THE WOODLANDERS, by Thomas Hardy [English Literature II]
 |
| Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) |
Group 1: Marty
South – Setting
( Melina Delbón, Ornela Zorzón & Mariel Spesot)
Group 2: Giles Winterbourne – Style ( Mailén Aguirre, Luciana Mandel,
Giuliana Mathiew & Giuliana Vittori).
Group 3: Grace Melbury – Motifs of Fate (Carolina Corti, Cecilia Ely,
Mariano Paniagua, Diego Flores & Claudia Scheidegger).
Group 4: Edred Fitzpiers – Naturalism (Noelia
Mereles, Alejandra Centurión, Agustina Martínez, Yamila Moschén & Lionela
Velázquez).
Group 5: Felice
Charmond – Main themes (Paulina
Gómez, Ailén Bublitz, Gimena Fernández & Rocío Altamirano).
INSTRUCTIONS:
You are writing an analysis of a character and themes or a character and Naturalism, etc. This requires:
1) In INTRODUCTION to introduce what you are analysing, book and author, in one paragraph.
2) Topic sentences for each paragraph of your analysis to signal what the paragraphs are about.Then an explanation backed up by the extracts.
You must analyse your 2 topics using the sources provided by me and citing them in your References at the end of your document. The novel should be cited as one of your sources as well.
3- You must find 3 extracts for each topic, where the main ideas in your analysis are clearly shown. Cite the author: (Hardy 34).
4- Your document must be 2 pages long (A 4 – ARIAL 12 – double spacing – justified paragraphs).
5) If you write the extracts alone, there is no actual analysis and your readers won't understand a thing.
6) A CONCLUSION to round up ALL your arguments.
7) You can start with a quote pertinent to your area of analysis if you like, before the introduction.
8) Proper heading:
Instituto Superior del Profesorado Nº 4, Ángel Cárcano
ENGLISH LITERATURE II
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
Group members: ___________________
Focus of our analysis: ___________________& ________________ in The Woodlanders.
DEADLINE
for submitting the analysis / extracts: Mon 20, May - 08:00 AM
DEADLINE
for publication in the BLOG: Sat 23, May - 12:00 PM
References and Citations: If you are using sources, you are expected to quote them properly, following MLA academic conventions both in your in-text citations and at the end of your post, in your References.
Instituto Superior del Profesorado Nº 4, Ángel Cárcano
ReplyDeleteEnglish Literature II
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
Group 5: Altamirano, Rocío; Fernández, Gimena; Gómez, Paulina.
Focus of our analysis: Felice Charmond and Main Themes in The Woodlanders.
Introduction
The Woodlanders is a novel that was published in 1887. It has been neglected by critics if we compare the attention Hardy’s other novels have received from academics since their publication. (The Thomas Hardy Society Ed. 1) In this analysis, the main focus will be on Felice Charmond as well as the theme on “Man and Tree”, as it is one of the main characteristics of this novel.
Felice Charmond
Felice Charmond is presented as an outlander. Her presence in Hintock is doomed to be disruptive, as she exerts financial authority over the villagers and the land. (Sudhakar 299-300) “Nobody can turn us out till my poor soul is turned out of my body. ‘Tis lifehold— like Giles Winterborne’s. But when my life drops ‘twill be hers— not till then.” (Hardy 14)
Mrs. Charmond is similar to Fitzpiers in many aspects. For instance, she finds the woods a detestable, dreary, and occasionally frightening place when she is lost in them. Both are selfish and egotistical and they cause much sorrow to others and themselves, as their only interest is to satisfy their sexual attraction, showing little care about the people around them. Furthermore, Felice is categorised as an unstable, mature woman, and her imprudent behaviour has devastating consequences for herself; she is murdered by a resentful suitor. (Sudhakar 299-300) “She was shot— by a disappointed lover. It occurred in Germany. The unfortunate man shot himself afterwards. [...] So ends the brilliant Felice Charmond.” (Hardy 294)
Themes
DeleteMan and Tree
The Woodlanders depicts the relationship between men and the woods. (The Thomas Hardy Society Ed. 1) In this narrative, Nature can be regarded as a character itself, as it expresses personality as well as competence and power. (Wang 19)
“The wind grew more violent, and as the storm went on it was difficult to believe that no opaque body, but only an invisible colourless thing was trampling and climbing over the roof, making branches creak, springing out of the trees upon the chumney, popping its head into the flue; and shrieking and blaspheming at every corner of the walls.” (Hardy 277)
