This novel particularly struck a cord with me because I felt trapped by it. I was around 18, working in restaurants at night and doing flooring during the day. I was also a bibliophile and would constantly steal away reading if I was on a break. Also, my ex at that time either truly thought she was pregnant or faked it, and she really wanted me to propose. It's not ridiculous to understand that I actually *felt* that I was Jude Fawley when I read this. After reading this book, it kind of woke my ass up in a way that is hard to describe. It definitely changed the course of my life as it made me much more self aware. For all its bleakness, Jude the Obscure is also a cautionary tale in many ways. Once again, it's hard to explain, although I could try. I would agree that the "conclusion" is not sharp or clear, but I also felt myself change after it... If all that makes sense. The one clear thing that I took from it is that life is not clear; it's very muddy. One of my earlier issues in life was that I was a right/wrong, morality vs. lack of morality, this is right vs. this is wrong kind of guy. At the end of this, I felt like I understood that nothing is that simple, especially relationships and ambitions.
My goodness your review is spot on. I agree much over the pacing and the slogginess. Hardy gets hung up on the back-and-forth drama between Sue and Jude. I felt the novel soars when it focuses on class structure and Jude's dream for an academic life. Hardy could have spent more time filling in that scenario with longer inner monologues or discussions or incidents. I tired of the frustrating dialog between the lovers.
There is another interpretation of Sue and her sexuality, namely her being asexual ('Jude the Obscure', 'the Bone people' by Keri Hulme etc. being some of those classics where one of the main characters are quite frequently interpreted as an asexual). That way her reluctance to 'consummate' her relationship with Jude or any other partner and her general aversion can be read as her being more honest with herself and not forcing it on herself even in situations where that's expected from her (marriage). This way the last part of the book can be read as her attempts of explaining the aforementioned tragedy drawing her to believing her being fundamentally abnormal and that way the part being probably even more tragic because of such a drastic change as a result of societal pressure. One of the things i took from Sue's arc reading the book some years ago (which without a doubt can make me misremember quite enough today) was expectations of a human as inevitably sexual being (even if 'sexual' component being only unwilling performance) and therefore 'sexual' as consequently empowering concept having just as tragic consequences for many as the opposite for others.
Absolutely! That makes a lot of sense-thanks for bringing this up. Especially given that Sue had a close relationship with another man before meeting Jude but also wasn’t interested in sleeping with him, I think the idea that she was asexual is very valid. And yes, Victorian attitudes toward sex and sexuality were already rigid enough for people who fell within the heteronormative spectrum, but for people who fell outside that accepted norm, things must have been even more confusing and punishing. Yet another layer of tragedy in this already brutal book!
I've just read Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess', Mayor of Casterbridge, and now Jude. Currently reading Return of the Native. I'm on a Hardy kick. Anyway, your commentary was spot on and you managed to not give away the plot. I didn't find it plodding but I didn't find it as richly written as Far From the Madding Crowd or Tess of the DUrbervilles, or even Mayor of Casterbridge, especially in Jude's childhood. I found the writing in the beginning was in a simplistic style, almost as if he started writing it for teen readers, rather than adults. But of course, it becomes very intellectual and adult as Jude grows up. It was not my favorite Hardy book but definitely worth a read. In addition to the criticism of Victorian society, I'd say it was also stinging indictment of the institution of marriage. Definitely don't give this book to a bride-to-be.
that part where Jude and Sue were happily painting the 10 commandments in a church but was spoilt by the rumormongers there -- it really breaks my heart.
wonderful review! jude the obscure is my all-time favorite. i gave the book as a gift to my friend and forced him to read it and we both found Sue and Jude so real and so relatable.
The poems of Hardy and also The Return of the Native are my favorite works by him. I read Jude the Obscure a while back, and there is also a Thomas the Obscure by, I believe, Marice Blanchot, who was a philosopher. Thanks for your comments.
