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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
can now confirm that this is in fact the most dire and bleak novel by thomas hardy. jude has a miserable existence. he is first unwanted by his parents and then subsequently unwanted by his aunt. he grows up seeing his dreams fade away. marriage, social determinism and religion all play an active role in dashing his dreams. jude covets something he has no right to get. he has a thirst for knowledge/education. his pursuit of this unattainable dream only brings him suffering; that and the fact that jude is part of the working class. there is nothing easy, happy, or even good about judes life. only misery and sadness. thomas hardy has a dark vision of life. this is best illustrated when little jude hangs himself along with his half siblings. this tragic event marks jude. it defeats him. social determinism defeats everybody. judes death is very poignant. he dies never fulfilling his dream of going to university. it remained only ever a dream. a path jude aspired to -but could and would never- tread on himself. jude dies obscure, unknown, indistinguishable, insignificant. despite his high ambitions he is unable to escape the faith of all poor men. his attempt to defy the system only brought him misery. ultimately, death is the best deliverance.
Brutal condemnation of the institution of marriage and its corrosive effects on the dreams and independence of young people. Also a stern reminder of the consequences of subliminating our own agency and goals to the wishes of others.
Hardy sure knows how to depress his readers. Poor Jude just couldn't catch a break. Every time something started going right for him, everything else fell apart. As much as I just wanted to slap him for all his stupid decisions, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Being a child raised by an unloving aunt, to being tricked into marriage with the town flirt, and then falling in love with his super flakey cousin, Jude was just destined for a life of misery and failure.
Just finished this book. To be sure, I don't generally like books by dead British fellows, but this one? This one was so dark and depressing, I couldn't help but love it.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It took me a while to read this book because it does progress very slowly for about 2/3 of the book. I enjoyed the themes even in the slow parts though. The last 100 pages or so were exceptional and I loathed to put the book down. It's terribly tragic, but an amazing and thought-provoking read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great read. It’s theme, the conflict between modern desires and the backlash of tradition is as true today as it was in 1895