Many characters in The Woodlanders are affected by the woods and the trees in it. In the case of Felice Charmond, she is described as an outcast, not at all in harmony with Nature. She dislikes the setting and is uncomfortable in it, finding refuge in the amenities of her house. (Sudhakar 300) “I have lost my way! I have lost my way!” cried the latter. “Oh— is it indeed you? I am so glad to meet you or anybody. I have been wandering up and down ever since we parted, and am nearly dead with terror and misery and fatigue!” (Hardy 217)
Giles Winterborne is influenced by Nature and even though he is skilled and exults in any activity related to the woods, in the end, the environment does not benefit him. (Wang 19) “Hence Winterborne found delight in the work even when, as at present, he contracted to do it on proportions of the woodland in which he had no personal interest.” (Hardy 58)
What is more, Giles considers his environment to be a hiding place where he can be comfortable and protected. Yet, this perspective is so unreasonable that he tends to isolate himself completely. Those who are weak and cowardly are not approved by Nature, and Hardy describes this idea through Giles’ death. Instead, Nature wishes people to be self-reliant and to value her as well as to have the ability to use the environment for their benefit. (Wang 20)
As regards John South, it can be said that his fixation with the elm is a reference to the fact that woodlanders associate their feelings and the condition of their bodies to Nature. The elm South is obsessed with has grown tall as John has aged and he believes the tree represents his existence. Therefore, his death will come together with the death of the elm. (Wang 18) “I know I could, if it were not for the tree - yes, the tree ‘tis that’s killing me. There he stands, threatening my life every minute that the wind do blow. He’ll come down upon us, and squat us dead.” (Hardy 83)
Conclusion
Little Hintock represents human nature in its most primeval aspect; the rustic sphere and its austerity prevailing at last. (Sudhakar 300) Hardy emphasises the role of the natural world in his literary works and the delicate balance mankind must find with it. Men are required to be self-sufficient so as not to face the hostility of Nature. (Wang 18) Hence, Felice Charmond is inevitably chastened for her narcissism and recklessness. (Sudhakar 300) Likewise, Giles Winterborne and John South are considered weak in their relation with Nature and are ultimately punished for it. (Wang 18-19)
References
Hardy, Thomas. The Woodlanders. Oxford, England: Oxford World’s Classics, 2005. Print.
Sudhakar Naidu, V. University of Tripoli, Libya. “Heroism and Pathos in The Woodlanders: A study”. 2014. Web: 12 May 2020.
The Thomas Hardy Society Editors. “Introduction to The Woodlanders”. The Thomas Hardy Society. N.D. Web: 5 May 2020.
Wang, Xue-Gin. “Exploration into characters’ psychological complex in The Woodlanders”. 2007. Enlightenment Home Page. Web: 12 May 2020.
Instituto Superior del Profesorado Nº 4, Ángel Cárcano
ReplyDeleteENGLISH LITERATURE II
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
Group 1: Marty South – Setting ( Melina Delbón, Ornela Zorzón & Mariel Spesot)
Introduction
The Woodlanders was written by the renowned English writer Thomas Hardy, and published between 1886 and 1887. We will attempt to analyse Marty South as a woodland character, as well as the setting, which is a characteristic feature of Hardy’s novels.
Marty South
This character is a “child of the woods”, she is very clever and knows Nature almost to perfection. As she is a peasant who works the land, she learns how to use every aspect of it for her benefit. What is more, she is described as a gifted and talented labourer, and exceptional in “spar-making”, which involves a lot of technique and knowledge. Marty is also recognised for working more effectively than men (Wang 21). This is clearly noticeable for Giles in the following extract: “‘Marty,’ he said, with dry admiration, ‘your father with his forty years of practice never made a spar better than that. They are too good for the thatching of houses—they are good enough for the furniture. But I won't tell. Let me look at your hands—your poor hands!’” (Hardy 19).
Deprivation and family environment are issues that limit Marty. Thus, she is persuaded to sell her only attribute, her hair, to Mrs Charmond. The purpose of this is to gain some much needed money (Wang 21): “ [...] probable sum of money necessary to outweigh her present resources [...]” (Hardy 11).
