Assignment - 4: A Connection between Thomas Hardy's Novel "Jude the Obscure" & E.M Forster's Novel "Howards End"

 Assignment - 4: A Connection between Thomas Hardy's Novel "Jude the Obscure" & E.M Forster's Novel "Howards End"

This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 104 - Literature of Victorians, Sem - 1, 2023.

         A Connection between Thomas Hardy's Novel   "Jude the Obscure" & E.M Forster's Novel "Howards End"

TABLE OF CONTENTS: -

 ❍ Personal information

 ❍ Assignment Details

 ❍ Abstract

 ❍ Keywords

 ❍ Introduction

 ❍ Thomas Hardy 

 

 ❍ 'Jude the Obscure'

 

 ❍ E.M Forster 

 ❍ 'Howards End'

 ❍ A Connection between both Novel "Jude the Obscure" & " Howards End"

    ⇨ Sociocultural struggle in English Literature: E.M Forster's 'Howard End' and Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure'.

          ⇨ The Image of Rural. 

  ❍ Conclusion 

  ❍ Work cited

PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

 

Name: - Priyanshiba Kanaksinh Gohil

Batch No: M.A. Sem 1 (2023-2025)

Enrollment Number: -  5108230018 

E-mail Address: - priyabagohil7126@gmail.com

Roll Number: - 25

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS: -

Topic: - A Connection between Thomas Hardy's Novel "Jude the Obscure and E.M. Forster's Novel "Howards End".

Paper & subject code: - 104 - Literature of the Victorians & 22395 

Submitted to: - Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar.

Date of Submission: - 01st December, 2023

About Assignment: - In this Assignment, I try to explain A Connection between Thomas Hardy's Novel "Jude the Obscure and E.M. Forster's Novel "Howards End".

ABSTRACT: -

The novel by Thomas Hardy, ‘Jude the Obscure’, and E.M. Forster’s ‘Howard’s End’ are two novels narrating the lives and times of various people These chronicle the environmental and social aspects surrounding the characters in them, and their progression through life. Each delivers a stark contrast in the lives of the main characters, and the different troubles and pleasures they incur during their lifetime. This essay will show a connection between these two novels in the context that they display the image of the rural and the historic, international image that the British commonwealth established amongst the rest of the world's cultures. The first area that needs to be addressed when answering this question is the image of the rural. The simple, universal definition of the term rural in Standard English, means the characteristics of, or pertaining to the country and the people living in the country.

KEYWORDS

Obscureness, Sociocultural struggle, Nature Life, Rebellions 

Introduction: 

    "Jude the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy and "Howards End" by E.M. Forster, despite being written in different periods and focusing on distinct social milieus, share intriguing thematic connections. Both novels delve into the complexities of societal norms, class struggles, and the challenges faced by individuals striving for personal fulfillment within rigid social structures. Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" explores the life of Jude Fawley, a working-class man aspiring for education and a better life in a society where social mobility is restricted. Similarly, Forster's "Howards End" delves into the lives of characters navigating the Edwardian-era societal divisions, focusing on the clash between the classes and the complexities of human relationships. One thematic link lies in their critique of societal constraints and the limitations imposed by class distinctions. Both novels highlight the struggle of individuals against societal expectations, seeking personal growth and fulfillment amidst societal prejudice and barriers. Furthermore, they both examine the human condition and the pursuit of personal happiness in the face of societal norms and conventions. Characters in both novels strive for a sense of belonging, personal identity, and genuine connections in a world that often values conformity over individuality. The thematic similarities between Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Forster's "Howards End" provide a rich ground for exploring the human experience within the constraints of society, making them compelling works that resonate across different eras and societal contexts.

Thomas Hardy:

Thomas Hardy, (born June 2, 1840, Higher Brockhampton, Dorset, Eng.—died Jan. 11, 1928, Dorchester, Dorset), British novelist and poet. Son of a country stonemason and builder, he practiced architecture before beginning to write poetry, then prose. Many of his novels, beginning with his second, Under the Greenwood Tree (1872), are set in the imaginary county of Wessex. Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), his first success, was followed by The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895), all expressing his stoical pessimism and his sense of the inevitable tragedy of life. Their continuing popularity (many have been filmed) owes much to their richly varied yet accessible style and their combination of romantic plots with convincingly presented characters. Hardy’s works were increasingly at odds with Victorian morality, and public indignation at Jude so disgusted him that he wrote no more novels. He returned to poetry with Wessex Poems (1898), Poems of the Past and the Present (1901), and The Dynasts (1910), a huge poetic drama of the Napoleonic Wars.

