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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
10/25: Go on, Mr. Hardy, tell us how you really feel about marriage. And the English class system. And religion. And equality between the sexes. But especially marriage.
This proved to be one of those books that was a lot more fun to talk and think about than it was to read in the first place—but well worth doing all three. Between my discussion partner's psychological training and my personal fear of cages, we were able to cover a lot of territory and sympathize with even the most questionable of characters, which is easy to do because I think Hardy sympathizes with all of his characters to some extent, or at least draws them fully enough for the reader to recognize the humanity within.
The unlikelihood of my ever rereading Jude cover to cover prevents me from giving it five stars (for now, at least), but there are so many nuggets of Hardy Gold that I will definitely be revisiting passages in the years to come. Hardy writes with a strong agenda, and while I would probably find that irksome in a modern author, there's something about Hardy that always has me going, "This. This. AND this!" as I mark passages I find insightful or damning.
Or just plain entertaining:
10/5: I'll write more later, but really, I don't know what all the fuss is about. This book is not that depressing. I mean, yes, I've been listening to a lot of Morrissey since about the 75% mark, but that can't possibly signify anything.
This proved to be one of those books that was a lot more fun to talk and think about than it was to read in the first place—but well worth doing all three. Between my discussion partner's psychological training and my personal fear of cages, we were able to cover a lot of territory and sympathize with even the most questionable of characters, which is easy to do because I think Hardy sympathizes with all of his characters to some extent, or at least draws them fully enough for the reader to recognize the humanity within.
The unlikelihood of my ever rereading Jude cover to cover prevents me from giving it five stars (for now, at least), but there are so many nuggets of Hardy Gold that I will definitely be revisiting passages in the years to come. Hardy writes with a strong agenda, and while I would probably find that irksome in a modern author, there's something about Hardy that always has me going, "This. This. AND this!" as I mark passages I find insightful or damning.
Or just plain entertaining:
"What must a woman's aversion [to her husband] be when it is stronger than her fear of spiders!" he said bitterly. (p. 219)
10/5: I'll write more later, but really, I don't know what all the fuss is about. This book is not that depressing. I mean, yes, I've been listening to a lot of Morrissey since about the 75% mark, but that can't possibly signify anything.
Tragic tale of of a man’s life filled with disillusionment and disappointment.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On 8 December 1895, in the American journal The New York World, Jannette L. Gilder wrote: “Jude the Obscure is almost the worst book I have read...aside from its immorality, there is its coarseness which is beyond belief...when I finished the story I opened the window and let in the fresh air.”
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
No me atreví hasta ahora a dedicarle unas palabras al libro: Jude the Obscure bien podría llamarse Sue the Obscure, porque al final, la realmente obscure de esta novela es ella. De hecho, me parece que la traducción de obscure es un poco ambigua y desacertada, ¿enigmático, más bien?, pero fuera de todo ello, lo cierto es que Jude se nos presenta como un joven pobre, paciente, extremadamente paciente con todo lo que se ve obligado a soportar. La historia parte de su niñez, un niño con carencias afectivas, melancólico y sensible. Tras la marcha del profesor Phillotson, que él llega a admirar casi como a un padre, se obsesiona, siguiendo su consejo, con llegar a la universidad para estudiar a los clásicos. Toda su vida parece guiarse por este principio hasta que descubre su otra debilidad: las mujeres. Diría que, además de estos dos elementos (el aprendizaje y las mujeres), el tercer tema alrededor del que gira Jude the Oscure es la religión y en como esta guía espiritualmente los razonamientos comunitarios con una rigidez tal que hace imposible escapar a aquellos individuos que pretenden vivir al margen. Sin embargo, si bien hay algo que destruya al personaje en esta novela, es el personaje mismo (o los personajes, ya que Sue es tan protagonista como Jude).
Se critica a la religión, se exponen los matrimonios de la época, se habla de sexo (¡y de su falta!), de divorcio, de amor imposible..., es comprensible que fuese una novela tan polémica en vida de Hardy.
Se critica a la religión, se exponen los matrimonios de la época, se habla de sexo (¡y de su falta!), de divorcio, de amor imposible..., es comprensible que fuese una novela tan polémica en vida de Hardy.
Spoiler
A veces me parecía que la actitud y las penas de Jude llegaban a lo absurdo; recuerdo un pasaje en el que, viendo que su matrimonio había sido todo un fracaso, decide reflexionar sobre qué es lo que la gente hace para estropearse más la vida, aquello que resultase bruto e indecente, así que se decide a meterse a la bebida, así por así. De todos modos, así son los dramas de Hardy y no voy a negar que me tuvo en vilo toda la novela. Las elecciones amorosas de Jude tampoco fueron muy acertadas que digamos, si Arabella es un personaje deleznable, Sue es casi peor: voluble, hipócrita, egoísta... Había veces en las que me gustaba, sobre todo al principio de la obra, pero según iba avanzado me parecía cada vez más estúpida. Jude no hubiera sufrido ni la mitad si no la hubiera conocido o si, al menos, no hubiese cedido a sus encaprichamientos desde el principio.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Many keep telling me that this book is bleak. I just don't see it, and maybe that is a positive. Hardy has beautiful prose especially when he is describing the physical surroundings. What I enjoy the most about his writing, however, is his strong characters. He is to be commended for trying to change society of his time through his writing. He clearly shows the many obstacles one would face due to status, poverty, education, and gender (to name a few). I found myself looking forward to each and every chapter.