Because of her connection with Nature, she is frequently compared with Giles Winterborne in the level of “understanding nature” (Wang 22), which is portrayed in this quote. “Marty South alone, of all the women in Hintock and the world, had approximated to Winterbourne's level of intelligent intercourse with nature. In that respect she had formed the complement to him in the other sex, had lived as his counterpart, had subjoined her thought to his as a corollary“ (Hardy 274). What is more, she has always been in love with him. However, the only way that Marty has to “possess” Giles is after his death due to the fact that while he was alive he was in love with Grace Melbury. She is the one that sorrows over Giles’ grave, knowing that he was her ideal lover (Wang 21).
To conclude, Hardy symbolises through Marty the ties between Nature and humanity and the Darwinian view of “the survival of the fittest” (Wang 22, 23).
Setting
DeleteHardy centres his fiction around the limited atmosphere of the rural society of Wessex, which is Hardy’s fictional representation of the counties of Berkshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon (Wang 10) about the years 1856 and 1858 (Frum 7). He also takes into account Dorchester, which is closed to his hamlet at Bockhampton. The plot of the novel develops in the hamlet of Little Hintock and is based on the relationship between the yeomen, the landowners, farmhands, farmers, and the nature present in that place. The author uses the woodland along with nature to portray the people of the area, as well as the hamlet, which is in decay and lost in time (The Thomas Hardy Society Ed.. 1, 3).
“The highest architectural cunning could have done nothing to make Hintock House dry and salubrious; and ruthless ignorance could have done little to make it unpicturesque. It was vegetable nature's own home; a spot to inspire the painter and poet of still life—if they did not suffer too much from the relaxing atmosphere—and to draw groans from the gregariously disposed.” (Hardy 50)
Hardy belongs to the naturalist movement. For this reason, he produces very detailed descriptions of his setting. What is more, the woodlands can function not only as a background but also as an agent, influencing the actions of the characters. He attempts to demonstrate their fate by portraying whether positive aspects of nature or sinister and menacing ones (The Thomas Hardy Society Ed. 1). One example of this feature is the moment in which Mr. Melbury overthinks the reason of his daughter not answering his letter "...Things only appear so gloomy in the night-time" (Hardy 16).
Conclusion
It is well-known that the relationship between nature and men is a recurrent theme in this novel and Hardy depicts it through her female character, Marty South. She is a resilient character who manages to overcome many obstacles, as she is “blessed by Nature”.
As regards settings, the author portrays Little Hintock using realistic descriptions in order to engage the reader into the story. Furthermore, the sombre aspects of nature are illustrated so as to warn the audience about future events.
References
DeleteAllingham, Phillip .V. (2000). “The novels of Thomas Hardy: An introduction”. Victorian Web
Home Page. September, 9th, 2009.
Frum, David. “The Woodlanders”. New Majority Home Page. May 10th, 2009.September 9th,
2009.
The Thomas Hardy Society Editors. “Introduction to The Woodlanders.” N.d. Web.
April 23, 2020.
Tomas Hardy. The Woodlanders. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books Ltd.
1998. Print
Wang, Xue-Gin. (2007). “Exploration into characters’ psychological complex in The
Woodlanders”. Enlightenment Home Page. September, 9th, 2009.
Instituto Superior del Profesorado No 4, Ángel Cárcano
ReplyDeleteENGLISH LITERATURE II
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
Group 3: Corti Carolina, Ely Cecilia, Flores Diego, Paniagua Mariano and Scheidegger Claudia.
Focus of our analysis: Grace Melbury & Fatalism in The Woodlanders.
The purpose of this analysis is to explore how Thomas Hardy’s novel The Woodlanders depicts the heroine, Grace Melbury: her physical features and personal outlooks will be closely examined with focus on this character’s central aspects. This analysis will also make emphasis on Fatalism - “being the view of life which says that all action is controlled by the nature of things or by fate” (Jonsson 1). In order to accomplish this purpose, different extracts will be examined.
● Grace Melbury
Grace is described as a young lady of lovely and fresh complexion. Her eyebrows are of a slightly dark brown; Hardy compares their colour with Prout’s and Vandyke’s one: “In simple corporeal presentment she was of a fair and clear complexion [...] She had well-formed eyebrows which, had her portrait been painted, would probably have been done in Prout's or Vandyke brown” (Hardy 35).
