The Return of the Native by: Thomas Hardy

The Return of the Native by : Thomas Hardy

2007

The novel entitled The Return of the Native ' by Thomas Hardy was always perceived ambivalently , as the plot itself is to great extent paradoxical . First and foremost , The Return to the Native ' is a novel about human desire to escape or break free , in which the person uses any available methods . One of the main characters of the book Eustacia Vye , is an embodiment of this spirit of liberation and breach of heath as a prison , where her revolutionary spirit is actually locked

br Thus , the central theme in The Return of the Native ' is Eustacia 's escape from the heath , manifested first and foremost through using ancient Greek symbols , whereas the other characters are to certain degree secondary , as they are designed to help or create additional barriers to her flight

Eustacia is a 19-year-old sensual beauty , who has only one dream : to be strongly loved by a worthy man , who would take her way from this desolate Egdon Heath settle down somewhere in exotic lands . Due to the fact that she lives in a bleak localty , the only worthy man she meets is Damon Wildeve , an inn owner , very passionate and impulsive personality Both partners in this couple seem to fit each other in terms of their sensual natures and the desire to play with another 's affections 'You give me no peace . Why do you not leave me alone ? I have seen your bonfire all the evening ' The words were not without emotion , and retained their level tone as if by a careful equipoise between imminent extremes ( Hardy , 2001 , at HYPERLINK "http /www .gutenberg .org /etext /122 " http /www .gutenberg .org /etext /122 , Book 1 , Ch .6 . The young woman , in turn , carries and presents herself as extremely determined and psychologically resistible person : being asked by Wildeve is he caused her pain , she responds : 'But perhaps it not wholly because of you that I get gloomy , she archly added . It is my nature to feel like that . It was born in my blood , I suppose (Hardy , 2001 , Book 1 , Ch .6 . On the other hand , Wildeve cannot endure such a cruel lovegame for a long time and decided to marry Thomasin Yeobright , a humble and simple girl with kind and loving heart , who seeks to create a supportive family and live in the heath . However , on their wedding day , the marriage license appears invalid - this either deliberate or unintentional act , coducted by Wileve , deeply hurts and humiliates Thomasin , the girl therefore rejects Wildeve (Alcorn , 1977

In this sense , Eustacia is forced to search for another appropriate person to connect her life with , as she decided to reject Wildeve . She often repeated her prayers not at particular times , but , like the unaffectedly devout , when she desired to pray . Her prayer was always spontaneous , and often ran thus , O deliver my heart from this fearful gloom and loneliness , send me great love from somewhere , else I shall die (Hardy...