I just finished the book today, and wow, for me this novel it's the best I've read this 2018, I enjoyed a lot. When I started reading the book I thought that it was going to be kinda like an 'overcoming' story about Jude struggles and that the whole context was going to be about his ups and downs in order to archive his dream, but as I was advancing in the lecture that changed, and it became another story basically. About the characters: Well, Arabella was an annoying character,(sorry if that sounds like an insult but I couldn't find the right word) sometimes she was a 'bitch', just look at the way she kind of force jude to remarry her, or at the time he was ill eventhough she nurse him, it was like she didn't care a lot, also her envy against Sue, blaming them when she saw them at the festival. Also that when Jude is agonising in bed, the doctor came to check him, but then he kissed Arabella and told her he wasn't going to last long, like she im fact wanted to get the rid of him Sue: wow, the most complex character of the novel, I even read the afterword and I couldn't figure out the entire Sue's personality. I think that in some point she loose her mind after her children's death, that's why she became more religious and stuff, after all, I don't know if she actually loved Jude as a lover, or as a truly friend, eventhough she satisfied Jude's pleasures. She is an independent woman though, you can see she enjoys her freedom, she was a teacher, etc (at that time equal privileges were hard to have for a woman). What impressed me was the children's suicide and homicide (I think) by elder the kid. Also that the concept of marriage was way different for the one we have today, at that time, for not doing the right thing in marriage poeple were likely to blame you and to put you apart of the society (what happened to Richard), in our time we came even do adulterous affairs and not of that will happen to us. Good novel👌, happy to know that people like you enjoy literature :)
I read this for the first time a few weeks ago, and it is almost haunting me. There is so much truth in this fiction - the character of Jude is achingly, often heartbreakingly human. So much of him resonates deep within me. I realised Hardy was a literary genius when I read Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and also loved The Mayor of Casterbridge, A Pair of Blue Eyes and Far From the Madding Crowd (I still have a way to go in getting through all of Hardy's works), but Jude the Obscure has left an impact that I can compare to very few other novels, or works in any art form. Sorry to babble here, but I am still working through the book in my own torturous way!
What an interesting review, loved how right out of the gate you were like "This was a SLOG to get through" and bleak lol I read Far From the Madding Crowd, and thought it was okay although I wanted to lock Bathsheba away somewhere but it was so fun to discuss with my friend in our buddy read, I imagine this book would be just as interesting to discuss.
Haha, yes, it was definitely more interesting than it was enjoyable, but absolutely great for discussion (especially regarding its insights into/critiques of Victorian society!) :)
I really enjoyed the insight which you brought in this review! I read Jude the Obscure over a year ago, and, while listening to your review, I felt quite like I was opening the book once more. I still really enjoyed your critiques despite this, though! I did find Mr. Phillotson to be more developed than Sue was, but I also found her lack of development in combination with her habitual indecision to be something almost intentional; and I was fascinated as a result!
Thanks so much! I thought Phillotson was so well-drawn and sympathetic (most of the time). I do think Sue's indecision was perhaps a result of all the different pressures she was facing from society-I can definitely see how paralyzing that might be!
Hardy's books were written with a direct theme and set of messages Those who complain that Hardy is too depressing or ruthless in it's treatment of women etc, clearly don't understand Hardy. He's not supposed to be read like a romantic happy ever after fiction. Just because it's period literature does not mean it's the next progression for Jane Austen fans who are only interested in RomCom. These novels are a social critique of conditions in Victorian England.
Thanks for this brilliant and interesting in-depth review of the novel. On my TBR list, when I've read it I might get back to you. Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter comes to mind, but then it's almost 50 years older and set much earlier. Jane A in Mansfield Park -1814- offers opposing points of view, and even in Pride and Prejudice -1813-, Lydia is quite casual about her relationships and without any pangs of conscience whatsoever. And DH Lawrence in Sons and Lovers -1913-, et al, is all 'follow your feelings and emotions, they represent your life-force'. So the 'bleakness' and treatment of 'fate' could be a Hardy thing. I'm looking forward to the Oxford part at least.
Well, there you go, better late than never! So, I think it's a remarkable if not exactly lighthearted book, though there's quite some humour hidden behind the sad and dreary story I believe. Take eg Arabella's final words "She may swear that on her knees to the holy cross upon her necklace till she's hoarse ..." In short I'd say it's the story of someone, who has begun and attempted many 'things' and always stopped short, mainly living in imagining what he might do rather than in acting, persevering and going the distance. Obviously one could put the blame on 'society' etc, but shouldn't one also try and, at least outwardly, blend in? I also loved the characters, with the pragmatic Arabella, imho, getting more likable later, and Sue, a very interesting character when we first meet her rather getting less so, In some way the approaches to life they suggest appear to be still valid ie observable today, together with those of some of the minor characters such as Phillotson, his friend Gillingham, the quack Vilbert, the Widow Edlin ... Christminster/Oxford rather gets a beating, and neither do we really see the academic side of the place, or any people in that field, which to me seems to be a sign of a failure on Jude's part to interact with them. His learning is all in his head and never ever put to the test of a real academic exchange, unless one counts the one scene in the pub and that other where, from a distance, he admires the dons in the parade. Much more to be said, but that's it in (not so) short.