Considering her attitudes and manners, it could be said that they depend exclusively on her daily mood: "Speaking generally, it may be said that she was sometimes beautiful, at other times not beautiful, according to the state of her health and spirits" (Hardy 35). Hardy’s heroine is understandably cautious about her own passivity. Eventually, this causes her intense suffering: “Her look expressed a tendency to wait for others' thoughts before uttering her own; possibly also to wait for others' deeds before her own doing” (Hardy 35).
Grace Melbury is special among Thomas Hardy’s female protagonists because she represents all those women at the time caught in an unhappy marriage and in Grace’s case in particular, between the two worlds—a rustic world of Hintock and urban world. She is trapped between her longings for a simple, rural life and her newly acquired knowledge of luxurious tastes. Uncertain of her rational inclination and primitive feelings, she doubts which is the right course: to follow her rational inclination or to follow her feelings and instincts. In trying to come to a decision, she chooses a wrong direction and the wrong man. She is a woman entangled in a web of uncertainty and apprehensions who ultimately fails to achieve her potential and be happy.
● Fatalism
ReplyDeleteA real appreciation of fatalism is developed in Hardy’s “Novels of Character and Environment” - a perspective that individual deeds are predetermined by the real essence of things, by a deity, or by destiny. Through the emphasis on the intervention of Fate in the plan of his fictions, Hardy clearly implies that human will is not free but fettered by external forces (Allingham 2).
In many of the passages of the novel it can be appreciated that if the circumstances were different, the results would be different as well. As in the scene when Giles is on a tree, if he had descended from it and tried to convince Grace to marry him, perhaps she would have accepted his proposal . But fate is tragic and they would never belong to each other: “Had Giles, instead of remaining still, immediately come down from the tree to her, would she have continued in that filial acquiescent frame of mind which she had announced to him as final?[...] But he continued motionless and silent in that gloomy Niflheim or fogland which involved him, and she proceeded on her way (Hardy 86).
As the story develops, Grace is depicted replacing a word in a Marty’s secret message to Giles, which the latter wrote upon his wall. She hopes he will see it, but it never happens: “[...] Feeling pretty sure that Winterborne would observe her action she quickly went up to the wall, rubbed out ‘lose’, and inserted ‘keep’ in its stead. Then she made the best of her way without looking behind her” (Hardy 99-100). All of a sudden, her feelings for him begin to weaken due to his apparent indifference to her plea.
Hardly every character suffers the consequences of tragic circumstances. For instance, Dr Fitzpiers regrets not meeting Mrs Charmond before showing interest in Grace. Felice was his platonic love during childhood but destiny did not allow an encounter: "I was just two months too early in committing myself. Had I only seen the other first" (Hardy 229).
Conclusion
In The Woodlanders, the author accurately conveys the strong connection between characters and Fate - how it intervenes and controls their actions. Throughout the assignment, we analysed particularly the case of Grace Melbury and the way in which her life was affected by many circumstances. Towards the end of the story, our impression is that all human acts are predetermined by external forces. Despite any personal intention, the course of life continues as Fate decides.
References
Allingham, Phillip .V. 2000. “The novels of Thomas Hardy: An introduction”. Victorian Web Home Page. May 14th, 2020.
Jonsson, R. E. 2016. CliffsNotes on Far from the Madding Crowd. May 15th, 2020.
.
Hardy, Thomas. The Woodlanders. New York. Oxford University Press Inc. 2000. Print.
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
ReplyDeleteEnglish Literature II
Group 2: Aguirre, Mailén; Mandel, Luciana; Mathieu, Giuliana, Vittori, Giuliana.
Topics analysed: Giles Winterborne and Style.
Introduction
The aim of this analysis is to depict the different techniques that Hardy uses to narrate the The Woodlanders. These strategies are part of the writer’s style and they include: biblical and mythological allusions, superstitions, elements of pastoral elegy which provides the fatalistic or melancholy tone, among others. Hardy is a Naturalist writer whose novels have been influenced by theories like Darwin's The Origin of Species, who states that only the fittest will survive in this competitive environment in which we live. As regards the descriptions of characters, he depicts them with meticulous detail, leaving them in the hands of the cruelty of Nature.We have chosen to analyse Giles Winterborne in depth.
