tragedy in the novels of thomas hardy - international indexed ...

International Research Journal , July 2010 ISSN- 0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/30097 VOL I *ISSUE 10
Research Paper - English
TRAGEDY IN THE NOVELS
OF THOMAS HARDY
July, 2010
* Rajesh Kumar
* Assicate Prof. Comm.Dept. Sant Gadge Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Walgaom.
* Research Scholor, Singhania University,Rajasthan
Introduction
The term ‘tragedy’ is applied to literary and to
dramatic representations of serious actions which
eventuate in a disastrous conclusion for the protagonist
(the chief character). More precise and detailed
discussion of the tragic form properly begin – although
they should not end – with Aristotle’s classic analysis
in the Poetics. When we study any tragic work, it is
essential to be kept in mind the causes of disaster, the
emotional reaction of the audience, the writer’s view of
human nature and what type of persons are the victims.
In the tragedies of Thomas Hardy, characters are noticed
full of frustration; of broken lives; and of the pathetic
futility of human effort when it puts itself against hostile
faith. Hardy’s characters are dominated by mischance
and malicious destiny. The phrase ‘The president of the
immortals had ended his sport with Tess’ clearly shows
the presence of supernatural power.
The aims are clearly thwarted by ancient social
prejudices scorning and repressing a man’s ambitions;
and by man’s own weakness which can be observed
through the phrase ‘the tragedy of unfulfilled aims’. In
the words of Robert Hudson and Edwin Arnold “The
central theme is the tragedy of unrealized aims” 1 Even
the characters are apparently aware of hostility. Man’s
struggle is generally useless. The tragic force of Hardy’s
novels is inevitably impaired. In the tragedies of Thomas
Hardy, the play of an alien force can be easily observed
controlling the actions of a puppet. A struggle of man
with infinite power and indifferent destiny can easily be
observed. “How I have tried and tried to be a splendid
woman, and how destiny has been against me?” 2 The
conflict of desires appears to be the basis of tragedy.
Even the ethical significance is not at all observable.
Man is usually placed against a mysterious, spiteful
power which limits his destiny though the characters
are not always aware of it. Thomas Hardy in his novels
besides having a grudge against the universe had a
feeling of resentment against injustice of which man is
victim. “He (Hardy) himself proposes no remedy,
suggests no escape – his business not being to deal in
notstrums of social therapeutics. He is content to make
7
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his readers pause and consider and pity” 3 An evil power
ruling this universe thwarts every effort of man to get
happiness. Events are often full of agony. Coincidences
have been abundantly used which ironically turn out
unlucky.
This is Hardy’s assessment of mankind which shows
the infernal malice which rules the world – the ingenious
machinery controlled by the gods for reducing human
possibilities to a minimum. Man’s goodness faces evil
which seems to be omnipotent. In his stories, Thomas
Hardy has an indictment to argue.
The problems are set out the tragic conclusion
of which is inescapable. Hardy interrupts his narrative
with indignant, outbursts and denunciations. His novels
exceed the scope of tragedy. Characters appear without
any doubt to embody the elemental forces against which
their struggle is totally useless. The odds have been
overloaded against characters in his novels. A series of
chances and coincidences frequently thwarts human
happiness. Happiness is an occasional episode in a
general drama of pain. Mostly characters in Hardy’s
novels are wretched, miserable and in a state of
damnation. In the words of J.H. Miller,
“The goal of the desire is to find that something
missing” 4 It is apparent that Hardy is a critic of human
condition in philosophical sense. The mutual strife of
the sexes, the struggle for existence and for happiness
and the other hurdles obsessing the human path are
normal. It is also clearly ironical that Hardy’s conception
is tragic as far as life is concerned. There is hardly any
opportunity of escape from any conflict. Man is not
able to subdue his own insubordinate nature and a
mysterious spiteful power places snares in his path. A
crucial and prominent role of chance and coincidence
is properly observable in the novels of Thomas Hardy
which clearly becomes the cause of tragedy.
According to J.I.M. Steward, “Always in
Hardy it is certain that the incidence of fatality within
the general operation of chance will be higher than we
are commonly prepared to accept of its being in nature.
Why does he thus so often seem to against his
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RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

International Research Journal , July 2010 ISSN- 0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/30097 VOL I *ISSUE 10
characters with loaded dice” 5 Many factors such as patterns of his novels which later joined with
Destiny, nature, supernatural power, social customs complicated plots in the coincidences of (Hardy’s)
and the own responsibility of characters appear to novels. He is much convincing as far as the scenes of
operate together and the working of all these factors death or misfortunes are concerned. His creative faculty
creates a sense of mystery of life; a sense which is is aroused to it’s full activity. In the words of Noorul
created in every tragic work. A clash of wills and a Hasan, “This novel is actually fable of the barrenness” 7 .
dispute of ambitions among many characters create CONCLUSION:
dilemma without any way for outside where no An eminent impact on the course of events is
understanding is possible.
exercised through the unneglectable role of many
“I am better educated than you – and I don’t factors (which cause tragedy) which is almost hard to
love you a bit: That is my side of the case. Now yours: believe and even Thomas Hardy is criticized for it. It is
you are a farmer just beginning, and you ought in also genuinely ironical that Hardy had a negative
common prudence” 6 It is fate which makes it impossible thought about life that man is born to suffer and to be
for characters to enjoy harmonious relationship. But unhappy. All the characters are made to suffer. His
fate shows it’s power in the form of chances and conception of life is undoubtedly pathetic. His critical
coincidences. In Thomas Hardy’s novels, the tragic attitude towards the world he has depicted is
pathos of humanity is caught between happiness and unbelievable. Hardy piles up the agony to such an
the harsh limitation of facts. A philosophic fatalism, extent that it excites horror and defeats even the aim of
too, goes hand in hand. Tragedy is noticed in the ironic tragedy.
R E F E R E N C E
1. Robert Hudson & Edwin Arnold : A Critical Study: Thomas Hardy, Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2005, P. 51 2. The Return
of The Native: Thomas Hardy Oxford University Press, 2004: Explanatory Notes by : Nancy Barrineau, P. 359. 3. R.G. Cox.
ed. Thomas Hardy: The Critical Heritage, P. 202 4. Miller, J. Hillis Fiction and Repitition: Seven English Novels. Cambridge:
Harvard (U.P.) 1982, P.167 5.J.I.M. Steward English Studies (1948) P. 19 6. Thomas Hardy: Three Pastoral Novels Edited
by R.P. Draper(Macmillan Education Ltd. 1987) P. 131 7. Noorul Hasan: Thomas Hardy, The Sociological Imagination
Macmillan India Ltd., 1982, P. 14
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