Jude the Obscure:

"Jude the Obscure," penned by Thomas Hardy in 1895, stands as a poignant exploration of societal constraints and individual aspirations set against the backdrop of late 19th-century England. The narrative orbits around Jude Fawley, a determined and idealistic protagonist whose fervent pursuit of education and personal fulfillment collides head-on with the prevailing societal norms and class restrictions of his era. Born into modest circumstances, Jude harbors an unwavering ambition to break free from his rural life and ascend the academic ladder. His fervor for learning fuels his desires to become a scholar, a seemingly unattainable dream given his humble origins. Hardy weaves a compelling tale of Jude's unwavering determination and the hurdles he faces as he seeks to transcend societal barriers, emphasizing the conflict between individual aspirations and the rigid structures imposed by society. The novel unravels against a backdrop of societal conservatism, stringent religious beliefs, and entrenched class divisions, all of which serve as formidable barriers to Jude's aspirations. Hardy boldly critiques the institution of marriage, societal expectations, and the limitations imposed by traditional ideologies, thereby inviting readers to contemplate the conflict between personal desires and societal norms.

"Jude the Obscure" is a profoundly introspective work that probes the complexities of human yearning, the struggle for self-fulfillment, and the poignant consequences of pursuing dreams in a world that resists change. It remains a timeless literary piece that challenges conventions, sparking discussions on the individual's quest for identity and fulfillment within a society rife with constraints and limitations.

E.M. Froster: 

E. M. Forster, (born Jan. 1, 1879, London, Eng.—died June 7, 1970, Coventry, Warwickshire), British writer. Forster was born into an upper-middle-class family. He attended the University of Cambridge and from roughly 1907 was a member of the informal Bloomsbury group. His early works include Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907), A Room with a View (1908), and his first major success, Howards End (1910), novels that show his acute observation of middle-class life and its values. After periods in India and Alexandria, he wrote his finest novel, A Passage to India (1924), examining the failure of human understanding between ethnic and social groups under British rule. Maurice, a novel with a homosexual theme written in 1913, appeared posthumously. Aspects of the Novel (1927) is a classic discussion of aesthetics and the creative process. Awarded an honorary fellowship in 1946 at Cambridge, he lived there until his death.

"Howards End":

Howards End, novel by E.M. Forster, published in 1910. The narrative concerns the relationships that develop between the imaginative, life-loving Schlegel family Margaret, Helen, and their brother Tibby and the apparently cool, pragmatic Wilcox's Henry and Ruth and their children Charles, Paul, and Evie. Margaret finds a soul mate in Ruth, who before dying declares in a note that her family country house, Howards End, which has been the family’s connection with the earth for generations, should go to Margaret. Her survivors choose to ignore her wishes, but after marrying Henry, Margaret ultimately does come to own the house. In a symbolic ending, Margaret brings Henry back to Howards End after several traumatic events have left him a broken man.

Connection between both Novels, "Jude the Obscure" & "Howards End": 

             ⇨ Sociocultural struggle in English Literature: E.M Froster's 'Howard End' and Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure':

     In 1895, aged only fifty-five years old, Thomas Hardy published what was to be his last novel and what many latterly regard as his greatest achievement, Jude the Obscure. However, it outraged Victorian society on its publication, with critics describing it as 'uncouth' or 'obscene.' Like Leonard Bast, the protagonist Jude Fawley constantly strives for intellectual improvement, against the grain of his social position. Although the setting differs from Forster's City bank Hardy describes a pastoral environment, his re-invented Wessex this is the single relevant difference. Jude is presented to us as a stonemason with dreams of reaching the academic Valhalla of Christ minster (Oxford). Jude's lone walk from Mary green, to view from afar this New Jerusalem and its lights of topaz, is in itself a voyage of singular struggle he arrives only towards the end of day.