Giles Winterborne
Giles is thought to be the true woodlander as he seems to have achieved absolute harmony with Nature, not only when planting trees, but also when taking the woodlands as a refuge whenever he faces a struggle. “He had a marvellous power of making trees grow. Although he would seem to shovel in the earth quite carelessly, there was a sort of sympathy between himself and the fir, oak, or beech that he was operating on, so that the roots took hold of the soil in a few days” (Hardy 58). At the beginning of the novel, he is shown to be a hardworking man who earns a living by producing cider and planting trees for timber. “Winterborne was in the apple and cider trade, and his requirements in cartage and other work came in the autumn of each year” (Hardy 25). Despite his difficulties, he is the man who fits best in the natural cycle since he grasps the language of trees and sympathizes with them. Nevertheless, he does not seem to be rewarded by the forces of Nature as it takes advantage of his weakness and passivity at the end of the novel. Giles’s greatest mistake is looking for comfort and hiding behind the strength of Nature instead of challenging the adversities (Wang 17-18). We may add that Giles’s character does not help him overcome the obstacles in his way: he is too diffident and this trait of his personality works against him when the time comes to fight for what he wants.
The rain, which had never ceased, now drew his attention by beginning to drop through the meagre screen that covered him. He rose to attempt some remedy for this discomfort, but the trembling of his knees and the throbbing of his pulse told him that in his weakness he was unable to fence against the storm, and he lay down to bear it as best he might (Hardy 304).
Style
ReplyDeleteMany elements which contribute to the style of The Woodlanders can be clearly identified. One of them is the atmosphere of a pastoral elegy that governs the entire novel with its melancholy tone and its mourning for the loss. The death of Giles brings sorrow and misery to Grace and Marty who come to mourn at Giles’s grave (Naidu 300-301). “That evening had been the particular one of the week upon which Grace and herself had been accustomed to privately deposit flowers on Giles’s grave…” (Hardy 366). Another important element is when Hardy elaborately describes the regional trades that have long disappeared from Dorset such as homemade cider. Winterbourne was a manufacturer of cider as well as cider-merchant.
Hardy in a way disapproves of the idea of certain advancements within the society because he thinks they destroy the customs of rural areas:
This was the field of the travelling cider-maker. His press and mill were fixed to wheels instead of being set up in a cider-house; and with a couple of horses, buckets, tubs, strainers, and an assistant or two, he wandered from place to place, deriving very satisfactory returns for his trouble in such a profile season as the present (Hardy 158).
There are many reasons why Hardy makes use of Biblical Allusions in The Woodlanders. Firstly, he was involved in religion since his childhood playing the violin in church, reading the Bible in Latin and Greek and teaching in Sunday School. And secondly, since he was a little child he dreamt about being a Christian priest (Townsend 3). “You must eat of a second tree of knowledge before you can do it, Felice Charmond.” (Hardy 197). In this quote Hardy makes allusion to the trees of knowledge, the first one makes reference to the forbidden apple that was eaten by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The second tree represents death, Fitzpiers is right in his guess about the future of Felice’s unease endures until she is finally killed.
Last but not least, imagery is another important element used by Hardy, in which instances of personification can be. “The physiognomy of a deserted highway expresses solitude” (Hardy 5). It is clearly understood that physical appearances can only be seen in human’s face. Thus, in this extract Hardy personifies the highway and he also gives it a gloomy tone by emphasising its abandonment (Thomas Hardy Society Editors 3).
Conclusion
DeleteFollowing the analysis of Thomas Hardy’s novel, it can be clearly understood that each character has a particular purpose in the novel. Not only does Hardy portray the primitive life through his characters, but he also reminds us about the natural forces which are beyond human control.
As regards the style of Hardy’s novels, he uses the tone present in pastoral elegies, which gives the novel a melancholic aspect; regional trades, making reference to the handicraft that no longer exists; biblical allusions due to the fact that he grew surrounded in an environment related to religion. Finally, he makes use of imagery to make a comparison between Nature and human beings’ physiognomy.
In conclusion, we can say that all Hardy's distinctive and personal style makes his works truly unique.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReferences
ReplyDeleteHardy, Thomas. The Woodlanders. Middlesex, England: Penguin Book Limited.
1887. Print.
Naidu, Sudhakar. Heroism and Pathos in The Woodlanders: A study. January,
2014.
The Thomas Hardy Society Editors. “Introduction to The Woodlanders. N.d.
Web. April 23, 2020.
< https://www.hardysociety.org/oxo/48/the-woodlanders/>
Townsend, James. (1997). Thomas Hardy: The Tragedy of a Life Without Christ.
Wang, Xue-Gin. (2007). Exploration into characters’ psychological
complex in The Woodlanders. Enlightenment Home Page. September, 9th, 2009.
