Jude the Obscure Jude Fawley is presented in Hardy's novel as an ordinary, working-class man of humble origins struggling hard to realize his dreams but thwarted by a cruel fate and a pitiless, snobbish social system. ... Part of Jude's tragedy arises from his incurable idealism. ... Jude is impressed with her beauty and the work she is. ... Hardy demonstrates Jude's inaccurate perception of Sue's character. ... The reader is gradually shown how Jude builds a new illusion, this time about his cousin. ...

• Word Count: 982
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Also written around this time, the highly controversial Jude the Obscure could also be cited as another reflection of the tension within his marriage. Aside from this fact, Hardy's reputation did not falter and he created Sue Bridehead, Jude's main heroine. When Jude was written in 1895, society was quickly modernizing and the role of women slowly but surely was changing. ... Guerard who believes while Hardy wrote a number of compelling leading ladies into his works, he only created two men of more than average interest, Jude the Obscure's Jude Fawley and The Mayor of Casterbrid...

• Word Count: 1140
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

In 1870 Thomas Hardy travelled to Cornwall, where he met and fell in love with Emma Gilford, his first wife. Emma's death, on the November 27th 1912, inspired some of Hardy's most raw and best work. "The Going" by Thomas Hardy is one of many poems written by Hardy after his wife's death. Between 19...

• Word Count: 695
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Thomas Hardy was born in Dorsetshire, England, in 1840. His first job was an architect and he worked in London and Dorset for ten years. Hardy began his writing career as a novelist and was soon successful enough to leave the field of architecture for writing. His novels Tess of the D'Urbervilles a...

• Word Count: 277
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School