Narrative Voice In A Mere Interlude By Thomas Hardy

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The short story “A Mere interlude” written by Thomas Hardy makes effective use of narrative voice to reveal the intentions of Hardy in crafting such a story. The irony of the title, as what was supposed to be “A Mere Interlude”, Baptista’s short and tragic marriage to her ex-lover Charles Stow, eventually takes form as a major turning point in her life. It subjects her to much emotional turmoil and eventually leads her back to the one thing she hoped to escape from through her marriage to Mr.Heddegan in the first place; education. Despite such a predicament, Baptista is able to find happiness in her life as she grows to understand humanity. Through the use of an omniscient narrator and a sympathetic tone, Hardy expresses his pity for the New …show more content…
The use of an omniscient narrator allows the reader to gain insight into Baptista’s thoughts and feelings. This allows the reader to understand the inner conflicts Baptista goes through and hence empathise with her situation. It is revealed that Baptista does not “like keeping school”. She says “Well, I simply hate school. I don’t care for children- they are unpleasant, troublesome little things.” The basic but harsh language ‘simply hate’, ‘unpleasant, troublesome little things’ highlights Baptista’s distaste for education and children. As such, she turns to marriage with Mr.Heddegan as escape from this occupation as she states “I like [Mr.Heddegan] better than school; but I don’t like him quite so much as to wish to marry him.” This highlights the lack of choice Victorian Women are faced with, either …show more content…
‘Hardy teaches that there are no real interludes, for even interludes have a way of spilling over into our lives.’ (Laverty , 644) The first person point of view is essential as the readers are privy to Baptista’s personal thoughts and her greatest inner turmoil yet.
‘ To stop the wedding now would cause a convulsion in Giant’s Town little short of volcanic. Weakened, tired, and terrified as she had been by the day’s adventures, she could not make herself the author of such a catastrophe. But how refuse Heddegan without

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