Instituto Superior del Profesorado Nº 4, Ángel Cárcano
ReplyDeleteENGLISH LITERATURE II
Analysis of The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy
Student: Morzan, Adelina
Focus of analysis: Grace Melbury & Motifs of Fate in The Woodlanders.
Introduction:
The aim of this analysis is to describe how Thomas Hardy depicts one of his heroines, Grace Melbury, in The Woodlanders taking into consideration an important artistic technique used frequently throughout his novels which is the Motif of Fate. Furthermore, different extracts will be explained in order to illustrate instances of motifs of Fate taking into account especially forms such as woman, convention and time.
Grace Melbury:
“Hardy recognized women’s physical, mental and emotional susceptibility to convention, and their consequent capitulation in the face of apparently overwhelming social pressures” (Notgrass)
The Woodlanders starts with a presentation of its main female character which is Grace Melbury. Grace is a young woman, well mannered who is greatly influenced by her father. It can be noticed how her father insists on her being well educated in order to improve his position and have a better future. Moreover, Grace is at war with herself as she is all the time trying to do the right thing, according to social convention and what is expected of her, it is in her goodness that lies her own misfortunes. Uncertain of what is convenient for her and following her primitive feelings, she chooses the wrong direction. Trying to follow what is expected of her will ultimately lead to her own failure, even though she conforms to social norms, she will be doomed by external forces. (Notgrass)
Motifs of Fate:
According to Fatalism, men cannot control their own destiny, as everything that happens to them is controlled by external forces which are independent of human actions and desires. The human will is not free and the men have no control over their own destiny. Furthermore, incidents play a relevant part causing tragedy or happiness. Some of the examples of motifs of Fate throughout the novel are: “Time, Women and Convention, which are manifestations of the Immanent Will” (Johnsson, 1)
Social Conventions, Laws and Women.
ReplyDeleteThe origin of Grace’s misfortune is related to the unreasonable selfish desires of her father, George Melbury. Mr Melbury has invested a lot of money on Grace’s boarding school as he aims that his daughter’s education can help her advance in society throughout marriage. Grace’s father thinks that his daughter’s studies are an investment. Furthermore, he hopes that thanks to her education, Grace can improve her position within the hierarchical structure of society.
When Grace finishes her studies and returns home, her father starts planning her future according to his family’s own convenience. Despite the fact that Grace has feelings for an old love, a young man called Giles Winterborne, her father is against the relationship, as he believes she should marry a man from a higher social rank instead of Giles, who is impoverished and inferior. (Noorbakhsh)
But since I have educated her so well, and so long, and far above the level of the daughters hereabout, it is wasting her to give her a man of no higher standing than he. (Hardy 17) There could not be the least doubt that gentle Grace was warming to more sympathy with, and interest in, Giles Winterborne than ever she had done while he was her promised lover; that since his misfortune those social shortcomings of his, which contrasted so awkwardly with her later experiences of life, had become obscured by the generous revival of an old romantic attachment to him. (Hardy 100).
We can notice how Grace is in love with Giles, but she chooses to follow his father's advice and not her own feelings, which will later bring disgrace to her life.
Later in the novel, Grace meets Dr. Fitzpiers, a young and good-looking man whom she marries. Mr. Melbury is content with the fact that his daughter will finally be with a man from a higher social rank. "I always said," continued he with a lump in his throat, "that my Grace would make a mark at her own level some day. That was why I educated her. I said to myself, I'll do it, cost what it may” (Hardy 185). Nevertheless, what he does not know is the real intentions of Dr Fitzpiers are not noble, as he does not love Grace but is interested mainly in her beauty. What is more, Fitzpiers commits adultery with several women: “He had noticed himself to be possessed by five distinct infatuations at the same time. If this were true, his differed from the highest affection as the lower orders of the animal world differ from advanced organisms, partition causing not death but a multiplied existence.” (Hardy 252)
It is Grace’s domination by men which in the end will bring her disgrace and unhappiness. She later discovers her husband is unfaithful with Felice Charmond, whom he meets by chance and even though she desires to be with her old love, Giles, it is too late. She is doomed to be with a man who does not love her.
