The social ideas of Thomas Hardy

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S p o n s o r i n g Committee: Professor Louise M. Rosenblatt, Professor Ju li an C. Aldrich, and Provost Thomas Clark Pollock

THE SOCIAL IDEAS OF THOMAS HARDY

by

John A. Tallmadge

ll

Submitted in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f the requirements f o r the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ir_ the School o f Education of New York Universit y

NEW YORK U N IV ER SIT Y IN T E R D E P A R T M E N T A L C O M M U N IC A T IO N

The s t u e.:t

hereby g u aran tees t h a t no p a r t . o f t h e dir:,:.ertation

or document which he has submitted f o r p u b l i c a t i o n h a s been h e r e t o f o r e published and (or) copyrighted in the U n it e d S t a t e s o f America, e x c e p t i n the case of pass ages quoted i'rom o t h e r p u b l i s h e d s o u r c e s ; t h a t he i s th e s o l e author and p r o p r i e t o r o f s a id d i s s e r t a t i o n or document; t h a t t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n or document co n t a in s no m atter which, i f p u b l s i h e d , w i l l be l i b e l o u s or o t h e r wise injurious, or i n f r i n g e i n any way t h e c o p y r i g h t o f any o t h e r par ty ; and that he w i l l d e f e n d , indemnify and h old h a r m le s s New York U n i v e r s i t y a g a i n s t a l l suits and pro ce ed in gs which may be brought

ahd a g a i n s t a l l cla im s which

may be made a g a i n s t Newr York U n i v e r s i t y by r e a s o n o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f s a i d d i ",vertstion or document.

Abstract of ¥>'

THE SOCIAL IDEAS OF THOMAS HARDY The s o c ia l id e a s of Thomas Hardy, as expressed in his

s ix te e n n o v e ls and forty-four short sto rie s, are shown in t h i s t h e s i s to have centered about certain recurrentlyt r e a t e d problem ss

social s tra tific a tio n , the status of women,

B r i t i s h e d u c a tio n , and the condition of ru ral and city labor­ e rs.

C h ap ter I tr a c e s the origin, development, and cry stal­

l i z a t i o n o f H ardy’ s social philosophy and shows how his ideas developed from h i s personal experiences, his reading, and his c o n ta c ts w ith contemporary social thinkers.

Evidence is pre­

s e n te d t h a t even before publication of his f i r s t novel, he had a r r iv e d a t convictions about social problems la te r stressed in h is f ic tio n . C h ap ter I I d e a ls with many instances in Hardy's novels i n w hich he c r e a te s an unfavorable picture of English social s tra tific a tio n .

T his clearly was for him a fundamental weak­

n e s s o f B r i t i s h s o c ie ty , causing or exacerbating many of the o th e r s o c ia l i l l s .

The novels repeatedly present working

c l a s s c h a r a c te r s suffering oppression by the higher classes, who Ig n o re t h e i r squalid living conditions, and p ro fit by th e ir la b o r.

Lower middle class characters are shown being

d e n ie d o p p o r tu n itie s for education, social and economic advancem ent.

The upper middle class is b itte rly critic iz e d

by Hardy f o r en jo y in g unjustly great prerogatives.

The no­

b i l i t y a re d e p ic te d in the early fic tio n as selfish hedonists,

but receive less c r itic is m in th e l a t e r w r i t i n g s . Chapter I I I shows how H ardy’ s n o v e ls r e f l e c t c o n tin u in g concern for the s ta tu s of women.

He re p e a te d ly ch o se f o r h i s

central p lo t s itu a tio n s which would throw l i g h t o n th e problem s of women in V ictorian s o c ie ty .

H is women c h a r a c te r s r e v e a l

his b elief that women, i f given o p p o r tu n itie s , a r e a s c a p a b le as men in most f ie ld s .

He shows women lim ite d i n e d u c a tio n a l

and social o p p o rtu n ities, com pelled to re g a rd m a rria g e a s th eir only means of su p p o rt, and o f te n fo rc e d to m arry un­ wanted husbands fo r economic o r o th e r r e a s o n s .

H ardy a l s o

in various instances i n h is f i c t i o n in d ic a te d h is d is a p p r o v a l of the double standard. Chapter IV shows th a t Hardy’ s n o v els r e p e a te d ly p o r tr a y the intense individualism of the r u r a l w orkers i n s p i t e o f environmental d i f f i c u l t i e s , c la s s p r e ju d ic e , and l i m i t e d edu­ cational opportunities.

Much o f h is f i c t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y h is

major novels, presents v iv id p ic tu r e s o f r u r a l w o rk e r’ s eco­ nomic and social d i f f i c u l t i e s .

In th e se works th e y s u f f e r

especially from u n c e rta in ty o f employment, a low s ta n d a r d o f living, and evictions a t the whims o f la n d lo r d s . In Chapter V, Hardy i s shown to have d e s c rib e d c i t y l a ­ borers as more a r tic u la te than r u r a l ones i n making known t h e i r p lig h t.

In Jtie Poor Man and The Lady he d e a ls w ith g e n e r a l

problems of lab o r's r ig h t s ; in D esp erate Remedies and Ju d e th e Obscure, with the human e f f e c ts o f t h e i r low s o c i a l s t a t u s ; and in The Hand of E th e lb e rta . w ith the theme o f th e d i g n i t y o f labor.

C h a p te r VI d e a ls w ith H ard y 's ideas about the discrim ina­ t o r y c h a r a c t e r o f th e B r i t i s h educational system.

His fic tio n

c o n t a i n s many r e f e r e n c e s to widespread illite r a c y among the r u r a l m a s s e s , re g im e n ta tio n i n normal schools for women, and th e l a c k o f t r a i n i n g and c o u n s e l for poor but bright students. Ju d e th e O b sc u re e s p e c i a l l y p resen ts h is unfavorable views on B r i t i s h e d u c a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y on the university le v e l.

Yet

th e e i g h t b r i l l i a n t sc h o o l te a c h e rs in his fic tio n show his h o p e f u l v ie w o f th e f u tu r e f o r education. C h a p te r V II d e a ls w ith H ardy's experiences with e d ito ria l b o w d le r lz a tlo n s o f o u tsp o k en s o c ia l problems, and the prudery w hich le d p u b l i s h e r s to c e n s o r presentations of social pheno­ mena.

H a r d y 's v ig o ro u s f i g h t to maintain the orig in al versions

o f h i s w orks when th e y were published in book form, and his e x p r e s s io n s o f d is a p p r o v a l o f the lim itatio n s placed on the n o v e l i s t , a r e e v id e n c e o f th e strength of his desire to make known h i s s o c i a l id e a s th ro u g h h is f ic tio n .

THE SOCIAL IDEAS OF THOMAS HARDY

TABLE OF CONTENTS P reface T h e P r o b l e m ............................................. ......................................................................... . P a g e M ethod

o f P r o c e d u r e ..................................... . ....................... . ..................................... P a g e

C hapter I

The Development o f Thomas H a r d y ' s S o c i a l I de as ab ou t t h e S i x P r o b l e m s a s E x p la in e d under "M ethod o f Procedure," ( B i o g r a p h i c a l S k e t c h ) . , . . ................... P a g e

1 6

17

C hapter I I

H a r d y ' s Treatment o f P r o b l e m s I n v o lv in g Rigid S o c i a l S t r a t i f i c a t i o n in B r ita in . .................................................................................. P a g e __?1

C hapter I I I

H a r d y ' s I de a s C o n c e r n i n g t h e P o s i t i o n o f Women............................................................................ P a g e 1 5 5

C h a p t e r IV

R u r a l La borers and T h e i r

C hapter V

Town and C i t y L a b o r e r s ................................................................. P a g e 2 2 3

C h a p te r VI

H a r d y ' s Views on E n g l i s h E d u c a t i o n and I t s L i m i t a t i o n s ....................................................................... P a g e 2 4 0

L ife

. . . . . . P a g e 189

C hapter V II

H ardy's P r e se n ta tio n o f S o c i a l C o n c e p t s and Pr oblem s i n S p i t e o f C e n s o r s h i p and C o n s t a n t A t t a c k s o f Mrs. Grundy................................................... . . . . P a g e Chapter VIII Conclusions Page B ib lio g ra p h y Page

262 286 ^02

-1~ THE SOCIA L I D E A S OF THOMAS HARDY THE PROBLEM The o l,

and

p rob lem a n a ly ze

of

th is

th e

th esis

character

Hardy c o n c e r n in g

co n d itio n s

expressed

tw en ty

in g

in

six te e n The

p ro b lem s

to

s o c i a l i d e a s o f Thomas

volu m es short

o f f ic t io n , includ­

sto ries.

b e a n s w e r e d a r e these: the

s o c ia l ideas o i

T h om as H a r d y d e v e l o p t h e s e views?

of B ritish

What a r e h i s i d e a s in h is f ic t io n ?

V.

the d e v e lo p m e n t

c o n t e m p o r a r y B r i t a i n , as

forty-fou r

What a n a l y s e s he m ake?

IV .

for

so c ia l

so c ia l

c o n d i t i o n s did

b e t t e r m e n t found

I s i t p o s s i b l e t o d e f i n e t h e s e i d e a s more e x a c t l y b y r e f e r r i n g t o h i s s t a t e m e n t s made e l s e w h e r e ?

The

word

so c ia l

p erta in s w ith

to

to

each

p erta in s

a p p lied

in

trace

th e

p u b lish ed

How a n d w h e n d i d

III.

tio n s,

and

of,

to

A g a in st what background a re Thomas H a rd y p r e s e n t e d ?

II.

it

n o v els

sp e c ific

X.

w h ich

h is

is

to

r e su ltin g cro w d in g

in

ed u ca tio n ,

or

such

the

th esis

is

t a k e n to mean t h a t

rela tio n sh ip s

of

p e o p l e with i n s t i t u ­

and w i t h

p h y sica l it

im p ly

The

or

those

the. v a l u e s ,

word

lo c a l

a s an o r g a n i s m , contacts.

id eas

so c ia l as

the

As

of an author

co n d itio n s,

o f human b e i n g s ,

in stitu tio n s

state

so c ie ty

and m e n ta l

concerns

such c o n ta c ts

c itie s.

to

th is

oth er,

fic tio n ,

from

r e la tio n s

the

th e ir

w h ich d e a l w ith ,

in

and e v i l s

s u c h as o v e r ­

a p p l i e s to p e o p l e ' s hom e,

governm ents,

the s c h o o l o r group o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,

-2th e l a w , lore

and

th eir

and t o

rela tio n sh ip s

fo rm a lized

icnown t o h a v e

been

to s o c i a l

s o c ia l patterns.

cu stom s,

The

fo lk

la tter

s u b j e c t s w ith which Hardy w a s

are

often

con­

cerned. The w o r d

so c ia l

or c l a s s g r o u p i n g s ; cepts of m a rria g e in volved i n

is it

and

a p p l i e s to sex

fic tio n .

ings or i n f l u e n c e s

a p p licab le

It

to s o c i a l so cia l

stra tifica tio n ,

stan d ard s and

rela tio n sh ip s,

w h ich

are

the p o s i t i o n

of r u r a l

laborers i n

so c ie ty

i n E ngland;

it

o f woman i n

so c ie ty

as

by h e r r e l a t i o n

her o c c u p a t i o n It a ls o

or

concerns

oi c u l t u r a l

freq u en tly

a ls o d e a ls w ith e n v i r o n m e n t a l

such as

affected

career,

d eals w ith

and t h e p o s i t i o n

p o sitio n

to man and

th e

poor.

p a r t i c u l a r patterns of a p a r t i c u l a r

d ev elo p m en t

w hich the w r it e r i s

the V i c t o r i a l

A ge w a s one o f c h a n g i n g

these

p attern s w i l l

so m e tim e s d e a l w ith t r a n s i t i o n a l

The p r o b l e m w i l l H a r d y Ta o p i n i o n s h is id eas an d determ ined.

O nly

nine h u n d red D ynasts. d iary,

Less w e ig h t

those

is

use

g iv en

be to d e t e r m i n e or i m p l i e d .

of

the

be c o n s i d e r e d ,

to

h is fic tio n ,

are

stages. of

o rig in

of

situ a tio n s

not

is

th in k in g

w h ich

those

h is

lo n g

not

c a s e s where the p l o t

cu ltu ra l

v a lid ity

a b o u t c o n d i t i o n s he n o t e d in

p attern s,

th ese

O nly t h e

s h o r t poems, or o f h i s

id ea s

not

d eveloping p h ases

aspects of h is s o c ia l

w ill

eig h teen

d id

so c ia l

a p p l i e d them i n d e f i n i t e

fic tio n

S o cia l

but

not

expressed

how h e

appear in h i s

or

stage

d escrib in g .

Since

s t a g e s and c o n f l i c t i n g

group­

and u r b a n

the

of

con­

of

of

poem , in

The

h is

c o n sid e r e d . the w o rk

oi

-

fic tio n past

is

ev id en tly

as c o n t r a s t e d

In th e n o v e ls the is

of

fin d in g

pu rp osefu l

p l a c e up t o in

w ith

so c ia l

where

in

the

a p erio d in

scene

rom an tic

is

the

contemporary.

nature,

l i k e Under

t h e W e s s e x T a l e s . w here there there

criticism

portrayed

very

la id

is

le ss

than

l i k e l i h o o d of

in Tess o f

the

contem porary a c tio n

y e a r Hardy b e g a n w r i t i n g

as

th is

taking

n ovel,

1869. It

is

assum ed

an o u t s t a n d i n g four

short

that

V icto ria n

sto r ie s,

of

co p ies,

sch o la rs

of

liter a tu re.

p ictu re o f

be sh ow n ), T h ird ly ,

the

rev a lu a tio n study

is

d efin ed

assu m p tion s

o f H a rd y 's

work.

if

fic tio n a l

q u e n tly enough

in

an a u t h o r 's

so cia l

leg itim a tely situ a tio n s

Hardy’ s organ ized

so c ia l

stu d y;

em p h asized .

T h is

in te r e t it

so c ia l if

lea d

situ a tio n s w orks,

co n sid ered

a nd p r o b l e m s

they

th in k in g

not

a cco rd in g ly , stu d y,

has it

co n fin ed

has to

and fo r ty -

stu d en ts

w ill,

if

(as

the

he i s can easily

in

a n ew l i g h t .

to

a p o ssib le

assu m ption and

them es

the

and

assum ed t h a t

and w i t h to

i d e a s of

ru n n in g up t o

con cep ts,

view ed

w ill

so cia l

n o v els

to

is

The b a s i c

th at,

t h e y may b e

six te e n

by su c h a w r i t e r

on new m ean ing

above

of

S eco n d ly ,

life

1le a r ly

take

m ost p ro m in en t

w riter

w i l l be o f

V icto ria n

shown to h a v e

the

w h ich h a v e had a s a l e

m illio n s

the

or

atm osphere,

w h ich

the

those

o r many o f

r e a listic

D 'U rb erv llles.

u n rea listic

a p red o m in a tely

Greenwood T r e e little

3-

of

th is

recu r fre­

e n o u g h emphasis,

reflect

h is

view s of

treat. been

treated

i n an

n o t b een a d eq u a tely H ard y's

fic tio n

to

gain

-4g r e a t e r u n i t y and f o c u s , 1.

1. 2. 3.

is

n eed ed for th ese reasons:

Hardy i s o n e o f t h e f e w V i c t o r i a n n o v e l i s t s w h o s e w o r k s a r e s t i l l w i d e l y r e a d "both b y c r i t i c a l t h i n k ­ e r s and b y t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c . T his f a c t i s a t t e s ­ t e d by t h e n u m b e r o f e d i t i o n s o f h i s w o r k s p r i n t e d i n th e p a s t f i v e y e a r s , by exten d ed s c h o l a r l y stu d ie s o f h i s w ork s l i k e those o f P r o fe s s o r s C a r l J . V /eb er , L o r d D a v i d C e c i l , A l b e r t J . G u e r a r d , a n d Harvey C u r t i s W e b s t e r i n t h e l a s t d e c a d e , a n d b y t h e w i t h d r a w a l s f r o m u n i v e r s i t y a nd p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s . H is works a p p e a l t o m odern r e a d e r s p a r t ly b e c a u s e o f h i s r e a l i s t i c t e n d e n c y , which a l s o i n c l u d e s tr e a tm e n t o f s o c i a l p r o b le m s o f t h e tim e; p a . r t l y because o f th e l a c k o f V ic to r ia n s e n t im e n t a lit y ; and p a r t l y b e c a u s e o f t h e i r p l o t or s t y l e .

2.

The s o c i o l o g i c a l v i e w p o i n t i n H a r d y ' s n o v e l s , e v e n to the c u r s o r y r e a d e r , show s a f e a r l e s s t r e a t m e n t o f c e r ta in w e a k n e s se s in V ictorian s o c ie ty ; f r e ­ q u en tly t h o s e w r o n g s w e r e not b e in g rem edied b e ­ c a u s e o f t h e c e n s o r s h i p o f e d i t o r s upon n o v e l - w r ite r s c o n s i d e r i n g such m atters as d e a lt w it h s e x , t h e r i g h t s o f t h e w o r k e r s , w o m en 's r i g h t s , t h e double s t a n d a r d o f m o r a l s , or t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e poor. T h i s s t u d y , made a f t e r a c a r e f u l c o m p i l a t i o n o f a ll th e r e f e r e n c e s to so c ia l con d ition s w i l l p o in t o u t t h e s p e c i f i c s o c i a l c o n d itio n s Hardy w ished t o I m p r o v e .

