Jude, as a character, has been called "the nadir of Hardy's pessimisim." What does that mean? And how does Jude present a pessimistic philosophy through his thoughts, relationships, and actions?
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A virtual discussion group for Mr. Getty's Advanced Placement English class to ponder the qualities of Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure
Jude is most defiantly "the nadir of Hardy's pessimism". This means that out of all of Hardy's book and all of Hardy's characters, Jude is as low as you can go with pessimism. First off, Jude isn't in the best place in his life as a young boy. Most children are carefree and jovial, but not Jude. Jude is used to the negatives in life because he grew up in one of the most saddening situations. To grow up an orphan, never really getting to know your parents, missing out on that divine opportunity is just terrible. Growing up in such a situation, negative thoughts and actions tend to come by the most natural of ways.
ReplyDeleteIf Jude is "the nadir of Hardy's pessimism" Henchard must not be much higher on the scale. Because of a drunken mistake, he sells his wife and baby girl to a sailor in the very beginning of the novel! I could tell by page nine at the latest that this would be just as dark as Tess of the d'Urbevilles, (I was not pleased). Michael Henchard goes on to leave a life always being one upped by a scotchman named Farfrae. He must deal with the guilt of his mistake everyday, while trying to maintain his good reputation as the mayor of Casterbridge. He tries time and time again to to right the wrongs of his past, but in doing so he just makes more mistakes. He even goes on to die ALONE, and his one last wish is that he be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI would say that pessimism may be a theme in most of Hardy's books. As we can see, he himself must not have a bright and dandy outlook on life, if his novels describe such sorrow.
I agree with Jorie in stating the fact that Jude is as pessimistic as Hardy's characters can become, but he is not completely pessimistic. Jude not only is an orphan and does not seem to belong, but he is presented in the book as a somber character, unlike the rest of his fellow mates. Though he is presented in this light, he is a curious boy, aware that his situation is not ideal. Because of this, Jude is optimistic in the sense that he believes things can be better, maybe by starting fresh in a new area, away from his starting point.
ReplyDeleteI agree mostly with Courtney. Jude is presented as an optimistic character in the sense that he tries to fix a negative situation right in the beginning of the novel. When he finds himself unhappy in Marygreen, although he needs to build up courage and motivation, he removes himself from there and ventures to Christminster. Whenever he is unhappy, he believes there is happiness elsewhere and attempts to retrieve it. Although it seems he is quite pessimistic in several situations throughout the story, it is justifiable to feel as such in a situation like that! Who would see the light in all of your children being hung? Or having no love in return from the person you most deeply care about? Overall, Jude is as optimistic and handles his situations the only way he knows how.
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