Return of the Native 6th Thread - Book Six Chapters 1-4 > Likes and Comments
BOOK SIX: AFTERCOURSESBook Six Chapter One “The Inevitable Movement Onward”
SUMMARY
The story of Wildeve and Eustacia becomes well-known, even by those who did not know them. After Wildeve’s death, Thomasin learns that her husband had many debts, which she pays off and is still left with $10,000 pounds. She moves back to her aunt’s old home – Blooms End. Clym lives there too, but he hardly interacts with anyone and keeps to himself upstairs.
Although she is devasted by what happened, Thomasin is glad that she still has Baby Eustacia to keep her company. Clym, however, is a shell of himself and spends most of his time wandering between the graves of his loved ones. Meanwhile, Venn gives up his reddleman career and returns to dairy farming. This catches Thomasin’s attention, and she and Venn strike up a flirtation. Clym sees Thomasin’s different attitude and starts to think Thomasin may regard him as more than a relative. This alarms Clym who is no longer capable of that kind of love.
The chapter covers multiple seasons, but it ends with a Maypole practically in the Blooms End yard. Thomasin dresses up to attend the festival, but Clym won’t go, and Thomasin can’t go alone. Venn comes to check on her, and she learns that he is looking for a woman’s glove in the moonlight. She is suspicious (and perhaps disappointed) of this. When Venn finds the glove, he kisses it and puts it in his pocket – a most peculiar action.
A little more . . . Although the last year of Thomasin’s life has not been easy, it seems as though she will eventually recover. However, Clym remains obsessed with the past and unable to pull himself away from what happened. Meanwhile, it seems that Venn may finally be an appropriate match for Thomasin, but who is he really interested in? Thomasin didn't dance round the Maypole, so whose glove could it be? And is Thomasin interested in Venn? Or does she perhaps have feelings for Clym?
It seems like we have left the climactic tragedy of the previous chapters, only to find more romantic drama in this last book. These last four chapters exists because of the stern morality of the Sensation Novel. Hardy has been teasing possible outcomes of marital infidelity with Eustacia and Wildeve. The morality of the time dictates that he cannot leave the novel with that ending. So . . . .we have this and three more chapters to find out what happens to the surviving characters.
NOTES"Maypole-day . . . clubbed" During the 19th century some villages still organized dancing on May 1st around a pole especially set up to seve as the focal point, sometimes as part of the "club walking" alluded earlier. As you may recall, Hardy also associates club walking and the Maypole in chapter 2 of Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
"The instincts of merry England . . . exceptional vitality" - It is worth noting Hardy's uncritical, pastoral tone of the traditional festivities here as a marked contrast to both Tess of the D’Urbervilles and his description of the mummers in this book. Perhaps he simply wanted to evoke different emotions in his readers when writing these passages.
Over to you!!
These chapters in Book Sixth feel definitely like an addition. In my opinion they are as little necessary as Tolstoj's 200 page long Epilogue in War and Peace, but not uninteressant. The story itself had an ending, an open one, with some questions left unanswered, that left us readers imagine how would Thomasin, Clym, and Diggory evolve.
I noted this passage about Clym, which is an echo of the first chapter of Book First and has a sense of eternity. Just as the first chapter, which features the heath without anyone present, evokes ancient memories, this excerpt shows Clym as a solitary wanderer finding solace on the heath.
He frequently walked the heath alone, when the past seized upon him with its shadowy hand, and held him there to listen to its tale. His imagination would then people the spot with its ancient inhabitants—forgotten Celtic tribes trod their tracks about him, and he could almost live among them, look in their faces, and see them standing beside the barrows which swelled around, untouched and perfect as at the time of their erection.
Diggory Venn has left his itinerant way of life for good. He has become sedentary. Now he shows an almost thespian superstitious aversion to the red colour in his costume. That is funny about Hardy who used the red colour in his novels as a symbol. In spite of all, I think that Diggory is not quite the Mephistophelian visitant the narrative voice claimed he was (Book First, chapter 9). Even if he was not especially mentioned as wearing anything red, Wildeve was definitely more Mephistophelian than anyone else (textual evidence in my former comments).