3.

'whereas s c o r e s o f s t u d i e s o f H a r d y ' s p e s s i m i s m , ! h is f a t a l i s m , ^ a n d h i s d eterm in ism , m e lio r is m , and o t h e r p h i l o s o p h i c a l i d e a s 0 have b e e n made, h i s s o c ia l th o u g h t h a s been overlook ed . A lth o u g h H ardy d i d h ave s p e c i f i c s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m s which h e s t a t e d f e a r l e s s l y a n d f r e q u e n t l y , he d i d n o t d e s i r e t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a w r i t e r who h a d a w e l l - r o u n d e d p h i l o ­ sophy i n t h e p h i l o s o p h e r ' s use o f th e w ord. There­ f o r e , i t i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be J u s t to stu d y h i s s o c ia l c o n c e p t s a s h i t h e r t o overlooked.

H e l e n Garwood , T h o m a s H a r d y a s an I l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l o s o o h v o f S c h o p e n h a u e r ( P h i l a d e l p h i a , C. o f P e n n s y l ­ vania P r e s s , 1 S 1 1 ) . A l b e r t P . H l l l o t t , F a t a l i s m i n t h e Works o f T h o m a s H a r d y , (P h ila d e lp h ia , U n i v e r s i t y o f P en n sylvan ia P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 ) . Ha rv ey C. W e b s t e r , On & D a r k l i n g P l a i n . ( C h i c a g o , U n iv ersity o f C h ica g o , 1947) .

-54.

S i m i l a r l y , t h e n u m b e r o f s t u d i e s on H a r d y ' s w o r k s t r e s s i n g t h e g l o o m y and u n f o r t u n a t e s i d e o f l i f e , a l t h o u g h w e l l r e a s o n e d o u t and c a r e f u l l y d o c u m e n te d , m ay be s e e n t o h a v e p a i n t e d o n l y one s i d e o f t h e p ictu re. The s o c i o l o g i c a l a p p r o a c h raay c o r r e c t t h i s , f o r i t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l e t h a t Hardy f e l t ( a s he o f t e n s t a t e d ) t h a t " i f w a y t o t h e b e t t e r there be, i t e x a c ts a f u l l lo o k a t th e w o rst," ^ F o r e x a m p l e , i t i s e a s i l y s h o w n t h a t many o f h i s f i c t i o n a l w orks are n o t gloom y a t a l l , i f c o n sid e r e d i n the l i g h t o f c u r r e n t c r i t i c a l c r i t e r i a . Even t h o s e w o r k s w h i c h s e e m e d t o be d e p r e s s i n g a n d p e s s i m i s t i c m ay h a v e b e e n c o m p o s e d w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f m e l i o r a t i n g c u r r e n t c o n d i t i o n s and t h u s to h a v e a more a n a l y t i c a l t h a n d e t e r m i n i s t i c a p p r o a c h .

H ard y's n o v e ls w i l l tne

thought

of fam ous

E n glan d

to

reth in k

H erbert

Spencer,

a lso

its

to

have

th in k ers

so c ia l

of

h is

th in k in g

co n n ectio n w ith

f o r by H ardy's

h is

common w i t n

d a y who c a u s e d

John S tuart M ill,

John M orley,

and J o h n R u s k i n .

t o A u g u s t e C o m te i n

accounted

much i n

p h ilo so p h y :

F r e d e r ic k H a rriso n ,

in d ica tes h is

and i s

seen

lib era l

S t e p h e n , Th om as C a r l y l e , p a ra llel

be

H ardy's of

clo se

so c ia l

the p o s i t i v i s t

read in g

S ir L eslie

problem s

view p o in t

o f t h a t p rom in en t

so c io lo g ist. The s o c i a l

approach i s

an o r g a n i z e d m anner i n P r o fe s s o r Carl J . Years

t h e more

h is

e d ito r ia l

background

the

few not

than fo u r

W eber’ s b ib lio g r a p h y ,

has been review ed

h is p h ilo so p h ic h is

of

o f T h om as H a r d y . p u b l i s h e d

tech n iq u e Beach;

one

w ell

in

and l i t e r a r y

by W i l l i a m R. R u t l a n d ;

in

item s

oi

Hundred

H ardy's a r t i s t i c

by P r o f e s s o r

o u tlo o k

4 . T h om as H a r d y , " I n T e n e b r i s " Pre se n t, 1901.

thousand

The F i r s t

1942.

b o w d leriza tio n s

treated

J o s e p h Warren

b y Mary E l l e n

Chase;

by H a rv ey C u r t i s Y /eb ster, h is

i n Poems

of

b iograp h y the

Past

by C a r l J . and

-sH e b e r , and h i s

fic tio n a l

sk ill

by

1 9 4 9 a p p e a r e d an e x c e l l e n t r e v i e w o f h i s a p p e a l t o modern r e a d e r s p sych ology,

A lb ert J .

o f The

sch o la rly

Delmore S c h w a r t z , N orton

Z a b el,

by

P.

on

w ith

the b a s i s

S to rie s.

R ev iew

th e

In

p resen t-d ay

and

The

in 1 9 4 0 con­

newer c r it ic s ,

B la ck m u r,

A rthur L iz e n e r ,

A u d e n , Benam y D obree,

and

oth ers— a ll

stu d ies

t h i n k i n g i n c l u d e Lynwood B r y a n t ' s

of

w h ich

on ly o f the

th e

situ a tio n s

in w hich

Henry S. C a n b y 's

w ritten

s o c ia l id ea s

ch aracters of

area

f i n d them ­

P i t y , " 5 ana

a H u m a n ita ria n " 7

R eview , w hich d eal w ith o n ly a s m a l l

so cia l

(H arvard) P r iz e

show s

"The N o v e l i s t

"Hardy a s

H a rd y 's

S o h ier

E s s a y , F a t e Jun Hardy * s N o v e l s , 5

un signed a r t i c l e

critics.

an gle.

Shorter or l e s s u n i f i e d

selv e s;

of

art

S ou th ern

J a c q u e s B a r z u n , V/. H .

from th e l i t e r a r y

h is

fa m ilia r

a rticles

I n c l u d i n g J o h n Crowe R a n s o m , R . A llen T ate,

of

Guerard, The N o v e ls

"Hardy C e n t e n n i a l I s s u e " ta in ed fo u rteen

hundreds

of

in

the

The C a m b r i d g e

s o c i a l thought

in H ardy's work. METHOD OF PROCm DURE The m e t h o d o f p r o c e d u r e i n fu l a n a ly sis

of

so cia l

in H ardy's f i c t i o n 5. 6. ?.

th is

situ a tio n s

fo r the

purpose

and of

th e sis

in clu d ed a care­

im p lica tio n s d isco v er in g

a b o u t them three

Lynwood B r y a n t , " F a t e i n H a r d y ' s N o v e l s , " S o h i e r P r i z e Essay, H arvard, 1929. Henry S . C a n b y , "The N o v e l i s t o f P i t y " i n D e f i n i t i o n s . F i r s t S e r i e s . New Y o r k , H a r c o u r t , B r a c e , 1 9 2 2 . "Hardy a s a H u m a n i t a r i a n " C a m b r i d g e R e v i e w , Lay 3 , 1 9 2 9 .

-7th in g s: ca tio n s h is

the of

ev a lu a tio n

the

factors

su g g estio n s

form ed n i s works,

in flu en cin g

betterm en t.

con clu sio n s

w nich

sto ries

for

by H a r d y o f

after

in clu d e h is

and,

for

F o llo w in g

the

in stitu tio n s,

treatm ent

in d iv id u a ls.

id ea ,

effects

of

Hardy*s

is

so cia l

the

exam p le,

an d

su g g estio n s

fic tio n

in

she i s

id en tified .

T his

upon

the b a s i s

to of

co n d itio n a t

co n d itio n s

the

so cie ty

to a w hole

short poems

in

h is

is

so cie ty t o mean

cla ss

of

fic tio n . of

A the

situ a tio n fath er

where at

done by a n a l y z i n g a tten tio n

and by p o s ­

W hich p a s s a g e s so c ia l

that

Is

the

he had a d e s i r e

tim e?

the day?

in h is

th in k in g

q u estio n s:

and,

have situ ­ to

I s Hardy d i r e c t l y

a general p r in c ip le of

of

ranked w ith n o b i l i t y ,

three

the

that

from th e m ores

her b u tle r

show h i s

one w hich s u g g e s t s

in d ica tin g

in terp reted

d efin ite

as w orthy o f

for betterm ent.

or i n d i r e c t l y

as

and w i t h

resu ltin g

a

p a r t y where

been d e c id e d

m

are

to r e c o g n i z e

sele cted

a ty p ic a l

so c ia l

rela tio n sh ip

d ep icted

stra tifica tio n

been

a tio n p resen ted

paper

eig h teen

such as Hardy* s t r e a tm e n t

have

a n alyze

id eas

situ a tio n s

so ciety

Hardy*s e m p h a sis upon i t sib le

the

in clu d es

form al d in n e r reco g n ized

to

It

so c ia l

forty-fou r

word

situ a tio n s a p p lica b le

for

th is

o f Hardy*s p u b lis h e d

w ith each o t h e r ,

the d a u g h ter p r e t e n d s n ot the

of the

w h ich p e r t a in s

of

of

hundred

of

or i n s t i t u t i o n s so cia l

a ll

in d i­

when r e l e v a n t ,

w riter

h is n in e

d e fin itio n

p eop le

h is

and,

h is

The Dy n a s t s .

th at

a s an o r g a n i s m ,

The

situ a tio n ,

six teen n o v e ls ,

w h ich means w ith

it,

read in g

background,

and t h e e p i c - d r a m a ,

the

for

im p rovin g

where p o s s i b l e ,

-H G an one c o r r o b o r a t e

the f a c t

d efin ite

in h is

statem ents

In o r d e r to fic tio n a l

none,

in

to m o t i v e s of a

so cia l

is

a clea r reference there

is

n ature

to

concern p a r tic u la r

to

For

stated

in sta n ces

o r m ore i m p o r t a n t

shows th e a u t h o r ' s

in ten tio n

of

He r e e n f o r c e s t h i s

statem en t

w ith

as

to th e method he w i l l e m p lo y to c a r r y

He

shows how he w i l l

s o c i a l foreground" He s t a t e s

treat

in cid en ts w ith

in the

"a

n ovel,

d efin itely

the

than

author

d e ta ils d e sig n .

reversal at

th e ir

stressin g

th at

from t h a t u s u a l i n E n g l a n d

the g e n era l p r in c ip le s fo r

tio n s^ and,

out

betw een

" w h erein

m asters.''^

so cia l tru th .

where

by

im portant a s ,

a

o±‘

ex a m p le,

s e r v a n t s w ere as T his

h is

g en era lisa tio n s

n ot.

The Hand o f E ' t h e l b e r t a i s

the p r e f a c e l

by

d i a r y or e l s e w h e r e ?

p r o b l e m s and w h e r e

Hardy’ s n o v e l,

id ea s

care has been taken to d i s c r i m i n a t e

p a s s a g e s where t h e r e about th ese

such

a v o i d i m p u t i n g Hardy* s c o n s i d e r a t i o n

situ a tio n s

t h e r e were

t h a t he h e l d

th at

of

the

tim e.

im p ro v in g

such

co n d i­

shows h o w

such

p rin cip les

wo r k . ^ On t h e

o th e r hand,

t h e r e has b e e n an e l i m i n a t i o n

m a te r ia l w hich d o e s not concern s o c i a l p r o b l e m s

or

situ a tio n s.

Under

For e x a m p le ,

id y llic

rom ances

G r e e n w o o d T r e e a n d The R o m a n t i c A d v e n t u r e s 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

lik e of

of

rem ed ia b le th e

a M ilk m a id

malce

Thomas H a r d y , The Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a , " P r e f a c e , " p . v . ib id . P. v. ib id . P. v i. Thomas H a r d y , The Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a . p . 4 7 2 - 6 , " S e q u e l , " and F l o r e n c e B . H a r d y , The E a r l y L i f e o f T h o m a s H a r d y . (hew Y o r k , M a c m i l l a n , 1 9 2 8 ) , p . 1 4 3 . ib id .

-9no

extended

attem pt

stu d y

of

to im p ro v e

sid ere d .

contem porary s o c i a l

t h e m and a r e

S im ila rly ,

even in

Mayor o f C a s t e r b r i d g e . stra tifica tio n ,

and

th ese

human g r o u p a c t i o n s . th esis

that

It

th e wrongs

IT lizab eth -Jan e

in

the

in d iv id u a ls

or

" circu m sta n ce ,"

situ a tio n s is

clea rly

n o v e l are

w ro n g -d o in g , or o f

not

to

r ea listic

are

not

p o in ted to

the of

so

to

The

so cia l®

rem ed ia b le out

in

L ucetta,

re su lts,

over w h ich

by

th is

and

in

an

con­

n o v el,

the w o rk in g

co n d itio n s

w ith

be

are few r e f e r e n c e s

to H enchard,

th at

of

therefore

the v e r y

there

situ a tio n s

to

g en era l, of

chance

so c ie ty

as

a

g r o u p h a s no c o n t r o l . ? A spects

o f - H ardy’ s

a s an e v a l u a t i o n p o ssib le

o f m arriage

su g g estio n s

for

i n f l u e n c e s w hich a f f e c t d en cies oi

so c ia l

for V ic t o r ia n

rural

of B r it is h

d iffic u ltie s from th e sa id is

to

above

la ter,

the

u n d ervalu e

a g a in st

is

number o f

one;

such m a tte r s-

the

and

in

the poor;

the

ten­

co n trib u tio n s so c ia l and

and p r e j u d i c e

as

As o n e w i l l

p a r tia l),

w ith

en v iro n m en ta l

and u r b a n l a b o r e r s ;

feelin g

(w h ich

total

la rg e

im p rovem en t;

u n d erp riv ileg ed .

list,

the

not a very

cla ss

invoTLve

r ela tio n sh ip s,

in m a rria g e,

e d u ca tio n a l d is c r im in a t io n ca tio n s

and s e x

th e ir

men t o

women i n o c c u p a t i o n s ,

th in k in g

the

rig h ts; im p li­

they

b rin g

understand

and from what

is

i d e a s w hich H ardy e m p h a siz e d

but he has

a tendency

to

repeat

6 . T h is t h e s i s g i v e s s e v e r a l d e t a i l s o f th e o p e r a t io n o f chance h e r e . V. H enchard, l i k e J u d e , a d m i t s t h a t h i s s h o r t c o m i n g s a r e o f t e n due t o h i s p a s s i o n s , h i s s e l f i s h n e s s , o r t o h i s w e a k n e s s .

10th ese

freq u en tly, Since a l l

a f a c t w h i c h m akes th em e a s y t o

c la ssify .

the r a m i f i c a t i o n s o f s o c i a l p r o b le m s

u p o n in Hardy’ s f i c t i o n

c o u l d n o t be s t r e s s e d a s

im p o rta n t p a r ts o f h i s s o c ia l th in k in g,

touched

eq u a lly

the a ttem p t h a s

been

m a d e t o s e l e c t and s t r e s s t h e m a in t h e m e s and p r o b l e m s .

The

f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s ha ve b e e n o b s e r v e d i n fir st,

th is

se le c tio n :

th e m o s t c o n s i d e r a t i o n h a s b e e n g i v e n t o s o c i a l

id ea s

v / l i i c h Hardy r e p e a t s

th e m o s t o f t e n and w i t h th e g r e a t e s t

em p h asis;

e m p h a s i s h a s b e e n p l a c e d upon a s p e c t s

so c ia l

secon d ly,

t h i n k i n g w h i c h a r e made t h e main p o i n t s o f a t t a c k

h i s n ovels; pose

and t h i r d l y ,

i d e a s e m p h a s i z e d more f o r

o f p r e s e n t i n g an im p r e s s iv e

oi m

the

pur­

story than for s o c i a l

sig -

n i f i c a n c e w i l l n o t be c o n s i d e r e d . A fte r a com plete the

s u r v e y end d e t a i l e d

s o c i a l i d e a s had been c o m p le te d ,

card i n d e x o f

t h e main i d e a s w e r e

d e c i d e d upon on t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r r e p e t i t i o n , th e ir th is and

rela tiv e

short s t o r ie s ,

in h is

and

k'rom

six teen

n o v els

t h e s e main and most f r e q u e n t l y

used

c o n c e p t s were a n a l y z e d ,

ance

in h is f i c t i o n , 1.

em p h a sis,

im p ortance i n the p l o t or th e th e m e ,

summary o f H a r d y ’ s s o c i a l t h i n k i n g , six teen

a ll

t r a c e d from t h e i r f i r s t

appear­

and shown i n t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t a s

lo llo v /s:

The b a c k g r o u n d o f s o c i a l t h i n k i n g i n E n g l a n d , e s p e ­ c i a l l y a s i t a f f e c t e d Hardy i n s u c h p e r i o d s a s t h e e i g h t e e n - s i x t i e s (when he was f o r m i n g h i s s o c i a l t h in k in g ) has been rev iew ed . S in c e the c l o s e c o n ­ t a c t s o f Hardy w i t h t h e p r o m i n e n t a u t h o r s o f b o o k s d e a l i n g w i t h s o c i a l problem s h a v e been n o t e d i n h i s d i a r y and i n h i s w i f e ’ s b i o g r a p h y , h a l f o f w h i c h h e e i t h e r w r o t e or e d i t e d c a r e f u l l y , t h e s e n a v e b e e n exp lain ed . E s p e c i a l l y i n the w r i t i n g s l i k e D a r w i n ' s

-

11 -

O r i g i n o f S p e c i e s . M i l l 1 s On L i b e r t y , a n d R u s k i n * s , A r n o l d ’ s , H u x l e y ’ s and S p e n c e r ’ s w o r k s , c l o s e p a r a lle ls have been n o te d , 8 2.

