A Rich Tapestry of Ideas

Respond to these quotes from Richard Carpenter's criticism:

"On the whole, Return of the Native, is drawn in broad strokes that indicate its closeness to folk origins. This breadth is at once its charm and its weakness, for it is rich in superstition, myth, and folk characters acting out an elemental tale of love and hate; but it is also overladen with allusion and philosophy, with complex plot, and with attempts at psychologizing."

"As in Far From the Madding Crowd the peasants (Cantle, Fairway, Nunsuch) are a chorus, with all that implies of continuity and comment...Hardy goes beyond his practice in Far by involving these characters and other folk in the action...The folk are thus always there in the novel, reminding us of their permanence (to the Heath) in contrast to the lives of the principal characters (who may desire permanence, but find nothing by tragedy.)"

Metaphorical Blindness

In viewing the relationship between Eustacia and Clym, an asute reader recognizes it is doomed to fail based solely on their view of Egdon Heath. Eustacia's desire to escape from the land which binds her is in stark contrast to Clym's, and Hardy's. Although Clym reveres the Heath as a paradise, readers side with Eustacia for Hardy presents Clym’s view as one who is blinded by nostalgic reverence.

Critics often compare this motif of blindness to the tale of Promethus. Clym is a modern man who has the capacity "to bring light, rather than fire, to men." His name also speaks to this interpretation. Yeobright, along with the word "bright," alludes to the concept of a yeoman, a medieval term for "one of high rank or office." Hardy's word play with this name could also refer to yeoman's later use as "one who farms or works the land."

What other ways does the theme of blindness present itself in the novel? How is Eustacia (metaphorically) blind? What hinders these main characters from seeing the truth of their situations?

A Celebration of Rural Life

Critic Richard Carpenter says, "Far From the Madding Crowd developes...the vividly realized setting of field and farm without the grim majesty of Egdon Heath (in Return of the Native)." Choose a descriptive passage of "grim majesty" from the first 75 pages and post it to this blog as a comment. Then comment on each others posts.

Be sure to check the posts from Far From the Madding Crowd as their setting differs from yours greatly. This should give you a well-rounded sense of Hardy's treatment of setting.

Going Native

The word "native" in the title holds a touch of irony. "Native" was a term given to those inhabitants of a geographic region in which the British government wanted to invade and colonize. It was used in a derogatory and condescending manner to reinforce the dominance of British power throughout the world. For example, this is where the term "Native Americans" comes from.

What various meanings for the word "native" can you derive? Knowing two of Hardy's main themes from the Jessica Teisch article, what could he mean by using it in this novel's title?