Later in the novel, Mr Melbury realizes the damage he caused to his daughter. Grace’s father contributes to his daughter's own destruction and imprisonment with a husband whom she cannot divorce: "Because I am tied and bound to another by law” (Hardy 245) “He knew that a woman once given to a man for life took, as a rule, her lot as it came, and made the best of it without external interference; but for the first time he asked himself why this so generally should be done”. (Hardy 260) "But I am hurt; I am scourged; I am astonished! In the face of this there is nothing to be said." (Hardy 291) "You are now as ever Fitzpiers’ wife. I was deluded. He has not done you enough harm! You are still subject to his beck and call." (Hardy 354)
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible for Grace to divorce as The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1887 allowed men to apply for a legal dissolution of marriage on the grounds that their wives had been unfaithful. Nevertheless, if a woman wanted a divorce, she had to present proof that adultery had been committed along with physical violence or abandonment. The whole situation results in Grace’s unhappiness. (Noorbakhsh) We can notice how social conventions can interfere and cause unhappiness to the characters. Even though Grace’s father had the best intentions for her, he is not able to change the fact that she cannot divorce. Grace cannot change the fact that his husband has been unfaithful, she is a woman in a world ruled by men, which is also a manifestation of fate. For that reason no matter what she does, her chances of being happy are destroyed.
Conclusion:
This short analysis has aimed to illustrate how in Thomas Hardy’s “The Woodlanders” Fate plays a major role. Characters do not have free will to change their circumstances, and the author shows us how unfair life can really be. Such motifs of Fate are shown in different ways. This writing has intended to focus on the rigid and unfair social conventions of the nineteenth century that were a leading cause of women’s unhappiness. Furthermore It has emphasized the unjust treatment that women received and their violent efforts to become free of the restraints that society imposed on them.
Finally, it can be concluded that the most significant events that the characters go through are highly related to the author’s fatalistic view of life, his philosophy is portrayed throughout the novels, revealing his own opinions, changing the plot drastically, which makes his works so distinctive and appealing.
References
Hardy, Thomas. The Woodlanders. Middlesex, England: Penguin Book Limited.
1887. Print.
Notgrass, Jessica. “Social Influences on the Female in the Novels of Thomas Hardy”
May, 2004
Noorbakhsh, Hooti. “The Tragic Sense of Passivity, Docility and Marriage Conventionality in Hardy’s The Woodlanders”. April 3, 2011 Web.
This post is NOT VALID: it has not been read by me and has not been marked by me. You have not even emailed it to me in the first place. I had given specific instructions to you by email on how to work on the other novel, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD to help you so that you could regularise your situation as you have enrolled as a full-time student ( but only attended lessons on May 19 & 21 when the rest of us started lessons in April).
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, as you have NOT DONE this task respecting the guidelines and deadlines like your partners have done, this post of yours is considered INVALLID and you have NO MARK.
Instituto Superior del Profesorado N° 4 “Ángel Cárcano”
ReplyDeleteEnglish Literature II
“Analysis of Naturalism & Edred Fitzpiers”
In Thomas Hardy’s The Woodlanders
Group 4: Centurion, Alejandra; Gianinetti, Milena; Martínez, Agustina; Mereles, Noelia; Moschén, Yamila; Velazquez, Lionela.
Deadline: May 26th, 2020.
Introduction
Through the 19th century and afterwards, Hardy's naturalist novels reached a high degree of popularity, which is why he is regarded as one of the greatest English novelists of all times (Wang 17). Unlike Surrealism and Romanticism, Naturalism does not concentrate on “symbolic and supernatural events” nor does it “idealise situations and characters”. Although Hardy is considered as a naturalist, he shows mercy to his characters, and would not cause them unnecessary sufferings (Literary Devices 1). This document highlights the topics of Naturalism and Edred Fitzpiers and their analysis on The Woodlanders.
Naturalism
This movement started in the 1890s, and it has been famous for depicting human beings as if they were under the microscope of a scientist. Naturalists were influenced by Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution’, Determinism, which describes that the free will of an individual is influenced by external forces. It is also inspired by psychologists like Freud, philosophers such as Marx, and scientists such as Einstein and his ‘Theory of Relativity’. The tone of Naturalism is frequently gloomy and disconnected to depict a more realistic approach (Literary Devices 1-2).
Prejudices, adultery, and the impossibility of the legal divorce of unhappy couples, are some of the many factors that can be observed in the society of The Woodlanders. All of these elements cause great pain to the characters who are being wronged by them (Frum 7). One of the greatest examples of adultery that can be found throughout the novel is the shocking affair between Dr. Fitzpiers and Felice Charmond (Frum 1).