How a n d w h y H a r d y d e v e l o p e d t h e s e v i e w s , c l a s s i f i e d a s p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d , h a s n o t b e e n d i f f i c u l t bo document b e c a u s e o f th e f u l l n o t e s i n h i s d i a r y , h is use o f the fu nd am en tal id e a s in h i s f i r s t f i v e n o v e l s (sh o w in g t h e tim e o f t h e i r o r i g i n a l p r e s e n ­ t a t i o n ) , and the a b u n d a n t m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e c o n ­ cern in g h i s t h ir t y y e a r s o f w r it in g f i c t i o n . How Hardy was i n f l u e n c e d by s o c i a l t h i n k e r s l i k e A u g u s t e M. F . X . C o m t e , J o h n S t u a r t M i l l , a n d t h e o t h e r s noted p r e v io u s ly h a s b e e n p o in te d o u t b eca u se o f th e f r a n k a d m i s s i o n on H a r d y ’ s p a r t t h a t h e a c c e p t e d th e ir i d e a s .9

3.

The p r o c e d u r e o f b u i l d i n g f r o m t h e v a r i o u s n o v e l s and s h o r t s t o r i e s a c o m p o s i t e p i c t u r e o f H a r d y ’ s a n a l y s i s o f s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s h a s b e e n d o n e by f o l l o w i n g a s n e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e h i s own m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s a n d h i s own m e t h o d s e x p r e s s e d i n h i s t h r e e e s s a y s on t h e c r a f t o f w r i t i n g f i c t i o n . The m ethod o f t h e w r i t e r o f t h i s t h e s i s i n v o l v e d t r a c i n g f r o m i t s i n c e p t i o n , o r w h e n t h a t vf as n o t a v a i l a b l e , from i t s f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e i n h i s n o v e l s , e a c h o f the a s p e c t s o f H a r d y ’ s s o c i a l t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h a l l th e w orks o f f i c t i o n i n w h i c h i t o c c u r s . 10 The d a t a u s e d w e r e t h e p a s s a g e s s e l e c t e d a f t e r read in g a l l of H ardy’ s w o r k s. These in c lu d e d a l l r e fe r e n c e s to s o c i a l i d e a s a s p r e v io u s ly d e f in e d . The a n a l y s i s o f s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s h a s b e e n e x p l a i n e d a s i d e n t i f y i n g them by t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n t o w h o le g ro u p s of T jersons, t h e i r o b v i o u s l y r e a l i s t i c

8 . H is a g r e e m e n t w i t h , t h e s e l i b e r a l t h i n k e r s i s p r o v e d b y h is s ta te m e n ts , c f . , F . E . H ardy, The E a r l y L i f e , pp. 1 9 8 , 253, 217, 269. 9, F . E . H a rd y , The E a r l y Y e a r s . p p . 4 6 - 7 4 a n d p . 2 6 9 , a n d e s p e c i a l l y on p . 1 9 8 , w h e r e H a r d y i s s t a t e d t o h a v e b e e n "among t h e e a r l i e s t a c c l a i m e r s o f O r i g i n o f S u e d e s **; M i l l ’ s w o r k s h a d a l i f e l o n g e f f e c t o n H a r d y , wh o r e m e m b e r e d every d e t a il of M ill’s speech as a ca n d id a te fo r P a r lia m e n t, 186b, (L ater Y e a r s , p. 118); s im ila r c lo s e r e la t io n s h ip s c a n b e s h o w n f o r t h e o t h e r s , s o m e o f whom H a r d y k n e w p e r so n a lly . 10, Thomas H a r d y , "The P r o f i t a b l e R e a d i n g o f F i c t i o n , " T h e Forum. M arch. 1 8 8 8 , p p . 5 7 - 6 6 ; "Candour i n E n g l i s h 1 ' i c t i o n , " ( L o n d o n , T h e Hew R e v i e w . J a n u a r y , 1 8 9 0 ) p p . 1 5 - 2 1 ; a n d "The S c i e n c e o f F i c t i o n , " ( L o n d o n , T h e N e w R e v i e w . A p r i l , 1891) pp. 8 5 -9 0 .

-12 p r e s e n t a t i o n o f c o n t e m p o r a r y l i f e , and t h e i r exem­ p l i f y i n g the s o c i a l t h i n k i n g e x p r e s s e d i n t h e d i a r y . T h e s e s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s h ave been c l a s s i f i e d a c c o r d ­ i n g t o the t y p e s of c h a r a c t e r s a f f e c t e d in th e f i c ­ t i o n in v o lv ed . For exam ple, problems o f s o c i a l s t r a t i f i c a t i o n a s c o n c e r n s l o w , m i d d l e , and h i g h e r c l a s s e s o f p e o p le ; problems of r u r a l l a b o r e r s , of u r b a n l a b o r e r s , and o f women i n v o l v e d have b e e n c l a s s i f i e d a c c o r d i n g t o th e g r o u p s a f f e c t e d . 4.

I n a s i m i l a r way, t h e i d e a s f o r s o c i a l b e t t e r m e n t h a v e b e e n t r a c e d from t h e i r i n c e p t i o n , t h r o u g h th e v a r i o u s works o f f i c t i o n , t o t h e end o f t h e a u t h o r ' s work. J u s t a s H ardy's a n a l y s i s o f s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s i n v o l v e d an i d e a o f human b e t t e r m e n t , so t h e t r e a t ­ m e n t h a s been g i v e n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h e a c h .

5.

C o r r o b o r a t i o n o f ea ch o f Hardy's i d e a s of s o c i a l p r o b l e m s h a s b e e n o f f e r e d by r e f e r r i n g t o h i s d i a r y , t o h i s a r t i c l e s i n p e r i o d i c a l s , and t o h i s s p o k e n o r w r i t t e n w o rd s fou nd e l s e w h e r e . I t has been a s s u m e d t h a t , i f Hardy h e l d t h e s e v i e w s f i r m l y and f e l t s t r o n g l y ab ou t them , he m i g h t , v e r y p o s s i b l y , h a v e n o t e d them i n h i s d i a r y ( o f w h i c h Mrs. Hardy h a s in c lu d e d la r g e p a r t s in her biography o f h e r h u s b a n d ) , or h a v e m e n t i o n e d them t o h i s w i f e and frien d s. The o b j e c t i v i t y o f much o f H a r d y ' s d i a r y w o u l d j u s t i f y such a p o s s i b i l i t y , which has b een s h o w n t o ha ve b e e n t h e f a c t i n many c a s e s . In every c a s e , a m p le e v i d e n c e o f h i s s t r o n g f e e l i n g c o n c e r n ­ i n g t h e main a s p e c t s o f s o c i a l l i f e t r e a t e d i n t h i s t h e s i s h a s b e e n c o r r o b o r a t e d from h i s d i a r y o r e l s e ­ w here.

The

m a t e r i a l s also

im p o rta n t the

stu d ies

p u b lica tio n s

a u th o r ity D avid

C ecil,

Joseph for

in

th ousan d used

E s p e c ia lly valuable

o f C a r l J e f f e r s o n Weber,

v/ere

t h e l e a d i n g Hardy

and o f Henry C. D u f f i n ,

Lord

H a r v e y C u r t i s W ebster, E r n e s t B rennecke, A lb e r t

sources

p ro b lem s).

of h is f ic t io n .

t h e U nited S t a t e s ,

G uerard,

the

i n c l u d e d t h e f i n d i n g s o f th e m o s t

and W i l l i a m R. R u t l a n d ( e s p e c i a l l y v a l u a b l e and b a c k g r o u n d s o f H a r d y ' s t h i n k i n g on s o c i a l

F r o m P r o f e s s o r W eber’ s b i b l i o g r a p h y o f o v e r l i v e

ite m s,

other valu a b le

s t u d i e s and a r t i c l e s h a v e been

-

The S e l e c t i o n

of

13 -

th e M ain Them es

To a s c e r t a i n w h i c h a s p e c t s may be i d e n t i f i e d

on t h e

b a sis

in of

talcen i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n . main p o i n t o f a t t a c k " e l e m e n t or i m p o r t a n t if it

is

in

i f Hardy s t a t e d

his s o c ia l o b j e c t i v e ,

a novel

of

if or

the t h o u g h t an d a c t i o n

one or

if of

T a k in g t h e g e n e t i c a tte m p ts to c r i t i c i z e ,

of

it

is

the

so

m ain

of

m ost is

is

and

t a t i o n o f them t h e r e a f t e r . b a sic

how

the

were "the

ev id en tly

an

e ssen tia l

the

m a in of

p lo t

or

fic tio n ,

th e.t

it

was

ju stify

a sso cia ted

characters

th at

it

its

w ith over­

th in k in g . show n

how H a r d y 's

freq u en tly

they th ey

appear change

U n d erly in g to

c r ite r ia ,

be

passages

I have

how

th in k in g

to

in

sa id

c lo se ly

and

T h in k in g

stressed

im p lied

so c ia l

a n a ly ze,

so c ia l

H ardy’ s works

c le a r ly

o rig in a ted ,

as

it

cause

approach,

decade o f n o v e l w r i t i n g ,

Hardy r e c o g n i z e d

the id ea

if

S o cia l

a .fo rem en tio n ed

enough d e f i n i t e

shadows t h e o t h e r e v i d e n c e s

so cia l c o n d itio n s

are

A so c ia l

d e fin ite ly

b e i n g so c l a s s i f i e d ,

the

co n trib u to ry

the m a i n t h e m e

H ardy’ s

of

certain ev id en ces o f w h ic h i d e a s

H ardy' s

so c ia l

oth ers

have

to in

in

im p ro v e h is

h is

id ea s been

fir st presen­ w h ich

se le c te d

for treatm ent f i r s t . From t h i s

v iew p o in t,

with th e e f f e c t

of

so c ia l

m id d le and l o w e r c l a s s it sa tisfies the f i r s t tion;

it

the

the

as

so c ia l

str a tific a tio n

p eo p le,

req u irem en ts

to a p p e a r

fir st

has of

" th e m ain

i s the m o st p r o m i n e n t

been

the

upon so

of

th e

w h ich

n oted .

attack "

concept

in

d ea ls

upper,

c la ssifie d

cr ite r ia

p o in t

so c ia l

id ea ,

in fou r

because It h is

was fic ­

n o v els

-

and

n in e

n o v els

short

and

ev id en ce a tio n the

in d ica te

ev ils

of

so c ia l

That h i s

p rim a r ily

porary

They

and m ost

London

to

a g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e f o r the remedy o f

s t r a t i f i c a t i o n in the f o u r n o v e l s c o n ­

fir st

n o v e l , The Poor Man and the Lady,

the

w i t h an a n a l y s i s oi s o c i a l s t r a t i ­

a u t h o r i t y o f t h r e e o f the b e s t contem­

u n p r e j u d i c e d j u d g e s of f i c t i o n who re ad i t p u b lica tio n :

A lex an d er M a cm il la n , the pub­

of

u n e q u i v o c a l l y t h a t i t was to o b i t t e r i n i t s denun­ cla ss

so c ie ty "

One

has

tne

b o w d lerized

11.

One h as i n c o n t r o v e r t i b l e

J o h n M o r l e y a n d George M e r e d i t h , p u b l i s h e r s ’ r e a d e r s . ^

stated

c ia tio n

i s prominent i n n i n e o t h e r

sh o rt stories.

concerned

one h a s

a v iew

lish e r ;

and i t

t h a t H a r d y w a s a t t e m p t i n g to a n a l y z e a s o c i a l s i t u ­ to

fic a tio n

w ith

tw en ty-on e

and

cerned. was

sto ries;

14-

equal

feelin g and

"the

evid en ce v ersio n

toward "the s q u i r e a r c h y , and n o b i l i t y , v u l g a r i t y of the m id d le c l a s s .

f r o m H a r d y 's w i f e , who l a t e r p u b l i s n e a o f the n o v e l , 14 ancj from Hardy

T n e n o v e l s " r e The PoV rH an ' ~anu~~the ~Lady. A P a i r o f Blue E y e s . The H a n d o f S t h e l b e r t a I where Hardy d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e s h i s p u r p o s e i n t h e " P r e f a c e , " pp. v and v i ) , and A L a o a i c e a n . " T h e m a i n p o i n t o f a t t a c k " o b v i o u s l y means, a s c o n s i d e r e d from a s o c i a l a n g le . The s h o r t s t o r i e s are "An I n d i s ­ c r e t i o n i n t h e L i f e o f an H e i r e s s , " "What the Shepherd S a w , " "The D u c h e s s o f H am pton sh ire," "The Y /a itin g Supper," "A T r a g e d y o f Two A m b i t i o n s , " "The M elan ch oly H u ss ar," " F o r C o n s c i e n c e S a k e , " "The Son ’ s V e t o , " and "Master J o n n H o r s e l e i g h , K night," 1 Z . H . 13. H a r d y , T h e E a r l y L i f e , pp. 7 7 - b 3; the i n t e n t and c r i t i c i s m o f e a c h o f these three c r i t i c s i s s u b s ta n t ia lly th e sam e. 1 3 . The w o r d s a r e t h o s e o f M e r e d it h , but Morley and Macm illan agreed. 1 4 . F . E . H a r d y , T h e E a r l y L i f e , p . 143; Mrs. Hardy s t a t e s t h a t t h i s n o v e l a n d The Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a were t o o e a r l y l o r " s o c i a l i s t i c " w ritin g s. Che s t a t e s t h a t i t d e a l t p r i m a r i l y w i t h c l a s s f e e l i n g , pp. w - b l .

-

15 -

himseif . -L^ About prove

the o t h e r t h r e e n o v e l s

one lias

t h a t Hardy had a p r i m a r y d e s . i r e

d itio n s

a n a ly ze th e ir

A s a l r e a d y n o t e d , The Hand oi' E t h e l b e r t a

is

d e fin ite ly

"Preface"

t o be c o n c e r n e d

w ith

feelin g .

i t s p lo t a lso hangs a lm o s t

se le c tio n

o f a husband by t h e

ram c.^ k

the

i t s p lot

is

the

as

d e fin ite ly and

th erein . ^

even

the

A Laodicean o f f e r s

the

p ecu lia r

a v e r y r i c h woman who l a c k s

the

so c ia l

n o b ility

t o r e f u t e h e r own c o n v i c t i o n s

is

i n p o s s e s s i n g an e s t a t e

wrong

and

aim

Hardy* s

overdone

stated

c la ss

the of

c la ss

ch ap ters

affected

cla ss-co n scio u s

r e c o g n i z e d t h a t he h ad

b a sis

h is

and om itting p assages w h ic h d e s c r i b e

he

of

upon

several

fe e lin g

of a cla ss-co n scio u s f a t h e r ,

u p p e r c la s s f o lx as too

th at

of

t h a t Hardy had c l a s s

criticism ;

a ctio n s down"

on

A P a i r o f B lu e B y e s c o n t a i n s

su g g estin g so cia l

h ero in e

is

con­

im p ro v em en t.

an a n a ly s i s e n tir e ly

to

so c ia l

to

its

the t im e and t o p o i n t

to

ev id en ce

the way

in

of

am p le

in by

stro n g ly h is

th e

la te r

" to n in g

n o b ility am p le

cla ss cla ss

and

ev id en ce

fe e lin g c o n sc io u sn e ss

sta n d in g

that

as

a

ca stle

of

the

of

the

com m oner

she

D em tan cy

lam ily. lb". H a r d y b o w d l e r i z e d the"""novel, o ' m i ' t t i n g a l l r e f e r e n c e s t o c l a s s f e e l i n g to g e t p u b l i c a t i o n a t a l l . C a r l J . Y /eb er, H a r d y o f Y / e s s e x . (Mew f o r k , C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ) , p p . 32-46; see F. E . H ardy, The E a r l y L i f e . p . 1 4 3 . 1 5 . T h e r e i s a l s o economic d e t e r m i n i s m i n v o l v e d , b u t t h e s o c i a l c o n s id e r a tio n s a r e more f r e q u e n t l y s t r e s s e d . 1 7 . H a r d y r e v /r o t e and r e v i s e d e n t i r e s p e e c h e s i n c h a p t e r X I V and d e a l t w ith the s u b j e c t i n c h a p t e r s I , I I , X I - X I V , a n d XXVI. He d e l e t e d m uch o f c h a p t e r X I V i n e d i t i o n s a l t e r th e 1 8 7 4 o n e . 1 8 . P a u l a Power i s a n x i o u s t o m a r r y i n t o t h e n o b l e c l a s s l o r s o c i a l reasons.

-

A p p ly in g a certa in

the

aspect

in

one

d isco v ers

th e

p o sitio n

of

the

em p h asis

upon

v in ced

same

th at

criteria

H a rd y 's th e

next

lo v e

needed

oi

h i s w r i t i n g , H ard y was

In

the p r e fa c e s

of

upon

to

"A P u r e

oi

tne

th in k in g m ost

a b o u t a s o c i a l p r o b le m ,

im p o r t a n t concept d e a l s with

for f ic t io n

the em p h a sis

speaks

f r e q u e n c y and e m p h a sis upon

wo men i n

Two

r e a d by women, and beca use

h is

n o v e l s of t h e f i r s t d ecad e

co m p elled

on a T o v /er^

Woman F a i t h f u l l y

so c ia l

B o t h b e c a u s e of

w h i c h H a r d y ' s pu b lish er T in sle y con­

01

20

of

woman i n V i c t o r i a n England.

him w a s

v ille s .

