Hello everyone, my self Asha Rathod , I'm studing in Department of English MKBU university of Bhavnagar. As part of thinking activity I'm writing this blog based on the Novel Jude the Obscure. This work was given by Dilip Barad sir click here for watching...
1) What is the significance of epigraph written by Hardy - 'Letter Killeth' - for this novel, Jude the Obscure
2) Is it possible to connect the meaning of the epigraph of 'Esdras' at the beginning of the first chapter of the novel and the myth of Bhasmasur?
The epigraph at the beginning of the first chapter of a novel typically sets the tone and provides insight into the themes and ideas explored in the text. In the case of Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure," the epigraph comes from the biblical book of Esdras (Ezra) and reads: "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."
The epigraph from Esdras in "Jude the Obscure" reflects the theme of suffering, sorrow, and the struggle for spiritual or emotional fulfillment. It sets a somber and reflective mood for the novel, suggesting that the characters within may experience hardship and seek answers from a higher power.
The myth of Bhasmasur, on the other hand, is a Hindu mythological story from the Puranas. Bhasmasur was a demon who gained the power to turn anyone into ashes by touching their head. He obtained this power through severe penance and a boon from Lord Shiva.
However, Bhasmasur's quest for power led to his own downfall when he attempted to test his new ability on Lord Shiva himself. In the end, Lord Vishnu intervened and tricked Bhasmasur into using his power on himself, turning himself into ashes.
While the epigraph from Esdras and the myth of Bhasmasur are from different cultural and religious backgrounds, there are some common thematic elements that can be connected:
1. Suffering and Desperation: Both the epigraph from Esdras and the myth of Bhasmasur involve characters who experience suffering and desperation. In Esdras, the speaker weeps and mourns, while in the Bhasmasur myth, the demon's quest for power leads to his own suffering and eventual destruction.
2. Reflection and Redemption: The epigraph from Esdras suggests a period of reflection and fasting, possibly in search of redemption or a deeper understanding of one's situation. Similarly, the Bhasmasur myth illustrates the consequences of one's actions and the potential for redemption through divine intervention.
While these connections can be made, it's important to note that the specific content and cultural contexts of the epigraph from Esdras and the Bhasmasur myth are distinct. They are used to convey different messages and themes, but they both touch upon universal themes of suffering, the human condition, and the quest for spiritual or emotional fulfillment.
3. Spiritual or Divine Intervention: In both cases, there is a sense of turning to a higher power or divine force for relief or resolution. In Esdras, the speaker prays before the God of heaven, seeking solace or guidance. In the Bhasmasur myth, Lord Vishnu intervenes to ensure justice and restore balance.
(i) Structure of the Novel 'Jude the Obscure'
he structure of the novel might be described as the reversals of belief in Jude and Sue and their changing marital relationships as they both go down to defeat. In the beginning Sue's view of things is secular and rationalist, expressed, for example, in her sympathy with ancient rather than medieval culture, her scorn of conventional religious belief, her buying of pagan statuary, her reading of Gibbon. Jude's beliefs are, at first, conventionally Christian, as his desire to be ordained, his reading of standard authors, and his love of medieval culture and architecture show. By the end of the novel Sue has reverted to conventional beliefs, as evidenced by her concern for the sanctity of marriage and her desire to perform penances for her sins. On the other hand, Jude no longer professes his old beliefs and finds himself, as he says in his speech to the street crowd in Christminster, in "a chaos of principles."
This change in beliefs is closely paralleled by their marital relationships. At first, they are separated by marriage to other people as they are apart in belief As Jude's ideas change, they are legally freed by divorce, and they come to live together and to be "married," in fact, if not in name. When Sue returns to conventional Christian beliefs, they separate and remarry their first spouses.
Jude's death as a failure in Christminster and Sue's forcing herself to go to Phillotson's bed are striking signs of their defeat in life. This defeat is mirrored as well in Phillotson, who at Marygreen has fallen to the bottom professionally and who stiffly requires Sue to swear loyalty to him on a New Testament, and to a lesser extent in Arabella, who though she loses Jude does not lose her vitality.
in these changes and defeat Hardy has embodied the theme of his novel: Jude and Sue have been caught up in the modern spirit, have struggled to break free of the old ways, and have suffered and failed. It is this that justifies Hardy's description of the novel, in his preface to it, as a "tragedy of unfulfilled aims."
what is the modern spirit ?click here
The tragedy of unfulfilled aims click here for more reading
(ii) Symbolic Indictment of Christianity - Jude the Obscure
Jude the obscure marks hardy's transition from fiction to poetry, from writing in which he treated people and events realistically to writing in which he treated them as nonrealistic symbols for ideas. what fundamentally sets Jude off from hardy's earlier novels is the presence in the book of both these modes of writing in no other of the novels is the characterization and social background more realistic, and yet, in none of them is there such a strong tendency for the people and events to become symbols critics are agreed that the novel lacks unity, suffers from too many themes, and does not fix on one central character . yet the imagery of Jude reveals a unifying meaning that seems to have gone un-noticed hardy uses images and symbols derived from the evolution of Christianity to criticize the so-called Christian society . he knew in late nineteenth century England and to criticize the Christian ideal of self- sacrifice.
Hardy's imagery in jude falls into complexes and clusters in a manner almost Jacobean and as a result, the images take on distinct symbolic overtant.
In the novel, Jude's aspirations for education and personal fulfillment are hindered by the rigid social and religious attitudes of the time. He faces obstacles because of his lower-class background and his desire to attain a higher education. His struggles in pursuing his dreams, his relationships, and his ultimate fate reflect the harsh realities of Victorian society, and how religion, particularly Christianity, can be wielded to maintain these societal norms.
The character of Sue Bridehead, who has her own complex relationship with religion, also plays a significant role in the novel. Sue's views on religion evolve over the course of the story, and she challenges traditional Christian beliefs.
While "Jude the Obscure" doesn't directly indict Christianity, it can be interpreted as a critique of the societal and religious norms of its time and how these norms restrict personal freedom and individual growth. The novel questions the role of religion in shaping these norms and, through its characters, presents a nuanced exploration of the impact of religious and societal pressures on individuals.
References:
Barad, Dilip. “Jude the Obscure.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 27 January 2021, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/01/jude-obscure.html. Accessed 19 October 2023.
Thompson, Jr., Frank H. CliffsNotes on Jude the Obscure. 19 Oct 2023
<https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/j/jude-the-obscure/book-
Holland, Norman. “‘Jude the Obscure’: Hardy’s Symbolic Indictment of Christianity.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 9, no. 1, 1954, pp. 50–60. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3044291. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.
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