Red, and all approach to red, was carefully excluded from every article of clothes upon him; for what is there that persons just out of harness dread so much as reminders of the trade which has enriched them?
- 80 cows is a pretty consequent cattle number back then. Nowadays such cattle numbers require, in France, at least 80 hectares of land to provide pasture, hay and cereals for them. It also corresponds to EU rules. The average size of a dairy farm in my mountains was 35 ha, this allowed to have 35 cows who nowadays produce up to 30 liters milk per cow and per day. (It might have been less in Hardy's time, depending on the breed, but still) It was my experience while on training in a farm where I helped take care of 40 dairy goats. The farmers were three, father, mother and young adult son. They were milking 35 cows twice a day around the year.
Diggory is supposed to have the corresponding payed staff to milk them all by hand and churn butter (by hand) and make cheese and sell this all (no fridge), and take care of all the work. Otherwise he could never manage. He is most certainly now a relatively affluent farmer, or at least sufficiently well off.
- Interestingly, two of the survivors of this cataclysmic tragedy have become the contrary of what they were before: Diggory has become sedentary, Thomasin has lost her relatively haughty attitude towards him, inspired by her late aunty, and sees him as a respected farmer - which he was before she refused him only three years earlier. Her compass has shifted.
- Maypole village parties are still to be seen in the southwest of France. I have seen maypoles in Bavaria, Germany, as well.
By all means correct me if I'm wrong, but some rough calculating (with help from Google of course) indicates 10,000 pounds around 1840 was equivalent to $1.5 million (US) now. A tidy sum for sure, but Thomasin's continued frugality (servants notwithstanding) is understandable due to her nature and concern for her daughter's future.
Yes this definitely has the feel of an add-on. I was surprised about Venn. Could he be trying to make Thomasin jealous?I love the maypole ceremony and am glad to hear the tradition continues, in some places anyway, Claudia.
I thought the same, Kathleen, it certainly can't be that he intends to ignore Tomasin after visiting her and setting the maypole so close to her front door. By making her a tad jealous, it is a way of getting her to expose her feelings at least a bit, and then he would know where he stood. Of course, her showing up with a gay dress, I would think would be a sign but then for who — Clym or Venn?
Claudia wrote: " 80 cows is a pretty consequent cattle number back then. Nowadays such cattle numbers require, in France, at least 80 hectares of land to provide pasture, hay and cereals for them..."Claudia - thank you for this practical bit of information about running a farm. I never stopped to think that 80 cows would indicate a huge dairy farm, with employees, and all kinds of products to get to market beyond milk. Venn certainly is more marriageable now -- even beyond not being "red" anymore.
And Keith thank you for doing the math on Thomasin's inheritance. Its so helpful to translate 1840 dollars into present equivalents. Do I remember correctly that Clym has 120 pounds from his mother? Is that an annual sum? I wonder how much that would be today. I think Clym will have to live extremely frugally.
Kathleen and Pamela - you are both wondering the same things I am. We should read on and see what happens. This next chapter is very short, so maybe it will give others a chance to catch up.
BOOK SIX -CHAPTER TWO “Thomasin Walks in a Green Place by the Roman Road”SUMMARY
Thomasin discovers that her nurse borrowed one of her gloves and took it to a party. Thomasin saw Venn at this party, and he told her he was looking for the glove of a beautiful woman. As it turns out, Venn knew the glove belonged to Thomasin, and Thomasin realizes the whole situation is one big romantic gesture. Thomasin goes and speaks to Venn about the glove incident, and the two of them start to fall in love.
Most deceptive actions carry a negative connotation in this novel. However, Venn’s glove ploy works perfectly because it is done with genuine love and innocence rather than a selfish desire to manipulate Thomasin.
NOTE"cut on the cross in the newest fashion" - this means it was cut diagonally across the pattern or weave, as distinct from cutting in line along it.
Like I said, it's a short -- but I think sweet -- chapter. Over to you :-)
- It is really a short and sweet chapter, Bridget, in perfect contrast with what we have read for almost two months. Book Sixth so far is set in daylight and in spring and summer time, featuring the heath under fresh and bright colours and inspiring hopeful thoughts for the future.In chapter 1, we read that the baby girl grew "in size and wisdom" (fairytale like, or biblical?) and now she is trying to walk "on a soft natural carpet" of "green turf and shepherd's thyme".
