Thomas Hardy Research Paper

Thomas Hardy is a name well known when it comes to classic literature. Some of his most notable works may include Jude the Obscure, The Return of the Native, The Woodlanders, Wessex Poems, and Under the Greenwood Tree. Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in Bockhampton, England, where he grew up in an isolated cottage with his family. He was the oldest of four children and a hard worker, but was often found to be sick. His father was a stonemason and builder while his mother was well-educated and self-taught Hardy until he began to attend schools at the age of eight years old. Hardy proved to have great academic potential, but was unfortunately unable to continue his journey to University due to his family lacking the resources needed for …show more content…
Though he may have come close to achieving these goals, he is ultimately crucified by society and left living right outside the city of his dreams, knowing he will never amount to his scholarly goals. Along the journey that gets him to this point, he encounters two lovers - one a positive influence and the other a huge mistake. Sue Bridehead truly is the girl for Jude. She is well educated, supportive, intelligent, and rational. The perfect type of woman for someone like Jude. The only downfall about Sue is the fact that she cannot handle Jude having separate opinions than that of her own, leading to a more vulnerable side of her to be shown. She can be seen having conflicting behaviors throughout the novel, switching from one personality to the next within the blink of an eye. Sue is not the most supportive about Jude’s faith that is the foundation of who he is as a person, but still wants what is best for him and supports his dreams. The downfall about her is that her social class prevents Jude from being able to achieve one of his main goals. He cannot improve his social status while staying with Sue, the love of his …show more content…
The storyline itself is straight up dark and depression, leaving Jude dead at the age of thirty, legally married to a woman who cares for nothing about him, two dead children, and the girl of his dreams with someone else. Jude loses everything and never achieves his goals of becoming an architect, improving his social class, and marrying Sue. Throughout the story, I noticed many parallels between Thomas Hardy and Jude himself. Mainly in the ambitions and lifestyle. Both men were unable to attend university (though for slightly different reasons) and attempted to find work in the architecture business. Hardy was mirroring parts of himself into the character of Jude. The only difference is that Hardy achieved many of his goals whereas Jude was unable