illustration of Eustacia standing in the forest

The Return of the Native

by Thomas Hardy

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Student Question

What is Hardy's philosophy of life in The Return of the Native and why can't the main characters be called "rustic characters"?

Quick answer:

Thomas Hardy's philosophy in The Return of the Native is pessimistic, viewing human lives as governed by uncontrollable external and internal forces. His characters, like Eustacia Vye, are complex and driven by these forces, rather than being idealized "rustic characters" typical in pastoral literature. Unlike innocent rural figures, Hardy's characters are not simple peasants but are instead depicted as flawed individuals shaped by their environment and innate desires.

Expert Answers

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Hardy has a very pessimistic philosophy of life as can be seen in his characters who seem to have little control over their own lives.  Hardy saw external circumstances and uncontrollable internal urges as controlling human actions.  In Eustacia Vye, attributes such as her beauty which would usually be considered an asset are actually a curse to her in her surroundings. 

Hardy's characters cannot be called "rustic characters" because they lack the innocence of the rustic characters found in pastoral literature.  This type of literature idealized the rural experience making the simple peasants or shepherds of their story heros when compared to complicated urban characters.  Hardy's characters in the Return of the Native are hardly idealized, simple peasants.  They are complex humans controlled by both their surroundings and animalistic urges which cause them to make poor choices for their lives.

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