aspires to attend college in Christminster, Jude’s holy land, but is blocked by his poverty and the classism of the society. Jude studies by himself while working, but it is not structured so his education lags.
Jude was never really taught the intricacies of society since no one took responsibility for him. This leads him into trouble. He is taken advantage of by several members of the community. He enters into a contrived and unhappy marriage. He is soon abandoned by his wife and falls for his cousin. He enters into a relationship with her. His cousin wants the image of marriage, but not the official marriage itself, scorning societies emphasis on marriage. Both women tempt and derail him from his life goal. One by sexual infatuation the other by disregarding societal norms.
The book critiques marriage, asking why one marries. Is it for love, society, or survival? The book also touches on social critic in the extreme rigidity of Victorian morality and societal judgment. Class and economic disparity is touched on in Jude not being able to attend school due to his poverty and thus the higher class who do look down on him. Religion is brought up, the flashy and new is considered better than the old and “rotten”. It is also seen by the change in views of Jude and his cousin. When they first meet, Jude is religiously inclined. His cousin is not. However, the hardships they endure cause their views to switch. Jude becomes anti-religious. His cousin becomes religious. One runs from, the other runs to. Both as a punishment for themselves for the circumstances they encouraged in themselves.
This is not a happy book with a good ending. No character is truly happy. They simply live their lives and do “that which was right in [their] own eyes”. Unfortunately, this leads to several unhappy and tragic endings.