Thomas Hardy & Jane Austen: Literary Legacies

Thomas Hardy: Realism, Fate, and the Wessex Novels

Thomas Hardy's novels are primarily set in his native province of Dorchester, often referred to as 'Casterbridge' in his works. His narratives are characterized by a deep knowledge of architecture and a profound exploration of human destiny.

The Mayor of Casterbridge: A Tragic Yet Hopeful Narrative

The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) stands as a significant tragedy, echoing the traditions of Greek tragedies and Shakespeare's King Lear. Despite its tragic arc, the novel remarkably concludes with a glimmer of hope for humanity. Its underlying philosophy is rooted in the malevolence of fate, which Hardy portrays as a primary source of suffering.

In this novel, Hardy masterfully applies the concept of 'Fortune's False Wheel'—a theme discussed by Chaucer in "The Monk's Tale" and alluded to by Shakespeare in King Lear. This concept is central to the dramatic rise and fall of Michael Henchard. Starting as a poor hay-trusser with a drinking problem, Henchard renounces alcohol and ascends to become the town's leading corn factor and mayor. However, he subsequently undergoes a startling series of reversals, ultimately ending his life as an outcast. Interestingly, the novel also possesses some qualities reminiscent of Shakespearean comedy.

Hardy's Literary Landscape and Philosophical Stance

Hardy set his "Novels of Character and Environment," famously known as "The Wessex Novels," along with his poems and short stories, around the market town of Dorchester ('Casterbridge'), near his boyhood home at Bockhampton. While contemporaries like Anthony Trollope and George Eliot also utilized similar rural settings, Hardy's rural backdrop is distinctly neither romantic nor idealized.

From the publication of his earliest works, critics frequently accused Hardy of being overly pessimistic about humanity's place in the world. In 1901, Hardy himself articulated the notion that "non-rationality seems to be the (guiding) principle of the Universe," encapsulating his often fatalistic worldview.

Jane Austen: Irony, Realism, and Social Commentary

Jane Austen was an English novelist renowned for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment on the British gentry at the close of the 18th century. Austen's plots meticulously explore the dependence of women on marriage in their pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security.

Austen's Literary Contributions and Style

Her works critiqued the novels of sensibility prevalent in the second half of the 18th century and are considered a crucial part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Austen's distinctive use of irony, combined with her keen realism, subtle humor, and incisive social commentary, has earned her enduring acclaim.

Major Works and Enduring Legacy

Austen's major published works include:

• Sense and Sensibility (1811)
• Pride and Prejudice (1813)
• Mansfield Park (1814)
• Emma (1816)
• Northanger Abbey (published posthumously in 1818)
• Persuasion (published posthumously in 1818)

She also left behind two volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript and a short fiction titled Lady Susan. Although her six full-length novels were published anonymously during her lifetime, they have rarely been out of print since.

Austen's novels have inspired numerous critical essays and literary anthologies. Furthermore, her stories have been adapted into many films, ranging from the 1940 Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Sense and Sensibility (1995), Emma (1996), and Mansfield Park (1999).