Friday, 20 October 2023

Jude the obscure by Thomas hardy


This blog is thinking activity given by barad sir, in this blog i am going to discuss about "Jude The obscure" by Thomas hardy answer the questions given in the task but before let me introduce you with the novel "jude the obscure".





"Jude the Obscure" is a novel by Thomas Hardy that delves into the life of Jude Fawley, a working-class man from a rural community who harbors dreams of attaining a university education. Sue bridehead, like Jude, is disillusioned with societal norms and is unhappily married. 


The novel delves into the challenges and tragedies that Jude and Sue face as they struggle to be together while defying societal conventions. Their efforts to lead an unmarried life in a society that disapproves of such unions lead to personal hardships, including difficulties related to their children. "Jude the Obscure" is notable for its searing critique of the Victorian era's moral and social norms. Themes explored in the novel include the rigidity of social class, the pursuit of education and personal betterment, questions of sexual freedom and morality, a critical view of organized religion, and a prevailing sense of tragedy and fate.


 In essence, "Jude the Obscure" is a novel that confronts societal constraints, moral and social taboos, and the consequences of challenging established norms. It remains a thought-provoking work in the context of Victorian literature, known for its candid and controversial portrayal of societal issues and the limitations placed on individuals by social conventions.




  • significance of epigraph written by thomas hardy -'letter kileth' for this novel , jude the obscure 



 The epigraph "The letter killeth" in Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" carries deeper significance within the context of the novel. Let's explore this in more detail:


1. Conflict Between Tradition and Modernity:


The phrase "The letter killeth" originates from the New Testament, specifically 2 Corinthians 3:6. In the context of the novel, this epigraph can be seen as a reflection of the conflict between traditional, established social norms and the desire for personal freedom and modernity. The "letter" could represent rigid, traditional, and often religiously motivated rules and conventions that were prevalent in Victorian society, particularly regarding marriage and morality. Jude and Sue, the central characters, both defy these conventions in their pursuit of personal happiness, education, and love. The epigraph suggests that a strict adherence to these societal "letters" can lead to stifling and oppressive outcomes, potentially foreshadowing the hardships that the characters will face as they challenge tradition.


2.Commentary on Religion:


Thomas Hardy was known for his skepticism toward organized religion and the role it played in society. The epigraph's reference to the biblical verse from 2 Corinthians 3:6 can be interpreted as a critique of dogmatic interpretations of religious texts. In the novel, characters' lives are significantly impacted by societal and religious judgments based on their perceived moral transgressions. This epigraph hints at the potential dangers of literal and uncompromising interpretations of religious teachings, especially when applied in a harsh or judgmental manner.


3. Foreshadowing Tragedy:


 "The letter killeth" foreshadows the tragic and oppressive forces at play in the novel. Jude and Sue's pursuit of unconventional relationships and educational aspirations lead to suffering, isolation, and despair. The epigraph may be seen as an early indication of the hardships and tragic outcomes that await the characters as they deviate from societal norms, and it underscores the novel's dark and pessimistic themes.


In summary, the epigraph "The letter killeth" in "Jude the Obscure" symbolizes the tension between tradition and individuality, the impact of dogmatic interpretations of religious and societal norms, and foreshadows the tragic outcomes that await the characters. It serves as a literary device that encapsulates the central themes of the novel and prepares the reader for the complex and often somber narrative that unfolds. It also highlights Thomas Hardy's critical stance on the societal constraints and religious dogma of his time.


  • Is it possible to connect the meaning of the epigraph of "esdras" at the beginning of the first chapter of the novel and the myth of bhasmasur?

Yes, it is possible to connect the meaning of the epigraph from "Esdras," the beginning of the first chapter of a novel, and the myth of Bhasmasur. Such connections can provide a rich and layered interpretation of the work. Here's a hypothetical way to connect these elements:

1. Interpretation of Esdras (Ezra) Epigraph:


   The book of Esdras (Ezra) in the Bible often deals with themes of renewal, restoration, and the return to a righteous path. The epigraph may symbolize the need for moral or spiritual reawakening, the rebuilding of a society or individual's life, or the quest for a more profound understanding of the divine.

2. Connection to the Beginning of the First Chapter:


   The beginning of the first chapter of a novel typically introduces the setting, characters, and themes. If the opening of the first chapter mirrors the themes of renewal, restoration, or a spiritual or moral journey found in the Esdras epigraph, it creates a connection by setting the narrative tone and direction.

3. Incorporation of Bhasmasur Myth:


   The Bhasmasur myth from Hindu mythology features a demon who seeks the power to reduce others to ashes with a touch. This myth can symbolize the destructive potential of power and the consequences of misuse. If elements of this myth are woven into the narrative, it could represent a force of destruction or a moral challenge within the story.

4. Potential Interpretation:


   Connecting these elements may signify a narrative where characters or society grapple with the need for renewal and the potentially destructive forces that threaten this renewal. The novel could explore themes of transformation, redemption, and the moral or spiritual struggle between destructive and restorative powers.

In this way, the Esdras epigraph can represent the need for renewal and the return to a righteous path, while the Bhasmasur myth could symbolize the dangers of destructive power. The first chapter's content and themes may align with these concepts, creating a cohesive and layered interpretation of the narrative.

The specific interpretation would depend on the novel's content and the author's intent, but connecting these elements can enrich the reader's understanding of the work's thematic depth.

  • Research Article - Bildungsroman & Jude the obscure - Frank R. Gionardo Jr. | John Hopkins University 



According to some peoples novel "jude the obscure" is a artistic failure because in this novel we can see tha there's no proper plot at some it can be confusing to readers. But no one responded to this accusation so this article is a answer to the accusation. This story isn't a proper tragedy because we don't feel sympathy for the characters.


Is it possible to identify any unifying principle in a novel that aims at tragic effects, attempts social criticism, analyzes sexual psychology, mal principle in Jude by examining the novel in relation . nineteenth-century tradition of the Bildungsroman, the novel of developing awareness of his personal being and his efforts to define him.

 the novel is related to a number of important nineteenth-century English a variety of types of novels, it seems necessary here to define the term and torical development of the form . 

In tracing the education of his hero, the novelist will reveal the young man's development through his experiences in many of the follow. 

In short, the Bildungsroman tradition, personality as the hero progresses from innocence to experience. Jude the Obscure represents the development of a subject that Hardy fatal fascination for Christminster.   various important types of experiences, that Jude develops and learns to Although book-learning is an important form of education, in Jude in a fiction that shows "the antitheses in Jude's life." For while the formal education theme precipitates Jude and provides its central and unifying forms of education, in which other teachers emerge for Jude, showing the As Gregor shows, "Jude is 'obscure' to himself and Jude wanted from study was "not a store of learning, nor the vanity of It is ironic that Jude must reject most of his book-learning when he another irony pattern, in which Jude is illuminated only to find his life fulfilled aims." 


Hardy cast his novel in the form of the In enabling Hardy to exploit his manifold and tragic comic visions of life. And in permitting Jude to develop as an admirable "Christian" society), Hardy found his most effective means of criticizing Jude the Obscure may be seen as a satire on the Bildungsroman, a kind of tions of the form about personal development and apprenticeship for life conflict between the developing individual and the society he has out? Jude, his characteristic tragic vision of life was so fully established as to prefaces to Jude indicate, on writing a tragic novel; and in placing his hero life as the sensitive experienced it, Hardy cast his novel in the form of the And in permitting Jude to develop as an admirable "Christian" society), Hardy found his most effective means of criticizing Jude the Obscure may be seen as a satire on the Bildungsroman, a kind of tions of the form about personal development and apprenticeship for life









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