Arabella is such an interesting character. To me she had the most wisdom of the four main characters and an almost superhuman intelligence about human affairs. It is no wonder she ended up as the happiest. Although I identify with Jude and Sue more personally, as would (I imagine) most people who would voluntarily read this novel, I would not underrate Arabella.
I did not know anyone could have such an opinion.The word wisdom most certainly repels from the character of Arabella.She was clearly selfish and cunning and heartless and horrible and wicked! But maybe you're just kidding and drunk... it's too sad a book to bear with....the devastation can drive you crazy
Thanks! Most of my thoughts about Sue are in this video, but you can also browse some of the other comments here (some people have additional thoughts about Sue if you're interested).
I'm just finishing this book. I like your thoughts on it, though I found it more gripping than you did. My view of Sue is not that she's asexual, but that - putting things much too simply - her sexuality is unable to find healthy expression throughout most of the book. I think it's implied that Jude satisfies her sexually before the catastrophe with the children.
Hardy is my favorite writer and I feel the Mayor of Casterbridge is his best novel. For me "Jude the Obscure", the title says it all. I think you can sum it up by saying, Jude allows women in his life to keep him from his goals, particularly his love for his bizarre cousin Sue. Yes, the novel is very much centered around the Victorian era and breaking out of it for both main characters. (The shocker about their children and how they die is horrible.) By the end of the novel I wanted to take Jude and shake him to his senses and Sue disgusted me. I wished Jude had never seen the picture of Sue, because perhaps he would have never met her and none of this tragedy would have happened. Beware, this is a good, but very depressing novel.
Great review. I agree that Arabella was a bit of a caricature. I thought that it would have been better if there was something about her extreme childhood poverty or early trauma which showed why she was so calculating and brutal. But hey, that event which occurred which sent Sue off her head - I audibly said 'Noooo'. Almost difficult to think about. And btw, librivox has an EXCELLENT audio reading.
stunning points about this tragedy! I wished you could discuss three main elements of analyzing a tragedy within this novel; which are Hubris, Hamartia and Catharsis.
Comprehensive and insightful as always Claire. I can see why Robert said this wasn’t as well received and made Hardy basically stop writing, it sounds so much more depressing than Far from the Madding Crowd which is the only Hardy I’ve read.
It's definitely more depressing than Far From the Madding Crowd! I knew this was unpopular when it was published, but reading it was still quite shocking-I can't believe he got away with publishing it at all! It seems pretty radical for the time period.
I have to read this whole book by next week so I figured I'd get some insight on it. I have a sneaky feeling my teacher is going to have me compare this to Great Expectations by Dickens
Yes I'm finding it a slog but I'm not far from the end. I love Hardys work and the way he touched the way he wrote about the matter of fastness of his relationship with sue whom he loved.
I always remember Jude criticising Sue for "loving to be loved." Rather than loving someone, she loved the feeling. She never committed to loving only one man, she was prone to switching.
I don't think the author was ever focusing on anyone's sexuality in the book. Sex in the book is only mentioned while very tightly tied to love and marriage duty, as it was at the time - Consuming the marriage and all that jazz. So I strongly disagree that there is anything to be gained by contemplating the sexuality of the characters. Also, them sleeping together is not "wrong" because of Victorian England. It is wrong because they are cousins. What sexuality exactly is discussed here? None. No Alabama politics in this book. Sex and women hardships are mentioned in the book, true, but are simply statements as the affairs of the times - nothing more, nothing less. Their ability to love, however, has been a focus point for half the book and honestly really grabbed me. Rightfully so, as that was mostly the idea. Sue's explanation on how some women simply love to be loved hits a bullseye even today. Jude's retrospective insight that he was nothing more but a seducer, where maybe he shouldn't had followed his desires, hits home just as strong. She often doubts whether she can love. He doubts her of the same as well. Then the complete devastation with the children, breaking the characters to their core. Amazing! Such a simple way to ground a person. The massive tragedy simply put them right in their places, by simultaneously showing them just how wrong their take on love was. Then Sue thinks their love has been wrong in God's eyes, while we see how wrong it is in society's eyes through Phillotson. Simply great! Also, the juxtaposition of Sue's aversion to religion, then adopting it after the tragedy, while Jude's attempts to be a religious man, then saying he hates God and the church, for they are taking away his beloved - Chef's kiss. Masterfully written plot lines. Very rewarding for anyone who has followed them through. The book does drag though. The old English used in it does not help either. Overall, I loved the story, but did not like the book. My slowest read to date - 7.5/10, would recommend, but would advise for patience, and leaving modern topics like "sexuality" and "women's hardships" out of it.