 

In a similar triangular relationship to that of Forster's Leonard, Jude Fawley is tied to Arabella, whilst intellectually attracted (in a sexually problematic relationship) to his cousin Sue Bridehead. Jude's intellectual struggle also has parallels with that of Leonard Bast.  Despite Jude's independent learning of Greek and Latin and greater intellectual proficiency than that of many Christ minster scholars, he is still rejected by the ivory towers. Jude's only access to this otherworld is as a stonemason working on the colleges that form the University.  It could be observed that Oxford in the modern day retains that same inaccessibility to those on the outside. Like Cambridge, it is a city of high-walled, gated colleges.

     ⇨ The Image of Rural:

 The novel by Thomas Hardy ‘Jude the Obscure’ is the best source to draw details and perceptions for this idea of the rural, as the theme and its main character Jude, is largely based on his rural lifetime. When thinking about the rural, often one of the first images we get is the image of a livelihood based around agriculture. Agriculture and other simple professions seem to be the main stay of the economic structure of a rural environment. Evidence for this image can be found in ‘Jude the Obscure’. From Jude’s early life as a boy, we see him scaring away birds from crops Just now he’s a-scaring of birds for farmer Troutham. It keeps him out of mischty.” (Page 17’Jude the obscure’) This quote also is symbolic of the language differences within the rural and the urbane. The city linguistic system is more proper in the sense that they don’t conjoin words or shorten words ‘mischty’ being an example of the latter. The image of the rural, as seen in terms of their work is primitive and largely agricultural. The rural people are seen to live in a less sophisticated habitat, boarding rooms and lodges; also, small farming cottages are often the main perceptions of rural habitats.

 This next part of the essay will show the customs, traditions, and behavior of the different classes within the city. These will mainly be drawn from the novel by E. M. Forster’s ‘Howard’s End’. Howard’s End’ shows what most see as the idea of England at that time. What has to be taken into account is the three distinct social classes we have within this novel, and which all interact with one another in some way. Three families, the Schlegel family, the Wilcox family, and the Bast family represent the three social classes in this novel. These three families are a good depiction of the types of people dwelling in the main English cities of that time. The first of these families is the Wilcox family. Mr. Wilcox summarizes the depiction of this social class.

   In the case of ‘Howard’s End’, it arranges three different social classes interacting, and eventually learning to peaceably live with one another. ‘Jude The Obscure’ is showing a time when this was in early stage of evolution. The rural wanted to stay rural, but an ever-increasing amount wanted to become more urbane and sophisticated. This leads to the next point of discussion. The next area of significance in answering this question is the graduation from rural to city, and the connection with which these two novels, ‘Jude the Obscure’ and ‘Howard’s End’ explain this.

Conclusion:

Both "Jude the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy and "Howards End" by E.M. Forster delve into societal constraints and the struggle of individuals against rigid social structures. While the settings and characters differ, both novels explore themes of class struggle, the limitations imposed by societal norms, and the clash between personal desires and societal expectations. In "Jude the Obscure," Hardy portrays Jude Fawley's relentless pursuit of education and dreams despite societal barriers, emphasizing the oppressive weight of societal conventions and the consequent tragedy that befalls those who challenge them. On the other hand, "Howards End" delves into the clash between the Wilcox's, who represent the practical, business-oriented upper-middle class, and the Schlegel's, who embody culture and intellectualism. Forster's novel explores the tensions between different social classes and the struggle for connection and understanding between them.

Both novels highlight the complexities of human relationships, and the harsh consequences individuals face when attempting to break free from societal norms. Ultimately, they question the rigidity of societal structures, and the price individuals pay for daring to challenge or transcend them.

Work Cited:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Thomas Hardy summary". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2003, Thomas Hardy summary | Britannica   Accessed 22 November 2023.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Howards End". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Sep. 2023, Howards End | Edwardian England, Social Class, Marriage | Britannica   Accessed 22 November 2023.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "E. M. Forster summary". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2003, E. M. Forster summary | Britannica   Accessed 22 November 2023.

"Jude the Obscure and Howards End." Free Essays - PhDessay.com, 11 Sep 2017, https://phdessay.com/relation-image-rural-idea-england-jude-obscure-howards-end/

http://www.albionmagazineonline.org/albion-autumn-2011-books-jude-the-obscure-and-howards-end.html

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