16 -

p rob lem s

in

t o a n a ly z e t h i s p r o b l e m . a n d Tess o f the D ' U r b e r P r e s e n t e d , " Hardy d e f i n i t e l y

t h o s e works "on the r e l a t i o n s

s e x e s , " ^ - 1- a n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f b r e a k i n g t h e t e n t h compp mandment i n s u c h a w a y s i s t o m a k e c l e a r the i n t e n t i o n about h is

the

d e sir e

b ein g

the

to

a n a ly ze

m a in

p o in t

an a ly zed

m

ner

in stin c ts

best

short

Ha n d

devoted

to

19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

of

to

attack

her

the

a n a ly sis

fram ew ork

of

of

for the

tw o

In a d d i t i o n t o

the p o s i t i o n o f women i s

r e q u i r e d to marry i n s p i t e ox in

ev id en ce

of E th elb erta . an

con d ition , th ere,

b ein g

and d e s i r e s

sto r ie s--c e r ta in ly

In The

w ith in

regard

a ty p ic a l

e i g h t n o v e l s and i n f i f t e e n o f a s o c i a l problem o f b e h a v i o r .

ex a m p le,

e n t i r e c h a p t e r s are

h e r o i n e ' s s t a t u s and b e h a v i o r

so c ia l

l e v e l s i n w h i c h she m oves.

T h o m a s H a r d y . Two o n a Tower"] " P r e f a c e , " p . v . T h o m a s H a r d y , T e s s o f t h e D ' U r b e r v i l l e s , " Preface" t o 190b e d i t i o n . i b id . i b id . T h o m a s H a r d y , T h e Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a . Ch ap ters I , V I I , I X , X , XXV, X X X I I .

23

-16AAbout th e

f o u r t h a s p e c t o f H ard y’ s s o c i a l t h i n k i n g ,

concern w i t h r u r a l most d e f i n i t e sive a r t i c l e

l a b o r e r s and t h e i r l i f e ,

the

p r o o f o f a l l , because he p u b l i s h e d a n g iv in g

"The D o r s e t s h i r e

h i s v i e w s about i t .

n ovels d e a l w it h

It

L a b o u r e r " and was p r i n t e d

i s s u e o f L o n g m a n 1 s M a g a z in e i n London.

a s do f i f t e e n

one h a s

sto ries.

In c lu ­

was e n t i t l e d in

the

J u ly ,

1885

T w elve o f H a r d y ’ s

s o c i a l p ro b lem s o f t h e s e

short

h is

rural la b o rers

Among t h e n o v e l s , T h e

P o o r Man

and t h e L a d y t A P a i r o f Blue E y e s , F a r f r o m t h e M a d d i n g Crowd, T h e Wood l a n d e r s , T e s s , and Jude c o n t a i n e x t e n d e d passages

s h o w i n g t h a t Hardy w as e m p h a s i z i n g t h o s e

about i n j u s t i c e s

to

t h e rural la b o r e r s w h ich he had

so s t r o n g l y

a g a in st

Hardy w r o t e

a letter

in g the m i g r a t i o n

Longman1s M a g a z i n e . the e x t r e m e

poverty

the tim e h i s

n o v els

of f a m ilie s dangers o f

24.

25. 26. 27.

the 24

spoken

1922

concern­

w hich h e a g a i n expressed

In t h i s l e t t e r he w a s e m p h a t i c

in about

o f the la b o r e r s o f th e

south o f

d e p i c t e d them.

he g iv e s ex a m p les 25 o f w ant, of th e

In t h i s

a g r i c u l t u r a l workers le a v i n g t h e c itie s,w

in t h e ir

in

same v i e w s p r e v i o u s l y

id ea s

Furtherm ore,

t o R id e r Haggard i n M a r c h ,

s o p o o r t h a t the c h i l d r e n d i e d

c ro w d in g t h e per m anen ce

i n t h e m agazi ne a r t i c l e *

o f a g ricu ltu ra l laborers

e m p h a s i z e d m an y o f

same

and o f t h e i r l a c k o f 27 home l e a s e h o l d s .

country so cia l

E n glan d

at

and o v e r secu rity

and

Thom as H a r d y , ^The D o r s e t s h i r e L a b o u r e r , 11 L o n g m a n ' s M a g a z i n e , J u l y , 1 8 8 5 ; a n d " L e t t e r t o R id e r H a g g a r d , " i n P . te. H a r d y , The L a t e r Y e a r s o f Thomas Ilardy, (New Y o r k , T h e M a c m i l l a n Company,""1 9 5 0 ) , p p . 9 3 - 9 6 . " L e t t e r t o R i d e r H aggard," F. E. H a r d y , The L a t e r Y e a r s , p . 9 3 ib id . pp. 9 4 -5 i b i d . p . 96

-16B Of t o w n a n d about r u ra l

ones;

w orth o f c i t y attack ic a l

city

"but h e m a d e

w orkers w ith

in The Hand

o b jectiv e

He a l s o m a d e

as

and

that th at

In both

n o v els,

d itio n s

among to w n

tow n and c i t y

c ity

the

th e

Jude

"w orkfolk"

is

to ld

"The S o n ' s V e t o , "

e q u a l i t y in rea l

em p lo y ers

the

o b viou s

in

stressin g h is

the

"Preface"

a n a ly sis

la b o rers

of

faced faced

speak

la b o rers

of

issue of

so ciolog­

to

th at novel.

t h e unsurmount-

i n The Mayor of i n Jude

of

the

and n o t

t h e O b scu re.

g e n e r a l con­

th e mere p ligh t

i n f e r i o r i t y w h ich E n glish

a lw a y s

and

and i n

th e

the

cla sses

w ith

even

la b o rers

have

is

o f the urban w o rk in g

s a y th a n

book.

th em selv es

in

to

the

one

feelin g

la b o rers

less

of

passages

p a r ity betw een stressed

p o in t

p o in ted

and c i t y in

In a d d ic tio n ,

th e ir

tow n

extended

ch aracters

th e

p rim ary

an o b v i o u s l y

C a sterb rld ge

Hardy h a s

of E th elb erta , the

ab le d i f f i c u l t i e s

o f the

la b o rers,

tra g ic

sto ries.

escape pathos

of

because

of

the d is ­

o s t e n t a t i o u s upper classes

short

to

"A F i d d l e r

fe lt

the

T h e v a i n a t te m p t

b e i n g b r a n d e d a s mere in

"To P l e a s e

R e e ls,"

H i s Wife ,"

a n d "A T r a g e d y o f

Two A m b i t i o n s . " H ard y's a ll

le v e ls

v iew s

of E n g lish

ed u ca tio n

le ss

freq u en tly

stressed

Is

t h e m ain p o i n t com m ents i n tio n

is

28.

F.

h is

Jude

d ia ry

" so m eth in g

" I am t h e ta in ly

in

one

to

the

show

h ad d e f i n i t e E. H a r d y ,

the

O bscure.

d e fin ite ly w orld it

to

so c ia l

The

to

th em ." 28

The E a r ly L i f e

in

d ecla re

ought

id ea s

a s d i s c r i m a t o r y at

be

the

but i t Is

"Preface"

a n d Hardy's

that

d iscrim ina­

th is

show n."

B esid es

i n m in d

n o v els,

in

H a r d y adds,

th is,

Hardy

cer­

J u d e ; f o r he r e p e a t s

o f Thomas H a rd y ,

p.

272

-16C h i s concern w ith e d u c a t io n p o r tr a y s the o n e r o u s n e s s

In

of

its

many r a m i f i c a t i o n s h e r e .

o n e's

h avin g to prepare f o r

He

th e

u n iv e r s ity w ith out a t e a c h e r — a s

t h e n o v e l i s t had h im s e lf* d o n e ,

working e v e n in g s

He a l s o g i v e s e x t e n d e d

for

ten

years.

a b o u t w om en 's e d u c a t i o n

and

sch o o ltea ch in g ,

o f m a le s c h o o l t e a c h e r s ,

the

l o w p a y the t e a c h e r s r e c e i v e ,

the

snobbery o f

fin a l

ch ap ter

ing p u b lic a tio n f o r b o o k s

on H ardy's d i f f i c u l t i e s

co n ta in in g

le m s, th e im pact o f h i s

th in k in g

w o u l d n o t be r e a l i z e d .

W ith ou t

ab le to e s t a b l i s h

the

fact

accepted s o c ia l

29

fo rm u la s

th at H ardy's

th at

and

check

chart,

in

the s i x m ain a s p e c t s

such

29~.

what of

in

num-

t h e y e v i d e n t l y h ad a l a r g e

part

s o c ia l p hilosop h y.

the r e c u r r e n c e o f On t h e b a s i s

o f H ard y's th in k in g as h e r e

other

of l e s s

of

When o n e

am ou nted t o m i l l i o n s

H s fic tio n .

ju stifie d .

were r e j e c t e d a s

prob­

on e w o u l d n o t b e

of m o ra lity .

g iv in g

chapter head in gs were s o c ia l problem s

secur­

prim acy of th e s o c i a l c o n c e p t s h e r e

ad op ted , a c h a r t was p r e p a r e d situ a tio n s

chapter,

h e wa s f l y i n g i n t h e f a c e

w h ole

on th e

in

d iscu ssio n of s o c i a l

prin ted h is co n cep ts

have

th at

In B r i t a i n ' s r e - t h i n k i n g h e r As a f i n a l

th is

codes

readers

one may e v e n a s s e r t

portant s o c ia l

and

on co n servative V ic t o r ia n s

th a t he

needed im provem ent, k n o w i n g

her,

statu s

O xon ian s.

W ithout t h e

rea lizes

about the

com m ents

as

On t h e b a s i s o f t h i s

a ll of

im ­ th is

g iv en chart

in a lso ,

em ployee-em p loyer r e l a t i o n s h i p ,

im p ortan ce

in H ardy's f i c t i o n .

Statem ent o f C a r l J . W e b e r , t h e le a d in g a u t h o r it y o n H a r d y , i n l e c t u r e a t New Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y , A u g u s t 3 0 , 1 9 5 1 .

In o r d e r to be c e r t a i n in to

t'-e

author d id n o t h o ld ,

n o v elist's

d ia ry .

a ll

o f H ard y's

was

thus

voted

of h is

p u b lish ed

the D ' U r b e r v i l l e s

so c ia l to

the b o o k s,

i n c u r a storm

that If

ed ito r of

of

a ll

O bscure. t h e m ain

esta b lish ed ,

even w ith ­

from H en ry H a r p e r o f H arper of

of h is

passages

the

G ra p h ic M agazine t h a t

of h is

p rin cip les,

restored

And y e t h e

the m ost m oral

one h a s a n y d o u b t

one

has

two

rejected

f ir m ly m ain ­

*->e h a d e v e r

sin cer e

In th e s e

book form at a f t e r th ey had b een ed ito rs

(w here

criticism .

th ese books were

t v,e v a l i d i t y

b o w d lerized

31. 32.

gen u in ess

and Ju d e t h e

tw o n o v e l s

kn ow in g

he w o u ld

30.

the

o t h e r w o r k s , ) H ardy sh o w ed t h a t he had

and from t h e

tio n ed

th in k in g

w a s made o f t h e

of

t h i n k i n g may b e

B rothers

w ritten .

a rev iew

so c ia l

a b o u t s o c i a l p rob lem s a s h ere an alyzed 30 esta b lish ed , e s p e c i a l l y in th e f i f t y pages d e­

reference

ta in ed

of h is

Abundant e v id e n c e

com ments on t h e s e

asp ects

w r i t e r was n o t " rea d in g

id ea s

to T ess of

In h i s

lish

th is

H ard y's f i c t i o n ” any a s p e c t s

w h ich

out

tb at

attem p t to e s t a b ­ on ly

n o v els

by th e

in p r e v io u s m agazine p u b l i c a t i o n .

to

read

the

In f i n a l

above-m en32

P . E .H a rd y , The E a r l y L i f e o f T h o m a s H a r d y , p p . 4 9 , ’£ 4 , 7 9 8 3 , 8 8 - 9 , 1 1 5 - 1 1 6 , 1 4 3 , 2 2 l, “ 5 2 3 - 4 , 2 6 7 , 2 7 7 - 8 2 , 2 9 8 , 3 0 1 , 397, 3 1 0 ; a nd T h e L a t e r Y e a r s , p p . 3 0 , 1 0 8 , 1 4 8 - 9 , 1 8 7 , 1 9 0 197, 2 1 1 , 2 2 0 , a n d 2 3 4 c o n t a i n r e f e r e n c e s t o h i s d i a r y an d a u to b io g ra p h ica l n o t e s r e l a t i n g to s o c i a l s t r a t i f i c a t i o n . A s i m i l a r d o c u m e n t a t i o n w as made f o r a l l H a r d y ' s m a in i d e a s about s o c ia l p rob lem s a s here l i s t e d . P . E. H a rd y , The L a t e r Y e a r s , p p . 3 - 1 4 an d 2 8 - 2 5 . i b i d . , and p p . 4 6 - 5 1 , v i d e : f in a l chapter of th is th e s is .

CHAPTER I BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH THE DEVELOPMENT OP THOMAS HARDY’ S SOCIAL IDEAS A p p r o x i m a t e l y two d e c a d e s a f t e r and i n a p e r i o d o f a c u t e s o c i a l born i n Upper Bo ck ham pto n , D orchester, D o r se tsh ir e , on June d ,

1840.

d e a t h of N apoleon,

changes,

a lm o st

in

the

the

three

south

In h i s k n o w l e d g e

Thomas Hardy was m i l e s northeast of

c e n t r a l part

of

of England,

r u r a l f o l k c u s t o m s and

h is lo v e of old E n g lis h t r a d i t i o n s ,

H a r d y d e v e l o p e d more c o n ­

s i s t e n t l y w ith h is h e r e d it y

en viron m en tal in flu en ces

and h i s

th a n d i d a l m o s t any o t h e r V i c t o r i a n tio n o f Charles D ick en s.

n o v elist,

S im ila rly ,

b iographical sketch, h is s o c i a l from i d e a s e v i d e n t i n t h e

it

id ea s

w ill

w it h the e x c e p ­ be shown i n t h i s

o r p h ilo s o p h y developed

" in tellectu a l

a t m o s p h e r e " and i n h i s

own e x p e r i e n c e . As

a

s o c ia l th in k er,

he

d eriv ed

c o n c e p t s a r i s i n g and c i r c u l a t i n g 1840 and 1 8 7 6 , when h i s

so c ia l

p h i l o s o p h y w ere b e i n g f o r m e d

in

oi t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y o u t s t a n d i n g

h is

w id ely

m a i n i d e a s from i n E n glan d between

d o ctrin e s h is

m in d .

even ts

of

and h is p o s i t i v i s t To m e n t i o n a few t h e s e y e a r s , which

h e l p e d t o s h a p e our c o n t e m p o r a r y i d e a s :

the

f a m in e " o f 1 8 4 b - 1 8 4 6 , w i t h i t s

d iscu ssio n

the p l i g h t of

r e su ltin g

l a b o r i n g men i n E n g l a n d

and

Irish

"potato of

I r e l a n d and t h e i r

-

la ck

of

food,

the R ep eal

d ev a sta tin g

effects

cu lm in a tin g

in

London, the

in

the

1848,

a risto cra tic

M a n ifesto

in

D u rin g

ephem eral

or

T hese

*48

France,

Germany,

rig h ts

a n amendment

fie ld

of

in

ed u ca tio n ,

on

t h e Duke

to h e r

ou t-of-d ate

1870,

S ch o o ls there

in E n g la n d ,

in

Second

p r im a r y and

even

no

three

of

a risto ­

in A u str ia ,

S tuart

M ill

try in g ,

Germ any,

and was

in

lb b v,

a llo w in g

th e ir

And i n Com mis­

awoke E n glan d

ed u ca tio n a l

and

demo­

Ita ly ,

a s F o reig n

im p o rta n t Rf s.

the

by P a r lia m e n t.

(1861) , in

S a ta n ic

C o n tin en ta l

occurred

R eform B i l l

secondary

in France

the

w ere

id ea s

John

M atthew A r n o ld ,

was p r a c t i c a l l y

dark

a g a in st

th e ir

In E n glan d

and U n i v e r s i t i e s

even

there

o f N e w c a s t l e 1s c o m m is s io n ,

P o p u la r E d u ca tio n

H igh er

the

through­

"Era o f M e t t e r n i c h , "

f o r women a n d

the

C om m unist

S c h le sw ig -H o lste in ,

governm ent p a sse d

sio n er

in

to

in

from

rev o lts

in

or u p risin g s

S w itzerla n d ,

equal

the

the

the

v a in ,

w orkingm en and

Czechs a t P rague.

rep resen ta tio n the

in

rev o lu tio n s

of

co n d itio n s

freq u en tly

cracy.

to g e t

in

1848,

r o y a lists

p eo p le

H e i n r i c h M arx and

causes

a g a in st

c la ss

h avin g

u p risin g

e x clu sio n

p rin tin g

same y e a r

econ om ic

for

th e ir

th is

w hich a f f e c t e d E n g l i s h

a rg u in g

real

e v e n tu a lly

w ork in g

1848 by K arl

and i t s

fa cto ries.

the

Law s,

the C h a r t is t

a g a in st

governm ent,

and E u r o p e

among t h e

Corn

2 5 ,0 0 0

p rotest

out E n glan d

and

the

m arch o f

to

F r ie d r ic h E n g els,

crats

of

on a g r i c u l t u r e ,

i n E n glan d

r e v o lu tio n s,

18 -

system s

a second

rep ort,

(1874).

