This was a very enjoyable discussion. Two years ago I reread Jude after an interval of many years. On this second reading I had much less patience for Jude and Sue’s “ideals” as non-conformists. (I still hated Arabella). Sue’s outlook of considering herself exceptional as well as being a tease was annoying. She self-sabotaged her future as a teacher. Well into the story she and Jude reached a point where they could have married. Jude was a stone carver and could have earned fairly decent wages to care for his family if they had married. Feeding and housing their children should have been more important than tilting at philosophical windmills. Shortly after I read Jude, I read Claire Tomalin’s biography of Hardy. In many of her accounts concerning his family members you can see inklings for some of his fictional characters. The aunt in Jude may have been inspired by his mother who strongly warned her children against marriage. His two sisters were school teachers and he based the school Sue runs away from on their descriptions of the training school they attended. The widely read Sue Bridehead seems to have been inspired by either Hardy’s grandmother or great aunt. [if you haven’t already seen it, you may enjoy a Thomas Hardy playlist that Katie of Books and Things has compiled of her “Fortnight of Thomas Hardy”videos. She has interesting comments for each of his novels - the good, the bad and the really bad].
Jude is one of my favorite novels and I’m overdue for a reread. Great review. Symbolically, Father Time is one of the greatest child characters in literature, though maybe not a completely realistic one.
I love the novel, no question. I agree with most of your interpretation. Nice video - I really enjoyed it. Do you think it is more depressing than Sorrows of Young Werther!?
This was a very enjoyable discussion. Two years ago I reread Jude after an interval of many years. On this second reading I had much less patience for Jude and Sue’s “ideals” as non-conformists. (I still hated Arabella). Sue’s outlook of considering herself exceptional as well as being a tease was annoying. She self-sabotaged her future as a teacher. Well into the story she and Jude reached a point where they could have married. Jude was a stone carver and could have earned fairly decent wages to care for his family if they had married. Feeding and housing their children should have been more important than tilting at philosophical windmills.
Shortly after I read Jude, I read Claire Tomalin’s biography of Hardy. In many of her accounts concerning his family members you can see inklings for some of his fictional characters. The aunt in Jude may have been inspired by his
mother who strongly warned her children against marriage. His two sisters were school teachers and he based the school Sue runs away from on their descriptions of the training school they attended. The widely read Sue Bridehead seems to have been inspired by either Hardy’s grandmother or great aunt.
[if you haven’t already seen it, you may enjoy a Thomas Hardy playlist that Katie of Books and Things has compiled of her “Fortnight of Thomas Hardy”videos. She has interesting comments for each of his novels - the good, the bad and the really bad].
Thanks for your commentary. These are some good points.
Jude almost ended my undergraduate career.
Anagnorisis new term for me. Thanks
How?
Great discussion, Jude is my favorite Hardy novel!
I have a gorgeous copy of this sitting on my shelf! Oh no! Bleak even for hardy! 😳😳
Jude is one of my favorite novels and I’m overdue for a reread. Great review. Symbolically, Father Time is one of the greatest child characters in literature, though maybe not a completely realistic one.
I love the novel, no question. I agree with most of your interpretation. Nice video - I really enjoyed it. Do you think it is more depressing than Sorrows of Young Werther!?
you should read all of D.H. Lawrence nonfiction Lukas because it’s going to be both helpful and formative for you