Themes In Thomas Hardys Return Essay Research — страница 2

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affection. Perhaps Hardy is commenting on the fickleness of human nature. Marriage is usually associated with love in the twenty first century, but as Thomasin and Wildeve’s union shows, this was not always the case. Although it is implied that Thomasin did love Wildeve at some point, in the end she marries him to preserve her family’s good name. Wildeve seems to be more concerned with getting his hands on Thomasin’s inheritance money, his real love is for Eustasia, as is shown by the way he goes running to her at the slightest opportunity, leaving his wife alone, and the way in which he rashly jumps in to the weir to save her when she falls in. Although Clym and Eustasia originally marry for love, Clym is quick to doubt Eustasia’s integrity when the events surrounding

his mothers death come to light, and she in turn is quick to desert him and run off with Wildeve. Both Wildeve and Eustasia desert their partners in their hour of need. When Mrs Yeobright is dying they both witness it, but as both are in some way responsible neither comforts their grieving spouse. Clym chooses his mother over Eustasia after his initial rebellion, his anger at her accidental death causes him to blame his wife, resulting in an argument that is never forgiven. To a reader of the eighteenth century when the novel was written, marriage for money or status was commonplace, although people did not necessarily agree with it. To a modern day reader marrying for reasons other than love are almost unheard of, mainly because women no longer depend on men for support,

something which they would have needed to do in Hardys day. Money and status play a vital part in the plot, Mrs Yeobright objects initially to Thomasin and Wildeve’s proposed marriage because Wildeve is of lower status than Thomasin, and she also points out Venn’s lower status when he voices his love for Thomasin. Eustasia too objects to a union with Wildeve because she is of higher rank, yet when he inherits a large sum of money she changes her mind. Money is used as a weapon by Wildeve, he knows Eustasia wants to leave Egdon Heath and uses his money to tempt her. Mrs Yeobright uses money to try to bring about a reconciliation with Clym by sending him his half of the inheritance money in advance. Money is seen as a way of furthering status, but also as a means of escape

Eustasia and Wildeve both desire it, because to them the only way of escaping from the heath is through obtaining enough money to go abroad. Money also causes a great deal of trouble in the wrong hands, such as when Christian Cantle gambles away the inheritance money. Although it is retrieved by the Reddleman, by giving it all to Thomasin, he unwittingly makes matters worse. This is still a problem in the twenty first century, money and the power it wields is still at the heart of many disputes, and people will still go to almost any lengths to obtain it. In conclusion many of the themes Hardy incorporated into The Return of the Native are just as relevant today as they were when the novel was written. Money still dictates the actions of many people, and Love still shapes many of

our destiny’s as it has always done and although to a lesser extent, themes such as status are still valid, after all we still have an aristocracy. Even superstition has not been fully outlawed. 1268 words 344