Can’t wait to read this one! I’ve only read The Mayor of Casterbridge and Far From the Madding Crowd. Hardy always has me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I love it lol.
Definitely pick up The Mayor of Casterbridge next! I loved it and am hoping to reread it sometime soon. It is not a feel good novel but I remember being completely engrossed in it. Hardy was a man with a very bleak outlook on society and even humanity. That definitely shows through in his literature.
I know Hardy's books are generally downers, but they always leave you thinking. I cant wait to read Jude The Obscure, because of the subject matter--i think I will be able to relate to it. Especially the part about the pursuit of self education. Thanks for the review! Also, just watched a wonderful film version of The Mayor of Casterbridge that was very good, Ciaran Hinds did a great acting job (as always).
Excellent review, as usual. I've never read this novel. The only Hardy I've read is Tess of the D'Ubervilles, which I did enjoy. I never really had an interest in reading Jude the Obscure, I'm not sure why. Although, your review has made me curious.
Thanks, Darryl! This was definitely an interesting book, but if you're thinking of trying another Hardy I would probably recommend Far From the Madding Crowd over Jude the Obscure...just because Jude is so bleak! I've also heard that The Return of the Native and The Mayor of Casterbridge are great, but I haven't gotten to those yet.
Thank you for posting your analysis and putting yourself out there... but.... yours is such a modern take ... it does not reflect the text of the book and take into account the era in which it written ... what it is NOT -- a critique of Victorian society (very little), nor a critique of academia (there is little to none), nor a critique of marriage, and does not glorify the laborer (little to none of this as well)... this is a story about the battle between a man's goals/dreams and his inner nature/natural drives including his drive for female companionship... it is also an intense criticism of women (sorry I did not write it)... Jude, like many young men, has a dream... but how easily he can be sidetracked by the call of the Siren, even a lowly pigstress like Arabella... Sue is a horrible girl who presided over the death of her 3 children and leads three men's lives into ruin -- the student, the oldman philloston, and her cousin jude... if anything, this is a call back to traditional marriage and proper courtship that does not involve premarital sex...
Jude needed Game. These days men who understand female psychology would have had Sue under total control right from the start. All Jude had to do was talk to other women and act like he didn't care for Sue and her capriciousness would have been channelled into trying told on to Jude.
Hello Could you share me your email. I have to prepare a project in discourse analysis about this novel. I am waiting for your support. Thank you in advance.
Jesus. Never trust a Millennial with a Kardashian accent to review a great book. So stilted and awful to watch. Can't get beyond the awful presentation that never gets to the soul of the book.
i have just finished this book and i agree with Claire in terms of pacing though i still count this novel as one of Hardy`s strongest. Sometimes it was a little slow - true - but i really liked the dark atmosphere Hardy created and also the characters. Among those Sue is in my opinion the most interesting one and represents a good hearted person who is confused and badly hurt by all the personal misfortunes she has suffered in her life. At the end of the novel the reader asks himself, who of the main characters is hit hardest : Jude whose health is deteriorating, Sue who is living a lie, Phillotson who was never really loved or Arabella who is so selfish that she doesn`t even see that she is harming herself. Everyone of them deserves our compassion.
Hardy is my favorite writer and I feel the Mayor of Casterbridge is his best novel. For me "Jude the Obscure", the title says it all. I think you can sum it up by saying, Jude allows women in his life to keep him from his goals, particularly his love for his bizarre cousin Sue. Yes, the novel is very much centered around the Victorian era and breaking out of it for both main characters. (The shocker about their children and how they die is horrible.) By the end of the novel I wanted to take Jude and shake him to his senses and Sue disgusted me. I wished Jude had never seen the picture of Sue, because perhaps he would have never met her and none of this tragedy would have happened. Beware, this is a good, but very depressing novel.