B efore

free

state

ed u ca tio n

iy S i n c e Hardy was a r e g u l a r r e a d e r o f and,

T h e S a t ir d a y R e v ie w

t h r o u g h f r i e n d s h i p w i t h b o o k r e v i e w e r s r c t e r s M iss

Th pr r ' - s I r d ; - , j^n I n d i s c r o t i o n I n t h e L i f e o f a n H e i r e s s , att. 1 0 1 - 1 1 7 , a n d F . F . H a n d y , T h e F a r l y Y e a r s , C h a p t e r I V , n p r , o p . b i ] v n v' , 80 —8 n * r*l s o m . SQ , 9 8 , 1 0 7 —o , An I nd j r o r a t i o n i n t h e L i f p o f o n H e i r e s s , n o . 8 0 - 8 8 ; i o n - 5"; 0 6 ; ' P t . . ' I T , C h a p t e r T I T . F . F . H p r d y , T h e F a .r 1 v Y e a r s , m o . 7 7 - 8 5 j C • L . c r a v e s , L i f e a n d L e t t e r s o f A1 e r a , nd e r Me crni U r n , 1 CJ1C , p o . 2 8 8 - 0 2 . Th oma s " I t e r d 1' , An I n d i s c n e t . i o n j n t h e L i f e o f a n H e i r e s s . P t. I , C hapter ITT. j h l d . n . 6 . T h e s e r e f e r e n c e s a b o v e o p r. q u o t e d t o t r a c e f r e n e t i c a l l y , t h e d e v e l o n r n e n t c'* h i - s o c i a l i d e a s w h i c h h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n s h o w n t o h a v e i n f l u e - n c ^ d h i s r e ril 1 j . f e i n L o n d o n : c_f. C h a n t e r I , o '-;. O O - 'X . Ib id • no. 6-1? . i b i d . n o . 6 - 1 ? , 8 7 , 7 6 .*Vh 6 0 , 1.0 m , ] e p . p p n .

-

A lla m o n t, th e h e r o in e , b e in g lim ite d tary

so c ia l

in th e

159 -

e x p r e s s e d t h e fu n d a m e n ta l wrong o f

c h o i c e o f a h u sb a n d t o men o f h e r e d i ­

s t a n d i n g o r t h o s e o f w ea lth :

b e in g o b lig e d The h e r o

to

care fo r

" I t i s a l l th r o u g h

so m e b o d y w h e th e r you w i l l o r n o t . "

p a i n t s t h e p i c t u r e o f t h e ir lo v e a f f a i r in

s u c h a way t h a t o n e m u s t r e a l i z e H a r d y 's c o n c e p t o f woman's s u p p r e s s io n b y an a r t i f i c i a l

s o c i a l code:

"To c a r e f o r s u c h a man— a v i l l a g e y o u t h . They w i l l e v e n s u p p r e s s t h e f a c t t h a t h i s f a t h e r was a p a i n t e r o f no m ean p o w e r , and a g e n tle m a n by e d u c a t i o n , l i t t l e a s i t w o u l d red eem u s ; and J u s t i f y t h e i r d o in g so by r e f l e c t i n g th a t in a d d i n g t o t h e c o n t r a s t t h e y im p r o v e t h e i r t a l e , A nd c a l u m n y m e a n w h i l e s h a l l f e e d on u s A s w orm s d e v o u r t h e d e a d ; w hat we h a v e done N o n e s h a l l d a r e a v o u c h , th o u g h i t b e t r u l y k n o w n ." "And t h e y w i l l c o n t i n u e , 'H e was an a r t f u l f e l l o w t o w i n a g i r l ' s a f f e c t i o n i n t h a t way— on e o f t h e m e r e scum o f t h e e a r t h , ' t h e y ' l l say."^-® A n y o n e f a m i l i a r w i t h V i c t o r i a n m a r r ia g e s o f women o f rank o r s t a t i o n , M rs. G -a sk e ll, aw are o f

In th e f i c t i o n

o f T r o llo p e , T hackeray,

t h e B ron tfi s i s t e r s ,

o r G eorge E l i o t , w i l l b e

t h e f a m i l i a r r i n g o f t h e h e r o in e 's co n v e rsa tio n

w i t h h e r f a t h e r a b o u t a n y h y p o t h e t i c a l l o v e r o f t h e lo w e r c la s s: " I s a i d , " s h e w h i s p e r e d , " S u p p o s e a man s h o u ld l o v e me v e r y m u c h , w o u l d y o u mind b e i n g a c q u a i n t e d w i t h h im i f h e w e r e a v e r y w o r th y man?" "That d e p e n d s u p o n h i s r a n k a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s , " he j l/I I s s A l l e n v i l l e ' s f a t h e i ^ J s a l d . ^ 15. 16. 17.

Thom as H a r d y , An I n d i s c r e t i o n i n t h e L i f e o f an H e i r e s s ( B a l t i m o r e , The J o h n s H o p k in s P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 ) , p . 6 5 . ib id . p. 73. ib id . p. 82.

-

160-

E n ou gh h a s been e x p la in e d in t h e p l o t a n a ly s is th e sis

to

s h o w t h a t H a r d y 's f i v e m o s t e m p h a s i z e d i d e a s

was c o m p le te d . H a r d y 1s

women w ere p r e s e n t b y 1 8 6 8 w h e n t h e n o v e l

1A

S o c i a l T h in k in g a b o u t W gJB aal.fi E d u c a t i o n

I n o r d e r n o t to c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e on

e m p h a s iz e

e sp e c ia lly

in

in

fir s t th e

E th e lb e r ta ) to

th o se

se c tio n w ill

w hereas

fo u n d in

th e e ig h te e n -e ig h tie s (in

T h e H and o f

o v e rc o m e t h o s e V i c t o r i a n h a n d i c a p s o f w h i c h

b u t o n e , a lth o u g h th e f u n d a m e n t a l o n e .

who r e m e m b e r t h e f i e r c e e f f o r t s o f women t o

fr a n c h ise

w o m a n 's

l a t e r . T h e

su c h t r a i n i n g in H a r d y 's m in d I s

p e r i o d o f n o v el w r itin g in

is

sta tu s,

t e a c h in g o th e r s w il l be t r e a t e d

s t r u g g l e o f E th e lb e r ta P eth er w in

e d u c a tio n

th is

t h e fu n d a m e n ta l i n f l u e n c e s o f

l a c k o f i t upon h e r s o c i a l

im p o r ta n c e o f h is

ch a p ter o f t h is

e d u c a t i o n i n E n glan d i n g e n e r a l ,

e d u c a tio n o r her part

and

o f T h e P o o r Man and t h e L ad y I n C h a p t e r I I o f t h i s

about V ic to r ia n

th e sis

o u tlin e

In B r ita in w ill fu lly

a p p r e c ia te

th e

O n ly

g a in

th e

p r e ju d ic e

w h i c h k e p t wom en down i n a l l s o c i a l a n d b u s i n e s s a c t i v i t i e s . If

women w e r e a p p a r e n t l y f o r c e d t o d r o p b o m b s I n t h e H o u s e

of

C o m m o n s, t o

18.

19.

s t a b p a in t in g s in th e a r t g a l l e r i e s , and

H a r d y ' s I d e a s o f woman's e d u c a t i o n I n t r a i n i n g c o l l e g e w h i c h h i s s i s t e r s Mary and K a t h e r i n e a t t e n d e d a t t h i s t i m e i s c l e a r from h i s comment I n h i s d i a r y o n t h r e e o c c a sio n s. On o n e v i s i t t o a t r a i n i n g c o l l e g e h e s a i d t h a t w o m e n 's e d u c a tio n t h e r e t a u g h t th em a v ie w o f l i f e " d a m n a b ly wrong": F . E. H a r d y , T h e E a r l y L i f e . p . v i d e . " E d u c a t i o n , " C h a p te r VI o f t h i s t h e s i s w h e r e t h e c a r e e r s o f 12 te a c h e r s are r e v ie w e d .

308.

-1 6 1 h a lf-d e str o y to

th e ir

th e

r o y a l th ro n e

c o n d itio n

m ay p e r c e i v e

as la te

c h a ir to

as th e tw e n tie th

th a t th ey r e a liz e d

p r e s s u r e s w ere

str o n g ly

th a t

th e

o n e o f Shaw ’ s P y g m a lio n o r t h e

in

i n H a r d y ’ s s t o r y rem in d s

21

H ardy’ s E th e lb e rta

t a b o o s a g a i n s t wom an’ s e d u c a tio n 22 a t a s k wom en f a c e d . H a v in g secu red her

k n o w le d g e o f l i t e r a t u r e

by c a n d l e li g h t was a b u t l e r , fru g a l

can g iv e

her

20

o v e r c o m in g V ic t o r ia n

fir s t

to

th em ,

h e r o i n e o f Y o u N e v e r Can T e l l ,

o n ly tw en ty y e a r s e a r l i e r .

s h o w s h ow d i f f i c u l t

th e

c e n t u r y , one

c o n se r v a tiv e

en tren ch ed a g a in s t

E t h e lb e r t a C h ic k e r e l P e th e r w in

w r itte n

aw aken B r it is h e r s

in th e lib r a r ie s

a tten d

sa v in g s o f her b u t le r - fa t h e r

a p r im a r y t r a i n i n g

str u g g le s

H ardy t e l l s

c la s sic s

s c h o o l th r o u g h

a n d n u r s e - m o t h e r who

and " n orm al s c h o o l "

fa m ily o f t e n

very d e fin ite ly

E th e lb e r ta

se c r e tly

w h er e her f a t h e r

c h ild r e n ,

her e x p e r ie n c e s

ed u c a tio n

E th e lb e r ta in

s h o w s how h a r d women m u s t c o n t e n d

p u r p o s e l y com posed t o

(H ard y,

o f th e r ic h

and h a v i n g m anaged t o

o n ly one o f t h e ir

B r ita in .

by r e a d in g th e

f o r e d u ca tio n .

in a novel

sh ow s o c i a l w e a k n e s s e s o f t h e poor in g iv e s

h im se lf la r g e ly

her e x p e r ie n c e s p u b lic ly :

se lf-e d u c a te d ,

knew o f su c h in s ta n c e s )

S h e g r a p h i c a l l y r e c o u n t e d . . . t h e s t r a n g e dream s a n d a m b i t i o u s l o n g i n g s o f t h i s c h i l d w h en y o u n g , h e r a t t e m p t s t o a c q u ir e e d u c a t io n , p a r t i a l su c­ c e s s e s , p a r t i a l f a i l u r e s , and c o n s t a n t s t r u g g le s ; i n s t a n c i n g how , on o n e o f t h e s e o c c a s i o n s , th e g i r l c o n c e a le d h e r s e l f under a b o o k ca se o f th e 20. 21. 22.

6 . i t , W eber, l e c t u r e , New ifo r k I J n i v e r s l t y , S e p te m b e r 4 , 1 9 5 1 , E. E. H ardy, The E a r ly L i f e , p . 1 4 3 : T h i s w a s H ardy’ s b e lie f, at le a s t. T h e H and o f E t h e l b e r t a . ( 1 9 0 5 e d . ) p . 3 4 9 .

-16 2 l i b r a r y b e l o n g i n g t o t h e m ansion i n w h ich h e r f a t h e r s e r v e d a s f o o tm a n , and, having t a k e n w i t h h e r t h e r e , l i k e a y o u n g Fawkes, m atches an d a h a l f p e n n y c a n d l e , w a s g o i n g t o s i t up a l l n i g h t r e a d i n g , when t h e f a m i l y r e t i r e d , u n t i l h e r f a t h e r d i s c o v e r e d an d p reven ted her schem e. One c a n

h a rd ly

d i s a g r e e w i t h E t h e l b e r t a 1s c o m p l a i n t

about the d i f f i c u l t y

of

w o m a n ' s s e c u r i n g an e d u c a t i o n

.and

s u c c e s s in t e a c h i n g ,

"I

w i s h I w e r e a man."

com­

pares the d i f f i c u l t y

of

th is

ed u cation w i t h

th e

fo r d or C am bridge, what b e c a u s e

rich one

o o o r bo v s

p o o r woman i n s e c u r i n g

b o y s w ith serv a n ts a t E to n is

a lso

endowed gr am m ar s c h o o l s

E th elb erta through the o n l y

a ll

had d i f f i c u l t i e s ;

m anaged t o

o f E n glish e d u c a t io n

th at

one

ed u cation c o u l d

do

p ractices 23. 24. 25.

in

as

had

been

hundred

none f o r g i r l s .

It is

E th elb erta,

the

best

d isco v ers for

Hardy

a b ility — th ere

a m ea n in g fu l

B rita in — com m entary

lik e the B ron tfi

siste r s,

tr a in in g in t e a c h i n g .

L a t e r , when h e r m o t h e r - i n - l e . w h a s t h e f u n d s t o t h is ed u ca tio n ,

som e­

women h ad i n M i d - V i c t o r i a n

sc h o o ls.^ 5

for

and Ox­

s e c u r e some h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n

the t e a c h e r -t r a in in g

h a d t o go e l s e w h e r e

but

o v e r E n g la n d f o r t w o

p ra c tic a lly

ch a n n els

an

e x a g g e r a tin g the s i t u a t i o n

a m ason's so n knew t h a t - - f o r boys of

y e a r s and m o r e — b u t

When o n e

p ro v id e

th a t H ardy's i d e a s

of

for

what

wom en a r e n o t f a r f r o m s o m e m o d e r n

p ro g ressiv e

sch o o ls

today.

The Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a " ( 1 9 0 5 e d . ) p . 3 4 9 . H a r d y ' s a n c e s t o r h a d f o u n d e d t h e D o r c h e s t e r Gr am mar S c h o o l i n t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a s Hardy s t a t e d . F. E. H a r d y , T h e L a t e r Y e a r s . p . 2.55. ib id . p. 3 0 8 . H a r d y comments i n h i s d i a r y t h u s a b o u t th e g i r l s a t W h i t e l a n d s T raining C o lle g e f o r s c h o o l ­ m i s t r e s s e s "A c o m m u n i t y o f women i n s p i r e s . . . p r o t e c t i v e t e n d e r n e s s i n t h e b r e a s t o f on e who v i e w s t h e m . "

-

E th e lb e r ta , lik e

163-

P a u l a P o w e r I n A L a o d i c e a n I s b o t h an

e d u c a t e d a n d a c u l t u r e d woman. p refa ce

to

th is

a b ility

w ill

be

p e o p le , th a t to

n o v e l w here I t I s equal or

a m ore g e n e r a l

one of th a t

to

f a c t . 26

f a m ilia r w ith

lite r a tu r e

th e p a r tic u la r

B u rn s'

t h r o u g h h e r own h e r o i c

se c tio n s o f M ill's

a l s o becom e d e te r m in a tio n .

b ook s on p o s i t i v i s t p h ilo ­

e c o n o m y s h e w a n t s i n h e r own l i b r a r y . ^8

an d t h e w orks o f

p o r t r a y in g an i d e a l m e tic , geograp h y,

even a r c h ite c tu r e ,^ 7

t h e m o s t m o d e rn woman i n H a r d y 's

knows h e r B ib le w e l l ,

poem s,

and sp a r k le

and a r t ,

s u p e r f i c i a l , f o r sh e can im m e d ia te ly fin d

sop hy o r p o l i t i c a l She lik e w is e

c o n v in c e

to be a s c h o o l m i s t r e s s , and

s o m e w h a t l i k e H a rd y h i m s e l f ,

N or I s h e r r e a d in g

com m ents

T r a i n e d a t B o n n , G erm a n y , f o r t h r e e

French lit e r a t u r e

She h a s ,

and h i s

te a c h e r -tr a in in g c o lle g e s

E th e lb e r ta P e th e r w ln i s fic tio n .

e n d o w in g h e r , I s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d

a p r e p a r a tio n

f a m ilia r w ith

th a t o f h ig h e r c la s s

e d u c a tio n o f h e r sex ;

v isits

y e a r s , g iv e n

s ta te d th a t E th e lb e r ta 's

su p e r io r to

H a r d y , by s o

on h is th r e e

One may c o n c l u d e fr o m t h e

and a ls o

M i l t o n ' s and

Sh akesp eare.

t e a c h e r , w ith h e r a b i l i t y

d r a m a tic s, a r t ,

enough to

g iv e

and m u sic .

H ard y i s to

th u s

tea c h a r ith ­

She h a s v e r v e

d r a m a tic r e a d in g s so t h a t t h e

a r is to c r a tic

c la s s e s ,

th e

i n c l i n e d , com e i n l a r g e n u m b e r s t o h e a r t h e m .

26. 27. 23.

so c ia lly

t h e w e a lth y c lu b m e n , t h e a r t i s t s ,

and

T h om as H a r d y . T h e H and o f E t h e l b e r t a . (New York H a m a ra 19 0 5 ), p . 194. i b i d . p . 3 0 9 , I . e . H er u s e o f a r c h i t e c t u r a l t e r m s lik e fle c h e . ib id . p. 333.

