Showing results for title "Jude the Obscure", by author "Hardy Thomas" in Literary History & Criticism

At just eleven years old, Jude Fawley is inspired by his teacher, Mr. Phillotson, who leaves their small village of Marygreen to pursue a university degree in Christminster. Determined to follow in his footsteps, Jude studies diligently with the help of old Latin and Greek texts gifted by his mentor. He trains as a stonemason to support himself while striving for higher education. However, upon arriving in Christminster, he quickly realizes that opportunities are scarce for someone of his humble background. As he falls in love with his cousin Sue Bridehead, Judes life becomes a tumultuous ...

Jude the Obscure is Thomas Hardys poignant final novel, originally serialized in magazines before its book release in 1895. The story follows Jude Fawley, a lower-class young man with aspirations of becoming a scholar. He navigates a tumultuous life intertwined with his earthy wife, Arabella, and his intellectual cousin, Sue. This compelling narrative explores deep themes such as class struggle, the pursuit of knowledge, the complexities of marriage, and the shifting landscape of society and belief.