The heath is presented as an environment not as hostile as before, while we see Thomasin enjoying it in a matter of fact way, not ascribing more significance to it. Just a place she lives in.
- On a different note, we see how much these three main characters and those who died were introduced as lonesome protagonists, (Jean pointed that out) trying to cope as best they could, except for Clym who still had his mother.
This once again reminds me of Une page d'amour by Zola I re-read earlier this summer. Nearly all the main characters at the beginning of that huis-clos-like novel have no family around or at all, the main protagonist is a young widow with her early teenager daughter. This all creates a background of loneliness and fragility and also of impermanence. This is exactly what we have here.
I wonder if Hardy did want to reverse that impression in having Thomasin safely established with Diggory, now a steady and respected dairy farmer.
This chapter does have a completely different feeling that earlier chapters and is like a huge breath of fresh air following those chapters that report the tragic deaths of Eustacia and Wildeve, who would only have been happy if they had not made their earlier decisions in who they married. Even if they had not died, they would not have been happy with their previous relationships hanging over all they did.And if opens the world to possibilities for Tomasin and Venn. Now we need to know what the future looks for Clym.
Bridget: Looks like 120 pounds would be a bit over $20,000 US, so yes frugality would be in order for Clym. (But hey, no house or car payment!) That said, Google helpfully notes that a laborer in those days would need several years to earn that amount.
I do agree with the sentiment that this last Book feels a bit like an add-on. It always has. But it is still feels like a necessary one to properly complete Hardy's tale. While the tale of the primary and most interesting character Eustacia is over, Hardy chooses to go on with the tale of two characters that I consider secondary and others consider primary characters: Thomasin and Diggory.As for Hardy's stated primary character Clym, this passage from Book 6 Chapter 1 gives important insight into Clym's character:
Venn appeared confused; and Thomasin, seeing how inadvertently she had spoken to a man who possibly have tender feelings for her still, blushed a little.Clym saw none of this.
Clym's general lack of perceptive insight is why he is a difficult lead character for me to attach to and empathize with. In contrast, while Clym "saw none of this," Diggory sometimes sees too much. One reviewer referred to him as a Peeping Tom. It is that quality in Diggory that makes it difficult for me to attach to and empathize with him either.
Sorry all for my lack of response yesterday - I was in "Casterbridge" (will post in the Kings Arms chapter thread) but I did read it as per our timetable. Gosh, it's hard not to skip ahead now the end is so close ... Book 6 chs 1&2 -
You know, I don't exactly feel these 2 chapters to be like an add-on. For me they show a change of mood, and are almost light-hearted, with touches of humour. They make me smile and l look forward now with hope, after the tragic events. These events are after all, over a year later. Hardy spells out the seasons for us again.
I loved the gentle dawning of romantic feelings in ch 1 - and the diversionary subterfuge by Diggory Venn. We had a big clue to this in ch 1, when he is standing under the Maypole, and Thomasin notices him:
“Venn started as if he had not seen her—artful man that he was—and said, “Yes.”"
He really is quite the dandy now, in his:
"white shirt-front, light flowered waistcoat, blue-spotted neckerchief, and bottle-green coat." 😊
Today's ch 2 makes it clear that it was Thomasin's glove all along! Crafty Mr Venn, to make such as show of his passionate feelings for a secret lover! (Now Hardy mentions the 3 servants I counted up before, and the one who borrowed the glove is only 13 years old 😆)
He certainly does seem to have made his fortune with all those cows. As Claudia explained, this is a huge herd for a Dorset farmer! He had been left a small income by his father, but made a lot of money in the trade he followed, wanting to be isolated when rejected by Thomasin.