The ir o n y , o f c o u r s e ,

is

ex a g g era ted

to

how f a r a b u t l e r ' s d a u g h t e r m a y e x c e l b a n d , a v i s c o u n t , a m em ber o f From v i s i t s t o t h r e e

m e n t a t i o n and f o r m a l i s m

as

s c h o o ls fo r sc h o o l­

d e fin ite

th ere

w h ic h was n o t o n l y " w r o n g , b u t o n l y r e c o r d e d "damn" i n

In I n t e l l e c t h er hu s­

p a r l i a m e n t , and l o r d o f a m a n o r .

tr a in in g

m i s t r e s s e s , Hardy form ed , t h e

sh o w , b y h y p e r b o l e ,

H a r d y 's

id e a t h a t such r e g i ­

e x i s t e d fu r th e r e d a sy stem

d a m n a b l y w ron g." d ia r y

T h is i s

and I n d i c a t e s s tr o n g

f e e l in g about th e id e a t h a t

w om en, no

n o t be s t r a i t - j a c k e t e d

a n y e d u c a t i o n a l fo rm u la o r

reg im en .

T h is i s h i s

in to

d e sc r ip tio n

of

th e

le s s

th a n m en , s h o u l d

" M elch ester"

T r a in in g C o lle g e fo r S c h o o l m i s t r e s s e s ,

as to ld

(S a lisb u r y )

in Jude th e

O bscure: H a l f an h o u r l a t e r t h e y a l l l a y i n t h e i r c u b i c l e s , t h e ir ten d er fe m in in e f a c e s u p tu r n e d to th e f l a r ­ in g g a s - j e t s . . . e v e r y f a c e b e a r i n g th e le g e n d "The Weaker" up on i t . 3 0 la c d y .lg P o r t r a y a l

q£

C u l t u r e d a n f l E d u c a te d Women

The t r a i n i n g o f E t h e l b e r t a P e t h e r w l n , P a u l a Pow er i n A L a o d ic ea n f and Su san n a B r i d e h e a d f i n e and a p p l i e d a r t s t h a n o f fir st

b a c h e lo r o f a r t s . 29.

30.

its

It had

J u d e i n c l u d e d more

a n y p r o m in e n t lib e r a l a r ts c o ll e g e

rank i n th e U n i t e d

r e q u ir e s tod ay f o r a l l

in

S ta tes

( e x c e p t O b e r l i n i n O h io )

c a n d id a t e s f o r th e degree of I n c l u d e d m a s t e r y o f many o f t h e

H a r d y 's m eth o d i s l e s s e x a g g e r a t e d t h a n t h a t o f o t h e r s a t i r i c a l w r i t e r s , S i n c l a i r L e w i s , E r sk in C a ld w e ll, and J oh n S t e i n b e c k . T h is s e n t e n c e i s th e id e a o f H a r d y 's p r e f a c e t o t h i s n o v e l . Thomas H a r d y , J u d e t h e Ob a c u r e . 1 8 9 5 , p . 1 6 5 .

-

165-

su b J e c t a m e n 's c o l l e g e s t h e n ta u g h t:

p h ilo s o p h y , a t l e a s t

f o r E t h e l b e r t a and Susanna B r id e h e a d ,

" so lid "

t h e m o re t h o u g h t f u l V i c t o r i a n

s c ie n tific ,

w r itin g s o f

s o c ia l,

e co n o m ic t h i n k e r s , a r a t h e r th o r o u g h g r o u n d in g i n lite r a tu r e ,

and E n g lish

a n d many w o r l d c l a s s i c s r e a d I n t r a n s l a t i o n . 3 ^

T h u s t h e p r o g r a m w h ic h H a rd y p l a n n e d f o r women s e e m s t o b e in

lin e

w i t h m odern e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e m .

f a r ahead o f

t h e s e n t i m e n t a l v i e w o f w o m a n 's e d u c a t i o n o r

th e V ic to r ia n T e n n y so n 's

C e r t a i n l y H a rd y w as

“g r e a t u n i v e r s i t y

"The P r i n c e s s "

t h a t poem , w here a g e o lo g y

f o r women" d e s c r i b e d i n

o n ly n in e te e n y e a r s b e f o r e . fie ld

t r i p becom es a t e n t in g

p a r t y w i t h a l m o s t " m u s i c a l c om ed y" e f f e c t s tea ch ers

and p u p ils a l i k e

m a k in g t h a n

in

and w h ere t h e

a r e m ore i n t e r e s t e d i n

stu d y , one h a s th e

In

d e fin ite

lo v e -

im p lic a tio n o f

t h e V i c t o r i a n v i e w o f w o m a n 's p l a c e b e i n g i n

t h e hom e.

No

s u c h r o m a n t i c a u r a s u r r o u n d s H a r d y ' s i d e a l o f w o m a n 's e d u ­ c a tio n .32 The H and tr u ly

q£

E t h e lb e r t a t h u s p o r t r a y s H a r d y 's f i r s t

in te lle c tu a l,

i n d e p e n d e n t wom an.

i n 1 8 7 5 w hen t h e s t r o n g p o l i t i c a l

It

was p u b l i s h e d

a c tiv itie s

o f r e a lly

c u ltu r e d

a n d e d u c a t e d women w e r e e x e r t e d t o o b t a i n woman

su ffra g e

and d id su c c e e d i n h a v in g la w s p a s s e d w h ic h a t

l e a s t m ade i t

p o s s i b l e f o r a m a r r i e d woman t o

h a v e p ro p erty

i n h e r own n a m e . 31. 32.

T h om as H a r d v . T h e Hand o f E t h e l b e r t a . d o . 8 1 r 8 6 - 9 1 T and C h a p t e r s X III-X V II and J u d e t h e O b s c u r e r P a r t I I I , C h a p t e r IV ; P a r t I V , C h a p t e r s I - I I I , e s p e c i a l l y p . 1 7 2 . TJifi H and Q t E t h e l b e r t a r C h a p t e r s X I I I , X I V , XV, e s p e c ia lly p. 118.

166-

•

No t o n l y

I s E th e lb e r ta P e th e r w ln

o f m a s c u lin e o r o t h e r d o m in a n c e, b u t m ost o f t h e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s i n t h e

h e r se lf sh e

a lso

In d ep en d en t d o m in a te s

book , e s p e c ia lly

th e

m en, L ord M o u n t c le r e , N e ig h , L a d y w e l l , a n d C h r i s t o p h e r J u l i a n . A lm o st e q u a l l y m a s t e r f u l a r e t h e o t h e r w om en i n M rs. in

D o n c a s t l e and M rs. B e l m a l n e a r e

a lso

to ta lly

s u b s e r v ie n c e to anyone o r to c u s to m s w h ic h

t h e i r in d ep en d e n c e.

The women i n t h i s

u p o n m a n 's i n f l u e n c e o r com pany f o r

la c k in g

m ig h t prevent

n o v e l n e i t h e r depend

an

a r e t h e v i c t i m s o f t h e i r own p a s s i o n

t h e n o v e l.

e m o t io n a l o u t le t nor

as

are h is

p r e v io u s

h e r o in e s . H a r d y 's c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f e d u c a t i o n e s s e n t i a l o f w o m a n 's s t a t u s

is

e v id e n t

s e e m s t o h a v e i n i n f l u e n c i n g women i n s t r i v in g to fa m ilie s .

im p r o v e t h e i r

as in

th e th e

h is

u n d e r ly in g c o n n e c tio n

fic tio n

who a r e

so c ia l

sta tu s

and th a t

of

E th e lb e r ta r a i s e s th e

so c ia l

le v e l

a l l her

n i n e b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s b y h e r s i n g l e h a n d e d G r a c e M e lb u r y i n T h e W o o d la n d e rB i s

a b le

to

of

th e ir

effo rts:

fa ce

e r r in g F i t z p i e r s a s p r o b a b ly sh e c o u l d n o t h a v e

down t h e d o n e w ith ­

o u t a s c h o o lin g in th e n o r th o f E n g la n d a n d C o n t i n e n t a l tr a v e l.

H ardy e v i d e n t l y

so p o r t r a y e d

th em

f o r he a t t r i b u t e s T e e s 's g r e a te r g r a s p o f to

it

p u r p o se fu lly ; life 's

p r o b le m s

her sc h o o lin g : B etw een th e m o th e r , w ith h e r f a s t - p e r i s h i n g lu m ­ ber o f s u p e r s titio n s, f o lk - lo r e , d ia le c t and o r a l l y t r a n s m i t t e d b a l l a d s , and t h e d a u g h t e r , w ith h e r tr a in e d N a tio n a l t e a c h in g s and S t a n ­ d ard k n o w led g e u n d er an i n f i n i t e l y R e v i s e d C o d e ,

-1 6 7 -

t h e r e was a g u l f o f a r i l y u n d e r s t o o d .3 3 But w ith o u t ed u ca tio n a nd t h e

some

two h u n d r e d y e a r s

ed u ca tio n

and m e r e s c h o o l i n g ,

crass

as

Jude,

P h iilo tso n

C u t h b e r t and F e l i x

C lare

in

often

so lu tio n

p rob lem s,

la d y 's

o f th e ir

ab le to

P au la

so c ia l

earn a l i v i n g

m aid and s o

E u sta c ia 's

fa llin g

fa ilin g

to

a ll

are c le a r ly

sy stem a tic

the

A ffected

the

o f two s t a n d a r d s ,

o f the l a t t e r them .

.

34.

35.

d o u b le

one

her

p a rtly

a mere

m a ch in a tio n s, ^4

of

tea ch in g ," '

so c ia l

program ,

and

an O xon ian w it h o u t

req u irem en ts

of

a w ife,

caused by la c k

of

for

bv th e D oub le S ta n d a rd stan d ard ,

but

men a n d o n e f o r

g rea tly

in B r ita in ,

Some p h a s e o r v a r i e t y

appears illu s t r a t e d 33

prove),

b ein g

id ea s

elopem en t w ith

as

Jude

G raye’s f a ilin g

her

b e fo r e M an ston 's

sex

in

any s a t i s f a c t o r y

for

in

confuses

ed u ca tio n .

Not o n ly

ta tio n of

accounts

elem en tary

ex p la in ed

Women a s

statu s

in

Tess

C ytherea

in e ffe c tu a l

Sue B r id e h e a d ’ s a d o l e s c e n t even

fa il

co m p reh en d C lym ’ s

Power’ s b eco m in g

rea lizin g

o rd in ­

(and Hardy n e v e r

women i n H a r d y ’ s f i c t i o n

to be

as

in

e le v e n n o v els

of

a lso

the

women,

ex isten ce affect

the

in H ardy’ s p resen ­ th ese

and f i f t e e n

standards short

sto r ie s.-"

Thomas H a r d v . T e s s o f t h e D ’ U r b e r v i l l e s . ( M o d e r n L i b r a r y , 1951) E u s ta c ia 's d i f f i c u l t i e s a r e , o f c o u r s e , due p a r t ly , as P r o fe s so r Guerard p o in ts o u t, to h er b e in g o v e r s e x e d . E d u c a t i o n i n s e x m a t t e r s Hardy c o n s i d e r e d o f p rim e im p o r ­ t a n c e , v i d e . T h o m a s H a r d y , "The S c i e n c e o f F i c t i o n , " i n L i f e and A r t b v Thomas H ardy ( 1 9 2 5 ) p . 1 1 8 . C a r l J . W eb er, H a rd y o f W e s s e x . (194-0) s t o r i e s N o s . 2 , 4 , 5, 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 2 , 1 4 , 1 6 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 2 7 , 3 0 , 3 4 , 3 6 , 43 p p . 2 6 5 - 8 .

-

168-

S u ch f r e q u e n t r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e th em e w h ic h a l s o

in v o lv e s

many i l l e g i t i m a t e c h i l d r e n i s a p a r t o f H a r d y ' s a r t i s t i c and m oral p r i n c i p l e t h a t

" l i f e b e in g a p h y s i o l o g i c a l f a c t ,

i t s h o n e s t p o r t r a y a l m ust l a r g e l y be c o n c e r n e d w i t h , o n e t h i n g , t h e r e l a t i o n o f th e s e x e s ."® 6

fo r

So i m p o r t a n t

d id

H ardy v i e w t h i s m a t t e r t h a t h e s t r o n g l y a d v o c a t e d p r o v i d i n g ea ch young a d o l e s c e n t w i t h a handbook g i v i n g a s c i e n t i f i c summary o f f a c t s h e n e e d e d t o k n o w . ® 7

U n le ss t h e

man o r

woman u n d e r s t a n d s t h e i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t s o f w r o n g d o i n g , h e c a n n o t , H ardy t h o u g h t , h a v e t h a t se r io u s f i c t i o n

" le sso n in l i f e , "

w h ic h

sh o u ld g i v e .® 8

Thus f r o m h i s

s u p p r e s s e d The P o o r Man a n d t h e

J u d e ,®9 t h e e v i l s o f t h e

Lad_v t o

d o u b le sta n d a r d a r e sh o w n i n

th e ir

p e r n i c i o u s r e s u l t s , m o r a l l y , e c o n o m i c a ll y , and s o c i a l l y r e f l e c t i n g m ore d i s c r e d i t up on t h e woman t h a n t h e m o s t c a s e s . 4®

B u t Hardy i s n o t s e n t i m e n t a l a b o u t t h e

a n d when t h e woman i s Thfi Ma y o r

ql!

e q u a lly to b la m e , i n

m a tter;

D e s p e r a te R e m e d ie s r

ff.flsMrbrj,.flg.s, and The I s l l z - B . s l o v f f d , H a r d y

w a s t e s no f a l s e

sy m p a th y up on h e r .

L ady A l d c l y f f e

d is c o n s o la t e , but not g r e a tly p it ie d ; th e

m an i n

L u cetta i s

same w ay; an d A v i c e C aro t h e s e c o n d i s

d ie s

trea ted

not c o m m ise r a te d

w it h , in t h e l e a s t . 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Thomas H a r d y , "Candour i n E n g l i s h F i c t i o n . " Thomas H a r d y , "The S c i e n c e o f F i c t i o n " i n L i f e a n d A r t b v Thomas H a r d y . (N. Y . , 1 9 2 5 ) p . 1 1 8 . ib id . p . 85. v i d e . T h is t h e s i s , C h ap ter I I , e s p e c i a l l y p p . 6 0 - 6 5 : T h i s i s l e s s t r u e i n A Croup o f N o b le D a m e s .

-

169 -

I n Two o n & T o w e r r L a d y V l v l e t t e th e c a p tio n o f P art V o f im p lic a tio n V lv le tte

C o n sta n tin e

T e s s . "The Woman P a y s . "

Illu str a te s The s o c i a l

i s p l a i n , f o r w i t h i n h e r own i n t e n t i o n s

is,

lik e

T e a s , a p u r e w om an .

T h erefo re,

Lady

it

is

im p lie d t h a t th e E n g lis h

d o u b le sta n d a r d o f m o r a lit y and

s o c i a l m a n n e r s , and e v e n

t h e E n g lis h la w , a re to b la m e .

a n o b l e woman t r i e s t o l i v e

a c c o r d in g to her b e s t

an d I n s t i n c t s b u t b e c o m e s i n v o l v e d i n d iffic u ltie s if

w h ic h r u i n h e r l i f e ,

p o s s ib le , be a l l e v i a t e d ,

If

In fo r m a tio n

a c h a i n o f m a n -m a d e

th o se d i f f i c u l t i e s

sh o u ld ,

H ardy I n d i c a t e s .

The w r o n g t o woman c o m e s a s a r e s u l t o f t h e f a u l t y B r i t i s h l a w w h ic h a l l o w s a h u s b a n d , to

S i r B lo u n t C o n s t a n t i n e ,

d e s e r t h i s w i f e f r a n k l y and p u r p o s e l y and m arry a n o t h e r

woman a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r i t e s

o f her

He d o e s n o t

E n g lish

th ereb y f r e e h i s

la w w i l l n o t , i t r ite s

is

savage A fr ic a n

tr ib e .

w ife b e ca u se E n g lis h

a ssu m ed , r e c o g n iz e th e sa v a g e m a r r ia g e

o f A fr ic a . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e man I n v o l v e d may c o m m it w o r s e

o f f e n s e s a g a in s t m ann ers, m o r a lit y , or at le a s t is

not

c e r ta in ly

sid e r s h is

su ffer g r e a tly

a b e lie v e r

r e la tio n s h ip

in

th e

in

a n d la w a n d g o

r e p u ta tio n .

d o u b le

scot

S ir B lo u n t

sta n d a rd ,

fo r he con­

w i t h t h e A f r i c a n p r i n c e s s w i t h whom

h e l i v e s o p e n l y , i n a d i f f e r e n t w ay f r o m h i s

a ttitu d e

h i s w i f e , V l v l e t t e , whom h e m a k e s p r o m i s e t o

liv e

" c lo is te r e d

n u n ."

free,

lik e

tow a rd a

■170A s u s u a l , Hardy r e p e a t s h i s m ain them e t o make I t e m p h a tic . lo v e r ,

T h is I s p r e s e n t e d a s th e c a s e o f V l v l e t t e ' s

S w lth ln S t. C le e v e , th e tw e n ty -tw o -y e a r -o ld y o u th f u l

R B t r o n o m e r s h e t h i n k s t h a t sh e h a s m a r r i e d u n t i l s h e d i s ­ covers

t h a t t h e m a r r ia g e was i n v a l i d b e c a u s e i t t o o k p l a c e

b efo re

S i r B lo u n t , h er h u sb a n d , had d ie d .

fin d s th a t to

o u t , a f t e r h e r y o u t h f u l S w ith ln h a s l e f t th e c o u n t r y , sh e

i s t o b e a r a c h i l d , a n d t h a t s h e now h a s no h u s b a n d

fa th er

A fr ic a , as

th e

it.