Thus the two or three days that they had spent in tender acquaintance on the romantic slopes above the Neckar were stretched out in retrospect to the length and importance of years; made to form a canvas for infinite fancies, idle dreams, luxurious melancholies, and sweet, alluring assertions which could neither be proved nor disproved. Grace was never mentioned between them… (Hardy 175).
Critics suggest that, from his very first novels, Hardy had been extremely negative when talking about humanity’s place in a specific context (Allingham 1). From the beginning, the woods are swamp with depictions of devastation and despair preparing us, unknowingly, to similar conflicts in the reality of the characters’ lives. The bitter struggle for endurance between the plants in the woodlands is personified by the ivy which, with its tendency of moving itself closely to other plants, depicts the desire to survive in dangerous places (Davis 5). “The situation of the house, prejudicial to humanity, was a stimulus to vegetation, on which account an endless shearing of the heavy-armed ivy was necessary, and a continual lopping of trees and shrubs” (Hardy 53).
Besides, Hardy is regarded as a critic of society. In his writings, it can be observed how nature and society are determined to favour those who are wealthy and of high rank, rather than the ones who live in poor conditions and have a harder life, through old fashion “conventions and superficial values” (Frum 13). Fitzpiers’s views of the woodlanders is prejudiced (Davis 15): "... I dare say I am inhuman, and supercilious, and contemptibly proud of my poor old ramshackle family; but I do honestly confess to you that I feel as if I belonged to a different species from the people who are working in that yard." (Hardy 161)
Situations which are likely to happen and depictions of outer forces influencing human decisions provide a glimpse of the Naturalist approach (Literary Devices 1).
Edred Fitzpiers
DeleteEdred Fitzpiers is portrayed with chameleon-like characteristics since, similar to the animal, he has the ability to change the way he thinks or behaves according to the situations he faces (Davis 12). One clear example of this characteristic is the way he changes his mind about Grace and Felice, and, even more, about the woodlands. This way of behaving can be seen in Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution’ which states the adaptation every creature undergoes in order to survive in different environments. Fitzpiers is also described as "A very clever and learned young Doctor lives in the place you are going to - not because there's anybody for’n to cure there, but because they say he is in league with the Devil." (Hardy 8).
Fitzpiers is believed to be one of Hardy’s Shelleyan-influenced characters. This suggests that Edred, just like the poet Shelley, considers women as an idealised figure with the purpose of finding love, and because of that, the minute that the idealised woman makes a mistake, Fitzpiers removes her from the pedestal he has put her on (Davis 4).
The discovery of the attractive Grace's name and family would have been enough in other circumstances to lead the doctor, if not to put her personality out of his head, to change the character of his interest in her. Instead of treasuring her image as a rarity, he would at most have played with it as a toy. He was that kind of a man (Hardy 112)
Hardy has a tendency to incorporate real life situations and apply them to his literary works. One of the most important things Hardy includes in The Woodlanders is the issue of adultery (Frum 6-7). The novel was written in such a way that when one event occurs, many others follow as a result, and nature is used as a portal to predict what is about to happen with the character (Allingham 11). Fitzpiers gives the impression through his acts that he is not a faithful man (Frum 6). This fact is illustrated in the conversation he maintained with the leading lady of the town, Mrs Charmond
“... It was not a full blown love - it was the merest bud - red, fresh, vivid, but small. It was a colossal passion in embryo. It never matured... See how powerless is the human will against predestination. We were prevented from meeting; we have met. One feature of the case remains the same amid many changes... ” (Hardy 171).
Conclusion
To conclude, Hardy's novel The Woodlanders clearly states aspects and features of Naturalism, where the character is scientifically presented with outer forces governing him. These unfavourable circumstances later on causes the characters to feel anguish and regret. A distinct representation is noticeably portrayed on how uncomfortable is Edred Fitzpiers in Little Hintock, and feels himself as an outsider, since he comes from a completely different setting, from the many buildings of the city to a more rural scenery surrounded by woods. Thus he cannot totally be in harmony with the woodlands, he is not able to recognise it as the suitable place for a specialist's life.
References
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Frum, David. “The Woodlanders”. New Majority Home Page. May 10th , 2009.
Hardy, Thomas. The Woodlanders (Oxford Worlds Classics). Project Gutenberg Literary
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< https://www.hardysociety.org/oxo/48/the-woodlanders/>