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?
Hardy very much supported his countries return to a "Native" society. He wanted people to live in a rural society as they had in the past, and he wanted people to put down their machinery to go back to work in the fields. His title for this novel is really just his beliefs on society, that people should return to a simpler, rural way of life, so that they can better enjoy the pleasures of life. He feels like a mechanized world is taking the humanity out of humans, and he wants that way of life back.
ReplyDeleteFrom the word "native" I can derive a few meanings. First, it can mean born in the region in which one lives, as in a native inhabitant, someone who is not foreign.It can also mean original, as in made up of original substance or finally, native can also mean naturally related or connected with. As it may be seen, the word "native" can mean many things depending on how it is used.
ReplyDeleteSo far the only meaning I see in Hardy using "native" in the title is that a character, Clym Yeobright will be coming back to Egdon Heath. His return seems anticipated by many of the Heath's characters. Whether his return is positive or negative I am sure I will soon find out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dan. Return of the native was published in 1878, and during that time period many changes were occurring in Hardy’s life. The industrial movement and new technology caused many things to change Hardy’s environment and the place he once called home. Hardy did not like these changes, and wrote a novel which encouraged everyone to “return,” and embrace the basic way of life without the need for technology.
ReplyDeleteOne definition of “native” that I found was “natural and unaffected.” I think this definition fits Hardy’s views perfectly, because he wants the land and society to be both natural and unaffected. He wants the land to be natural, with farm fields and pastures and small towns, not affected by big cities and dirty machinery. He wants society to be natural, in the sense that he wants people to live in small communities and be close to one another, and he wants them to be unaffected by the influences of city life, with money and social status as the only things that matter. In conclusion, I think that Hardy is hinting at the fact that he wants society and the land to return to being natural and unaffected.
ReplyDeleteI think that The Return of the Native is titled as such, due to the return of Clym to Egdon Heath. As we all know, Hardy strongly believes that the country is a superior place to live then the city. This is apparent in The Return of the Native, as Clym gives up the life he once had in the city and returns to Egdon Heath to pursue a new career as a schoolteacher.
ReplyDeleteThe desire of Eustacia to have Clym return to the city, and take her with her, ultimately leads to her death. She cannot accept the lifestyle that Clym wants to pursue, and it ends in her drowning in a river.
I think Hardy by using the word native, does want to convey a kind of person who is attached to the land and may be ignorant, but has a special quality. The natives of the land, the locals always pop up and are portrayed almost less civilized than Clym because Clym is "sophisticated" by being in the city and that is why Eustacia wants him to take her off the dreaded heath to Paris. Eustacia hates the heath, but when Clym returns, he loves the heath. I think Hardy is portraying a person who loves the land and wants to be a native of the land, which holds something special that you cannot find in the city.
ReplyDeleteOne meaning of the word native people have touched upon is in its natural sense. I agree with this but I would like to apply it in a little different sense. I feel like Hardy applies the word native in a primitive meaning to his strengthen his theme of "moral sensibility" spoken of in the Jessica Teish article. Hardy believes that the values of the poorer classes were more in touch with the intensions of predestined life on earth. As natives were commonly overtaken, so were these values and ethics. Sensibility shifted into sexuality, betrayal and exploitation. Hardy uses the word Native to represent what is untouched or pure and encourages the rebirth of this simplicity through the actual native in the story, Clym Yeobright.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dan and Erin where it is said that the word Native, as seen in the title of this book has the meaning where Hardy leans more towards the rural part of society and where people can "escape" to a more simpler life rather than a more complicated world. He believes that the world should be "unaffected" by certain things that do not really matter, and to live life as it comes. In The Return Of the Native, the native is Clym Yeobright in which her returns to Egdon Heath to be a school teacher.
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