B u t , a s i n t h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h t h e h u sb a n d i n

S w ith ln a ls o f a i l s woman s u f f e r s .

t o u n d e r g o any d i f f i c u l t i e s

such

Hardy i s p o i n t i n g o u t t h e e v i l s o f

tw o m o r a l stan d ard s as h e i s th e

T h us, V l v l e t t e

i n t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f many o f

o t h e r h e r o in e s in h i s n o v e ls:

Lady A l d c l y f f e , C y t h e r e a

G - r a y e , E l f r i d e S w a n c o u r t, E t h e l b e r t a P e t h e r w i n , T om asin Y e o b r i g h t , Anne G a r la n d , and P a u l a P o w e r .

The men w i t h

w hom H a r d y ' s women w ere I n l o v e a r e f r a n k t o a d m it t h e i r o w n h o l d i n g t o a d i f f e r e n t s t a n d a r d fro m t h a t t h e y e x p e c t fro m

t h e i r w i v e s o r l o v e d o n e s . 4*-

Y et B r it i s h d iv o r c e la w s

g r a n t e d women no e q u a l i t y on a m o r a l b a s i s — t h e r e was a d o u b le

sta n d a r d in la w , t o o .

As o r d in a te

if

t o c o n t r a s t t h e woman' s r e a l w o r th w i t h h e r s u b -

p o s i t i o n t o man i n t h e la w and s o c i a l J u s t i c e ,

H a r d y h a s p o r t r a y e d V i v i e t t e a s a r e m a r k a b ly i n t e l l i g e n t p erson . 41.

One who c a n q u o t e much o f S h a k e s p e a r e ' s work

M a n s t o n c o n f e s s e s h i s d o u b le s t a n d a r d ; so do M o u n t c l e r e , W i l d e v e , Bob L o v e d a y , and C a p t a in D e S t a n c y . K n ig h t p r o b a b l y h e l d up a d i f f e r e n t s t a n d a r d f o r women a s I s s h o w n by h i s u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o f o r g i v e E l f r i d e f o r a f f a i r s w h i c h , i n men, w o u ld h a v e b e e n e a s i l y o v e r l o o k e d .

extem pore a n d i s

f a m ilia r w ith D ryden4 2

t u r e , Lady V i v l e t t e

has th e

t o a c q u ir e I n f o r m a t i o n i n

c u ltu r e d

and f o r e i g n l i t e r a ­

in d iv id u a l's

a new f i e l d ,

as

a b ility

sh e d oes in

astron om y . 4 ® Most o f

a l l , V lv le tte

su ffers

th e o r y t h a t w o m a n 's p l a c e I s

from

in th e hom e, and th e c o r o lla r y

t o i t , t h a t woman s h o u l d b e r u l e d i n may make i t

th e p r e v a le n t B r it is h

t h a t hom e b y m e n , who

w h a tev er th e y c h o o se t o h a v e

e x p la in e d f r a n k l y t o h e r v i c a r ,

it.

As V lv le t t e

M r. T o r k i n g h a m :

He £ s i r B l o u n t C o n s t a n t i n e ! ! b a d e m e c o n s i d e r w h a t my p o s i t i o n w o u ld b e w hen h e w a s g o n e rfco A f r i c a t o h u n t l i o n s j . . . a n d c h a r g e d me t o a v o i d l e v i t y o f conduct in a t t e n d in g any b a l l , r o u t , o r d in n e r t o w h ic h I m i g h t b e I n v i t e d . I , i n som e c o n te m p t fo r h i s lo w o p i n io n o f m e, v o l u n t e e r e d , t h e r e and th en , t o l i v e l i k e a c l o i s t e r e d nun d u r in g h i s a b s e n c e ; t o go i n t o no s o c i e t y w h a t e v e r — s c a r c e even t o a n e i g h b o r ' s d i n n e r p a r t y ; a n d d e m a n d e d b i t t e r l y i f t h a t w o u ld s a t i s f y h i m . He s a i d y e s , h e l d me t o my w o r d , a n d g a v e me n o l o o p h o l e f o r r e tr a c tin g I t . 4 4 The o t h e r men i n t h i s n o v e l a l s o r o g a tiv es to i n t h a t hom e: mouse and I s

e x e r t m a sc u lin e p re­

k e e p woman I n h e r h o m e a n d e v e n t o

V l v l e t t e ' s b r o th e r L e w is w a tc h e s h e r l i k e e v e n an e a v e s '

c o v er w h e t h e r h e r l o v e r i s

dropper in th ere;45

h e r cham ber t o

S w ith ln

a l l in n o ce n c e, h a v in g m a r r ie d V i v l e t t e ,

43. 44. 45.

S t.

is

in

le a v e s her

d e sir e

Two on a T o w e r , C h a p t e r V I I I ; S h a k e s p e a r e C h apter X X V II. i b i d . C h a p t e r s V I I - X I ; a l s o V I a n d XXV. ib id . C h ap ter I I I , p . 2 7 . I b i d . C h a p t e r XXX.

a

d is­

C le e v e ,

b lith e ly

home a lo n e f o r som e f o u r y e a r s , b e c a u s e h i s 42)

In terfere

is

to

q u oted in

stu d y

th e

s o u t h e r n c o n s t e l l a t i o n s i n South A f r i c a , C a m b r id g e ,

M a s s a c h u s e t t s , and e ls e w h e r e . 46 H ardy c e r t a i n l y D r.

J o c e ly n

tin e 's le ss

S t.

i s c r i t i c i z i n g m a s c u lin e dom inance i n

C l e e v e ' s b i t t e r remarks about Lady C o n s t a n ­

l o v e - m a k i n g t o a man w it h o u t money a s b e i n g " l i t t l e

th a n

c o m m i t t i n g a c r im e ."

The a t t i t u d e o f t h e pompous

B i s h o p o f M e l c h e s t e r , in h is l e t t e r o f proposal (fo r he i s to o

i n c o n s i d e r a t e o f women t o make t h e f i f t y - m i l e t r i p t o

propose

in p e r so n

e v e n t o a l a d y w it h a t i t l e ) , and t h a t o f

th e

parson

d id

n o t r e g a r d w om en, even w ith t i t l e s , as e s p e c i a l l y w o rth y

of

T o r k i n g h a m a r e b o th i n d i c a t i v e t h a t t h e c h u r c h

c o n sid e r a tio n

a s f r e e in d iv id u a ls . 47 A L a o d ic ea n

A L a o d ic e a n m ade aw are o f sc r u p u lo u s

th a t

be hard to In t h i s

r e fle c ts

h is 46 • 47. 48. 49-

e v i l s o f t h e dou b le s t a n d a r d , o f how u n ­

t h e t r a d i t i o n a l v ie w s o f h e r s t a t u s seem

d e p a r t fro m , even i n h e r own t h i n k i n g . 48 n o v e l,

how u s u a l

S i r W illia m c h ild ,

th e

m en w o u l d be t o marry h e r f o r w e a l t h , and how

w om an f i n d s to

sh o w s how P a u la P ow er, th e h e r o i n e , i s

t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e d ou b le s ta n d a r d w a s .

d o e s n o t t h i n k t h a t h i s h a v in g t h e i l l e g i t i m a t e

D are,

m em o ry

C a p ta in ( a f te r w a r d S ir W illia m ) D e S ta n c y

h is

w i l d and q u e s t i o n a b l e l i f e In I n d i a , and

s t o r e d w i t h " to u c h in g a m o u r e t t e s " 4 9 s h o u ld i n

T h o m a s H a r d y , Two on a Tower. Chap t a r XL. i b i d . C h a p t e r s I I I , XIX, and XXII-XXIX. T h o m a s H a r d y , A L a o d ic e a n . P a r t V I , Chapter V. i b i d . B o o k I I I , C hapter I I .

173-

■

any way d e t e r him from m a r r y i n g t h e v i r t u o u s P a u l a P o w e r , whose w e a lt h to d a y w o u ld h e c o u n t e d i n t h e m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s . 66

M o reo v er, P a u l a , l i k e m o s t V i c t o r i a n w om en, h a s

no r e a l i z a t i o n o f m a s c u l i n e c h i c a n e r y , a l t h o u g h s h e i s sp oken o f a s a s e a s o n e d C o n t i n e n t a l t r a v e l e r . 5 1

She I s

e a s i l y d e c e i v e d by D a r e ' s and H a v i n ' s t r i c k e r y G eorge S o m e r s e t ' s p l a n s f o r t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f

in

s te a lin g

S ta n cy C a s t l e . 5^

She i s d e c e i v e d by t h e " f a k e p h o t o g r a p h y " o f t h e

sp lit

n e g a t i v e w h ich h a s e v i d e n t l y b e e n p r o d u c e d b y D a r e i n f i t t i n g t h e p ic t u r e o f her l o v e r ' s h ea d on t h e body o f a d ru n k a r d t o g iv e a f a l s e im p r essio n o f h i s r e a l h a b i t s . 5 3

She i s

d e c e i v e d i n t o s e n d in g a h u n d r e d p o u n d s t o t h e v i l l a i n r e s u l t o f th e o ld d e v ic e o f a f a l s e

as a

sig n a tu r e . 5 4

Ik s Daahia Stanford I n "Is b s " T eas o f t h e D ' U r b e r v l l l e s . i s ,

s o c ia lly c o n sid e r e d ,

p r i m a r i l y an a t t a c k upon t h e m a n 's d o u b l e s t a n d a r d , n o t o n l y i n m o r a l s , bu t a l s o In e d u c a t i o n .

in la w , i n la b o r on t h e fa rm , and

In m o r a l s , o f c o u r s e ,

it

is

t h e m ost e v id e n t .

A n g el C la r e b e s i d e s t h e d o u b l e s t a n d a r d a l s o h o l d s t o tw o m o ra l s t a n d a r d s , t h a t f o r h i s own b e h a v i o r b e i n g d i f f e r e n t from t h a t f o r T e s s . 50.

51. 52. 53. 54•

H is i d e a t h a t T e s s s h o u l d f o r g i v e h im

Thomas H ardy. A L a o d i c e a n . P a r t I r C h a p t e r i v . (S h e i s n o t h e s i t a n t t o sp e n d 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 p o u n d s f o r r e m o d e l i n g h e r c a s t l e , n or d o e s i t p r e v e n t h e r c o n t i n u i n g h e r o t h e r e x p e n s e s .) i b i d . P a r t I , C h a p te r i x . i b i d . P a r t I I , C h a p te r l v . i b i d . P a r t V, C h a p te r l v . I b i d . P a r t IV , C h a p te r i v .

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i n w h i c h women th e pay g iv e n . 6 9

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c o n s i d e r e d , f o r men and f o r wom en.

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to A le c a se c o n d tim e . 6 5

6 1 . T e s s o f t h e D ' U r b e r v i l l e s f (New Y o r k , H a r p e r s , 1 9 2 2 ) pp. 1 6 0 , 2 5 8 -6 8 , 3 7 7 , 3 9 1 -4 0 3 . 62. C a r l J . W e b e r , H a rd y o f W e s s e x r (New Y ork, C o lu m b ia U n iv e r sity P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 264. 63. T h is was e v i d e n t l y t r u e e v e n f o r t h e n o b i l i t y and t h e m o r e a f f l u e n t , f o r L ad y C o n s t a n t i n e c a n n o t o b t a i n a s e p a r a t i o n fr o m S i r B l o u n t C o n s t a n t i n e even a f t e r h is d e se r tin g h er. 64. T e s s o f t h e D ' U r b e r v l l l e s . p . 9 1 , " C A l e c 's } r e p u t a t i o n a s a . . . h e a r t b r e a k e r . . . s p r e a d b e y o n d t h e im m e d ia te b o u n d a r ie s o f T a n tr ld g e ." 65. i b i d . p p . 42 8 -4 3 7 .

J u d g i n g fr o m t h e way t h e e d i t o r s o f T he G r a p h i c h a d c o m p e l l e d H a rd y t o b o w d l e r i z e T e a s a n d t h e way t h e E n g l i s h a n d A m e r ic a n r e a d e r s w e r e s h o c k e d b y t h e n o v e l , H a r d y ' s r e a l c h a r g e a g a i n s t c u r r e n t s o c i a l and m oral c o d e s f o r women w as r e a l l y

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In o t h e r w o r d s , t h e c u r r e n t

E n g la n d o p p o s e d a n y woman " w i t h a p a s t "

a s h a v in g a f u t u r e , ev en i f

t h e p a s t w e re n o t h e r f a u l t .

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67.

Thomas H a r d y , P r e f a c e t o t h e 1 8 9 2 e d i t i o n , p p . i - i x of T ess. Mary E l l e n C h a s e , Thpmflg Hardy fro m S e r i a l $Q. N o v e l , 1 9 2 7 , C h a p ter I I .

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n o t b e co n d em n ed f o r a n a c t o f w h ic h

sh e was r e a l l y

in n o c e n t.

A f t e r m a r r y in g T e s s and h e a r in g o f h e r s e d u c t i o n by A l e x , A n g e l ' s V i c t o r i a n m o r a l c o d e r e c e i v e s a s e v e r e sh o ck and, at f i r s t , and s o c i a l l y

m a k e s h im a w a r e t h a t ,

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c o n se r v a tiv e , sin c e “t h i s a d v a n c e d a n d w e l l - m e a n i n g y o u n g mein— a sa m p le p r o d u c t o f t h e l a s t t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s — w as y e t a s l a v e t o c u sto m and c o n v e n t i o n a l i t y w h en s u r p r i s e d b a c k i n t o h i s e a r l y t e a c h i n g . 1,69 A f t e r t h r e e w eeks o f

t r y in g to

s o l v e h i s p r o b le m s o f

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T ess a f t e r h e r c o n f e s s io n , h e p a r t ly rea d ju sts

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t h e V ic t o r ia n m oral c o d e ,

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id e a s o f

a n d d i s c a r d s many o f

F . 2 . H a r d y , The L a t e r Y e a r s . C h a p t e r I , p . 6 . T ess o f th e D 'U r b e r v llle s . p . 3 0 2 . S e e C h a p te r I I of t h is t h e s i s , pp. 1 2 1 -2 7 .

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th em a s h e h a d a lr e a d y don e t h e m y s t ic id e a s o f h i s e a r l y fa ith . tr ie s

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i d e a l i z e T ess J u st th e

a t h e a r t a lth o u g h h e

sam e: 7 0

No p r o p h e t h a d t o l d h i m , a n d h e was n o t p r o p h e t enough to t e l l h im s e lf th a t e s s e n t i a l ly t h i s y o u n g w i f e o f h i s was a s d e s e r v in g o f th e p r a i s e o f K i n g L em u el a s a n y o t h e r woman en d o w ed w i t h t h e sa m e d i s l i k e o f e v i l , h e r m o r a l v a l u e h a v i n g to b e r e c k o n e d w ith n o t b y any a c h ie v e m e n t, but by te n d e n c y .7^ But i t and th e

t a k e s s e v e n t e e n m on th s i n B r a z i l — w here i l l n e s s ,

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T h e n H a r d y a n a l y z e s t h e m o r a l s i t u a t i o n o f women fro m t h e v ie w p o in t o f

t h e new m o r a l e t h i c :

What a r r e s t e d h im now o f v a l u e i n l i f e w as l e s s i t s b e a u t y th an i t s p a t h o s . H a v in g d i s c r e d i t e d t h e o l d s y s t e m s o f m y s t i c i s m , h e now b e g a n t o d i s c r e d i t th e o l d a p p r a ise m e n ts o f m o r a lit y . He t h o u g h t t h e y w a n t e d a d j u s t i n g . Who w as t h e m o r a l man? S t i l l m o r e p e r t i n e n t l y , who w as t h e m o r a l woman? T h e b e a u t y o r u g l i n e s s o f a c h a r ­ a c t e r l a y , not o n ly i n I t s a c h ie v e m e n ts, but in i t s a im s and i m p u l s e s ; i t s t r u e h i s t o r y l a y , n o t i n t h i n g s d o n e , b u t am ong t h i n g s w i l l e d . 7 4 (T h is w r i t e r ' s i t a l i c s ) 70. 7172. 73. *74.

T e s s o f t h e D ' U r b e r v l l l e s . C h a p t e r XVI. i b i d . p . 302. I b id . p. 390. Ib id . p . 398. I z z H u e t 's w ords to A n gel C la r e c o n v in c e h im o f t h e w rong V i c t o r i a n m o r a l c o d e . ib id . p. 389.

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s h e m a n a g e s t o u s e th em a l l th in k in g

in

su p e r io r

I n T he H and o f E t h e l b e r t a . t h e t i t l e

c h a r a c te r n o t o n ly o u tra n k s a l l in te llig e n c e ,

esta te

fa r

on a p r o f i t a b l e b a s i s ,

P a u la P ow er, esta te

in

and

k e e p in g

A L a o d ic e a n m anages

e ffic ie n tly

and w i s e l y f o r

In Jude th e O bscu re, i t

is

n o t Jude,

A l b e r t J . G u e r a r d . Thomas H a r d y ( C a m b r i d g e . H a r v a r d U n i v ­ e r s i t y P r e s s , 194-9) t P» 5 0 , v i d e , p p . 1 4 0 - 1 5 0 .

t h e s t u d e n t o f r e l i g i o u s m a t t e r s , who h a s t h e o r i g i n a l id e a s, but h is is

common l a w w i f e ,

S u sa n n a B r id e h e a d .

f a m i l i a r w ith th e F renoh r a t i o n a l i s m , h ig h e r c r i t i c i s m

o f th e B ib le

(w h ic h J u d e h a r d l y k n o w s a b o u t ) , c a n a r r a n g e

th e books o f th e B ib le in c o r r e c t is

"Sue"

c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r , an d

a stu d e n t o f a u t h o r i t i e s w h ic h J u d e h a s n e v e r stu d ie d .

