Not exactly
Posted by Constanza on September 17, 1998 at 14:40:13:
In response to Hardy and God, written by Kellie on September 17, 1998 at 11:03:28
The characters always suffer for their "sins" and mistakes no matter how good or pure at heart they are - it is like a "God is unfair" theme running through his works. Anyone else get this feeling?
I seem to remember that at about this time there was a change in the artist's view of nature; instead of being an agreeable thing, it became dangerous and something that was doing its best to destroy man. Life was seen as a great fight of men against nature. (by artists I mean writers and painters as well).
IMO Hardy's characters have to fight against an evil nature (and that is very clear in TROTN where it is the moor which ultimately destroys Eustacya)... and against an evil "pathos"... I have these sense of "unfairness" too (no matter what you are or what you feel your actions and decisions will catch up with you) but it is not God that is unfair (though his characters may think so) but society and fate. I don't think that I am being clear. I believe that we should separate Hardy's opinion as a narrator than his characters' opinions, because they are not always the same.
For instance, in the case of Tess, she thinks that God will punish her, while the narrator points out that it is only society that will blame her, because her acts were in accordance to nature and being natural they were good.
On re-reading this post I do realize that I am contradicting myself. The fact is that humankind's fight against nature is evident in TROTN and to some extent in FFTMC, while in Tess is more as if Tess were nature's own daughter and her acts as such are good and only bad when judged from society's point of view.
I am afraid I've rambled enough. Sorry, I'll think about it and post again, once Iv'e made up my mind :-D
- Yes, society is unfair as well Kellie 13:29:33 9/19/98
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