In f a c t ,

b o th

Sue and E t h e l b e r t a P e t h e r w i n a r e th o r o u g h

s tu d e n ts o f John S tu a r t M ill a n d o r g a n iz e and t h e i r a c t i o n s on p r i n c i p l e s From t h e s e a n d many o t h e r In te lle c tu a l, r e a liz e

of

th in k in g

th e u tilita r ia n s .

I l l u s t r a t i o n s o f w om an's

e x e c u t i v e , a n d e v e n m o r a l q u a l i t i e s , o n e may

t h a t H ard y s h o w e d t h a t

But he c le a r l y

sh o w s t h a t

th ey

in B r ita in .

w om an, c r i e s

o u t a g a in st h er l o t

a liv e lih o o d

in B r it a in .

H ardy i s

c le a r

had n a tiv e a b ilit y .

th ey l a c k e d

and e q u a l i t y

m a n . ,iro

th e ir

e d u c a tio n , o p p o r tu n ity ,

E v e n E t h e l b e r t a , h i s m o st c u l t u r e d w hen sh e i s

She e x c l a i m s , in

u n a b l e t o make

"I w i s h I w e r e a

s h o w i n g t h a t C y t h e r e a G raye i n

D e s p e r a t e R e m e d ie s i s l a c k i n g o n l y i n e d u c a t i o n t o ea rn 77 h e r own l i v i n g . T he r e v i e w e r K n i g h t i n A P a i r o f B l u e E y e s show s E l f r i d e

Sw ancourt t h a t

sh e has a b ilit y

to w r ite

h e r n o v e l , The C o u r t o f K e l l y o n C a s t l e . b u t l a c k s t h e e d u 7ft c a tio n ; ° c e r t a i n l y no man c o u l d h a v e s a v e d t h e l i f e o f H enry K n ig h t , b a r r i s t e r - a t - l a w , E lfr id e 76. 77. 78. 79.

d i d . ’'’9

a n y m ore e f f i c i e n t l y

And H a rd y p u r p o s e l y

h a s h e r w r ite her

The H and o f E t h e l b e r t a . ( 1 9 0 5 e d i t i o n ) D e s p e r a t e RfimeflJlge, p . 1 5 . A P a i r o f B lu e E yes . C h a p ter X I I I . i b i d . C h a p ter X X II.

p.

195.

th an

fa th e r 's

se rm o n s, w ith i n s t r u c t i o n s w here to lo w e r h i s

v o ic e . T h a t women may b e e d u c a t e d w i t h e q u a l p r o f i t

a s men

w i l l b e p o in t e d o u t in th e c h a p te r on e d u c a t io n , w h er e, a s s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , Fancy D ay, E t h e lb e r t a P e t h e r w in , Sue B r id e h e a d , and M rs. M lllb a n k e v i d e n t l y and e f f e c t i v e n e s s H a r d y 's n o v e l s

a ll

s u r p a s s In I n t e l l i g e n c e

t h e men s c h o o l t e a c h e r s d e p i c t e d i n

e x c e p t f o r W i l l S t r o n g i n T he P o o r Man a n d

t h e L a d v . who w a s a s c h o o l t e a c h e r o n l y t e m p o r a r i l y .

H a rd y

w as f a r a h e a d o f e v e n t h e n o t e d B e n j a m i n J o w e t t , M a s t e r o f B a l l i o l C o l l e g e , O x f o r d , I n h i s v i e w s o f w o m e n 's e d u c a t i o n In 1875;

f o r t h e fam ou s t r a n s l a t o r o f P l a t o

a d v ise d th e

h e a d o f t h e w o m a n 's c o l l e g e a t O x f o r d n o t t o sam e e d u c a t i o n

th em t h e

a s men r e c e i v e d .

The women i n H a r d y ' s f i c t i o n

r e a liz e th a t th ey are

d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t a n d e m p lo y a l l f i n d ways t o

g iv e

th e ir

a v o id m a sc u lin e r e p r e s s io n .

in te llig e n c e

to

The h e r o i n e o f The

P o o r Man a n d t h e L a d y . M i s s A l l a m o n t , s i m p l y r e f u s e s m a s c u ­ lin e

d o m in a n c e i n

s e l e c t in g a hu sb and , le a v e s h er

lo v e r a t th e ch u rch , and f la u n t s

ev er y V ic to r ia n c o n v e n tio n

b y s e c r e t i n g h e r s e l f I n t h e home o f h e r f i a n c e b e fo r e m a r r ia g e . in

a h a lf

80.

T h is I s

th e n ig h t

Women s i m p l y a s s u m e m a s c u l i n e p r e r o g a t i v e s

dozen n o v e ls ,

w i l l m arry i n

se n ile

sp ite o f tr u e in

d e c id in g fo r g u a r d ia n s'

fiv e

n o v e ls

t h e m s e l v e s whom t h e y

p r o h ib itio n s,80

e lo p in g ,

-

18>

a s many e v e n among t h e n o b i l i t y

do I n A G rou p o f

N o b le

D am es . 83-

m a n a g in g e s t a t e s , 8 8 i n t r o d u c i n g m odern h o u s i n g

an d m e c h a n ic a l

d e v i c e s i n t h e i r m anor h o u s e s o r

a runaw ay

c o m p e llin g

h u s b a n d o r l o v e r t o s u p p o r t th em i n s p i t e o f

th e ir

la c k

of

le g a l r ig h ts . 84 I n t h e s h o r t s t o r i e s , o n e woman m a n a g e s a r u m - r u n n i n g e x p e d i t i o n ; s e v e r a l e a r n t h e i r own l i v i n g

even

at

w ages o f f e r e d to fe m a le s c h o o l t e a c h e r s and f a r m

th e

m in im u m

w o r k e r s ;8 5

a n d many u s e f e m i n i n e w i l e s t o k e e p t h e i r h u s b a n d s '

lo v e

In

s p i t e o f E n g la n d 's d o u b le s ta n d a r d . 8 6 The p a r t i c u l a r w a y s t h a t women w e r e d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a in s t w ere i n b e in g g iv e n l e s s to

e d u c a tio n t h a n m e n , e v e n

th e p o in t o f b e in g i l l i t e r a t e ; 8^ and In b e i n g

a t t e n d an y o f t h e b e s t c o l l e g e s b e f o r e 1 8 8 0 , a n d b e i n g a l l o w e d t o a t t e n d b u t r e c e i v e no c r e d i t 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86.

87. 88.

fo r

u n a b le

to

th erea fter th e

s t u d i e s . 88

T h is o c c u r s in h a l f a dozen n o v e l s and I n t w e l v e s h o r t sto r ie s. The h e r o i n e s i n D e s p e r a t e R e m e d ie s T F a r f r o m t h e M a d d i n g ■P.rQB.4, Tjtjig Hfiad E t h e l b e r t a . A L a o d i c e a n . a n d Two o n S Tow er do s o . P a u l a P o w er i n A L a o d i c e a n h a s t e l e g r a p h i c r e p o r t s o f London n e w s . H a r d y 's h e r o i n e s do t h i s f r e q u e n t l y , e s p e c i a l l y i n sh ort s t o r ie s . The way B a p t i s t a T r e w t h e n , Sue B r i d e h e a d , a n d a h a l f d o z e n o t h e r women r e g a r d t h e p r o f e s s i o n , I t i s n o t r em u n er a tiv e . Lady B a x b y i n "A Group o f N o b le Dames" t i e s h e r h u s b a n d to h i s bed to p r e v e n t h i s m e e tin g a la d y l o v e a t t h e d o o r : B a r b a r a o f t h e H ouse o f G rebe r e g a i n s h e r h u s ­ b a n d ' s l o v e ,* B a t h s h e b a p a y s S e r g e a n t T r o y l a r g e s u m s f o r g a m b lin g ; E t h e l b e r t a f o r c e s M iss G r u c h e t t e , t h e " f a n c y l a d y " t o l e a v e , and so o n . The h e r o i n e o f "On t h e W e ste r n C i r c u i t " m u s t h a v e h e r m is tr e s s w r ite h er lo v e l e t t e r s . T h i s w as t h e u s u a l p r a c t i c e o f Lady M a r g a r e t H a l l , O x f o r d a n d a t C am b rid ge a l s o .

-

18»+-

The g ro s s e s t I n j u s t i c e i s done to T ess, who must l i v e w ith th e ro u ^ , Alec D * U rb e rv ille , to keep h e r fa m ily from s t a r ­ v a tio n ; E th e lb e r ta , who must marry a lo rd o f e q u a l im m o rality to ed u cate h e r fa m ily ; Susan Henchard, whose husband s e l l s h e r a t a u c tio n ; and Lady C o n s ta n tin e , who i s fo rc e d to m arry an E n g lish b ish o p by t r i c k e r y —to g iv e h er c h ild a f a t h e r . V ic to ria n Women Must Regard M arriage an Only Paying O ccupation Hardy has p re se n te d th e example of how a h e ro in e t r i e s c o n s c ie n tio u s ly to su p p o rt a fa m ily h e r s e l f r a th e r th a n depending upon a husband.

E th e lb e r ta has m a rrie d , i n h e r

'te e n s , a young son o f th e n o b i l i t y and has found th a t such a m arriage e n ta ile d tro u b le s f o r any commoner who e n te re d th e n o b i l i t y by such a means.

Her m o th e r-in -la w , Lady P e th e r-

w ln, has h o n e s tly been kind to h e r , educated h e r , and sup­ p o rted h e r ; b u t she must always be th e t y r a n t o v er th e commoner.

Hence, th e am b itio u s commoner has ev ery re a so n

to avoid an o th e r m arriag e f o r w e a lth and t i t l e .

She t r i e s

t o r a is e money by ev ery a v a ila b le means; g iv in g d ram a tic re a d in g s , a c tin g as g o v e rn e ss, w ritin g p o e try , s o n g -w ritin g ; b u t she f a i l s .

The o n ly way f o r a V ic to ria n woman to su p p o rt

a la rg e fam ily was by m a rria g e .

And th e man s h e , a g i r l o f

tw enty-tw o, must a c c e p t i s over s ix ty - f i v e and g r o s s ly im m oral. Hardy d e f i n i t e l y p o in ts o u t in many works o f f i c t i o n th e dangers o f t h i s c o n s id e r a tio n o f m arriage a s th e only paying o c c u p a tio n .

I f a g i r l i s unable to f in d a s u ita b le

m an,

s h e o f t e n must t a k e a s e c o n d - r a t e one f o r f i n a n c i a l

reason s. fo r

h is

T h o m a sin Y e o b r l g h t h a s s e l e c t e d Damon W i ld e v e g l i t t e r i n g q u a l i t i e s as a c it y - t r a i n e d e n g in e e r ;

b u t he i s p la n s to

d i s l o y a l t o h e r , d i s h o n e s t w ith h e r m oney, and e l o p e w i t h a m a r r i e d woman.

In Two on a T o w e r .

L a d y V i v l e t t e C o n s t a n t i n e h a s m a r r i e d an A f r i c a n l i o n h u n t e r o f s p o r t in g p r o p e n s i t i e s , e v id e n t ly w ith o u t l o v e . A n d w hen h e d e s e r t s h e r f o r a b l a c k p r i n c e s s , h e r b r o t h e r L e w is f e e l s

c a l l e d up on t o a d v i s e h e r t o marry a s t u p i d

co u n try a

s q u ir e o f w e a lth as th e o n ly l o g i c a l p roced u re f o r QQ t i t l e d woman. ^ In th e sh o rt s t o r i e s , t h is i s

c ia lly

e v e n more o b v i o u s , e s p e ­

I n A Group o f N o b le D am es. w h er e women o f t h e n o b i l i t y

h a d p u r p o s e l y b e e n b r o u g h t up w i t h no o t h e r m eans o f f i n d i n g o c c u p a tio n s. p o in tin g ;

The r e s u l t i n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n

i s d e e p ly d i s a p ­

f o r o u t o f t h e t e n n o b l e dam es d e p i c t e d , o n l y t h r e e

h a v e h a p p y m a r r i a g e s . H aid y 's women h a v e o t h e r c a p a b i l i t i e s , b u t no o u t l e t f o r them : Woman" i s

t h e h e r o i n e i n “An I m a g i n a t i v e

a p o e t , l i k e E th e lb e r ta ;

E l i z a b e t h N ew b erry i n

"The D i s t r a c t e d P reacher" h a s e x e c u t iv e a b i l i t y

and d o e s

d e l a y m a r r i a g e f o r h e r c a r e e r t e m p o r a r i l y ; R o sa H a l b o r o u g h h a s h ad a r e l a t i v e l y e x p e n siv e e d u c a tio n in B r u s s e ls ; Joanna J o llif f e

r e p r e s e n t e d i n "To P l e a s e H i s W ife" w as

m a n a g e r enough t o s u c c e e d i f been 89.

and

any o c c u p a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g h a d

g iv en h e r . Two on a T o w e r . ( 1 9 0 5 e d i t i o n )

pp

.

128-9 .

—186 -

D isc o u n tin g fo r r e a l l o v e ,

t h o s e who m a rry f o r r o m a n t i c r e a s o n s o r

lik e

E u s t a c i a V y e , a n d many o f t h e h e r o i n e s

i n o t h e r n o v e l s , o n e h a s a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n t h a t H ardy r e c o g ­ n i z e d t h a t m a r r i a g e f o r many women i s fo r t h e i r p r o b l e m s .

not th e b e s t

Su e B r i d e h e a d s a y s t h a t i t

so lu tio n

is

n o t th e

L u c e t t a , i n T h e M ayor Q f C a s t e r b r l d g e .

b est c a r e e r f o r

her.

by h e r m a r r i a g e

n o t o n ly d ir e c t ly

c a u s e s h e r own d e a t h ;

but

she i n d i r e c t l y

‘b r i n g s a b o u t t h e d o w n f a l l o f M i c h a e l H e n c h a r d .

Several o f

h e r o i n e s o f t h e n o v e l s and s t o r i e s

to s u f f e r

th e

fin a n c ia l

em b a rra ssm en t, a t l e a s t t e m p o r a r ily ,

ra th er t h a n m a r r y m e r e ly f o r su p p o r t: V lv le tte

are w illin g

t h e f i r s t A v i c e C airo,

C o n s t a n t i n e , C h a r l o t t e D e S t a n c y , who e n t e r s an

E p isc o p a l n u n n e r y ;

and S a lly H a ll i n

Knapp."

fu tu re l i f e

But

th e ir

is

" I n te r lo p e r s a t th e

n e it h e r b r ig h t o r happy—

u n til th e y m a r r y . Su m m ary o f

H a r d v 1s V i e w s p f. Woman1s P o s i t i o n

H ardy h i m s e l f r e a c tio n s

to

h is

rem a rk ed upon t h e c r i t i c s '

p o r t r a y a l o f women i n h i s

e a r l y works t h a t

he c o u l d h a r d l y

u n d e r s t a n d h i s own e x c e l l e n c e

edge.

it

P r o b a b ly

m in u te a c t i o n s

of

w it h a l l

even

w om en, t h e i r c l o t h e s ,

b etter

th e ir

in t h i s k n o w l­

cam e from a h a b i t o f o b s e r v a t i o n o f

b e h a v i o r w h i c h H a r d y a s an u n u s u a l l y r e a liz e

fa v o r a b le

th e ir n ic e tie s o f

s e n s i t i v e man c o u l d

th a n T h a ck era y , T r o llo p e , and D ic k e n s ,

g r a s p o f t h e m ore p o w e r f u l p a s s i o n s .

-1 8 7 At any r a t e , k een ly lin e

aware

cou n try.

ones, th e

of

and

im p ortan t

an y th in g

them

are

an e q u i v a l e n t

to

have d e se r v e d

h is

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p resen ta tio n

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com m u n ity.

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cry out w ith

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for

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take

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th e w rcngs

ta tio n s

and b u s i n e s s

ed u ca tio n a l

and

p red ilectio n s in

show in g

w hich sh e runs A n o t h e r woman o f a la rg e

in tro d u ce

a m odel w orkingm en’ s

women m i g h t d o i n

sp ite

of

p r e j u d ic i a l h an d icap s.

t o p o o r men b e c a u s e

pathos

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to

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p lan n in g

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eq u iv a len t

the realm .

cou ld is

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a peer o f

Hardy n o t e s ,

so c ia l,

to

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an e d u c a t i o n

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p rojects

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leg a l,

a p p ea ls

to

and t o h a v e

becom es m i s t r e s s

how a b r i g h t g i r l

modern h o u s in g

he

lik e

ed u ca tio n ; it

or ru ra l

s o m e woman who f e e l s

K a r d y a n women P r o f e s s o r

Germany,

and

is

t h a t I w e r e a man."

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b etter

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there

id y llic

H a r d y d e p i c t s w h a t women m i g h t b e

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in

the

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a lso ,

approaching h ig h e r

shown

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have

stock

of

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s e v e r a l women who a r e

d on e them i n

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years

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