As we know that Diggory Venn has been sweet on Thomasin all through the novel, and has a romantic history with her, so it is very satisfying to read this burgeoning repeated romance. Hardy has described it all so evocatively with the Maypole. Now our English Maypoles are decorated with bright ribbons, but that profusion of May blossoms sounds wonderful, with the fragrance wafting up to Thomasin's window. Just lovely! 🥰
Today's chapter (2) is just as Bridget described; "short and sweet" with more of the same humour. I also very much like the dark plate from the earlier scene. Dickens's illustrators also specialised in using these dark plates in the etchings for moments of high drama. (Oh Claudia - I had missed that you mentioned the Pre-Raphaelites earlier too - sorry!) Keith - I did the easier sum, without the added converting. £10,000 in 1878 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £1,545,072 today. This is an immense sum! Yes, the baby will be a millionairess when she is an adult. I like that she is called "Eustacia Clementine Wildeve" and not just Eustacia, even though we now see that this name is deeply ironic, since Eustacia and Clym (Clement) were not a longlasting couple.
Clym's general lack of perceptive insight is why he is a difficult lead character for me to attach to and empathize with. In contrast, while Clym may have "saw none of this," Diggory sometimes sees too much. One reviewer referred to him as a Peeping Tom. It is that quality in Diggory that makes it more difficult for me to attach to and empathize with him either.Agreed!
And a little more ..."Dyed Barbarians"
This is in bk 6 ch 1, when we read how closely bonded Clym feels with the heath. One critic described him as almost a "product" of the heath. This is the paragraph which conveys this idea best to me (under a spoiler to save space):
(view spoiler)
Hardy talks abut the Celts and then "dyed barbarians". By this he means the Picts, who were a group of ancient Celtic tribes who lived in what is now northern and eastern Scotland from the late Roman period until the tenth century. (There's no record of them in Dorset, so its an odd thought by Clym!) The Romans called them Picti, which means "painted people" or "tattooed people" in Latin. A Roman writer first used the name in 297 CE to describe tribes attacking Hadrian's Wall and Romans wrote that Pictish warriors used dark blue body paint or tattoos which is called woad.
The Picts were mostly farmers living in small villages. They built stone houses and defensive hill forts. They spoke their own Celtic language, which eventually faded out of use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picts
When Clym says they "had left their marks here, as writers on paper beside writers on parchment ... their records had perished long ago by the plough, while the works of these remained."
He is probably thinking of either those who constructed standing stones, or hill forts, or Roman roads, all of which have remained through the Ages, despite the carving up of the land for farming.
However, the Durotriges, not the Picts, were the prominent Iron Age Celtic tribe that actually ruled the Dorset region before and during the Roman conquest, but they were not painted, so I think that Clym is conflating these tribes, as his mind wanders to different locations through history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durotriges
I agree with Brian that Diggory Venn being everywhere and everything does make it hard to empathize with him. Now he's added another quality to his hero list: creative courting. Still, I can't help but like him!
Bionic Jean wrote: "And a little more ..."Dyed Barbarians"
This is in bk 6 ch 1, when we read how closely bonded Clym feels with the heath. One critic described him as almost a "product" of the heath. This is the p..."
Indeed, Jean, this quote under spoiler is the passage I mentioned in my comment above, message 5, however partly!
Thank you for your explanations!
Whether we see these last chapters as an add-on or a change in mood/direction, they have their moments and I hope some purpose towards bringing the Shakespearean tragic disordered world of the earlier chapters back into order. I think there is evidence we re headed that way.As for enjoyable moments, I am loving the interplay between Diggory and Thomasin. I find the dialogue and prose subtle and clever, winning my hopes that they get together and live happily.
I enjoying these last chapters, and have been seeing Diggory as a protector of the women in the Heath, especially Thomasin. It would be difficult to find a more devoted, loving man than Diggory. The question is whether Thomasin can return his love.
Keith wrote: "Bridget: Looks like 120 pounds would be a bit over $20,000 US, so yes frugality would be in order for Clym. (But hey, no house or car payment!) That said, Google helpfully notes that a laborer in t..."Thank you so much Keith for doing the maths for us!! Wow, it would take several years to earn 120 pounds. That says a lot about the frugality of the minor cast of characters we've met in this novel.
I'm so glad we are enjoying these last four chapters! Personally, I find them jarring at first -- because I'm so emotionally wrapped up in the deaths of Eustacia and Wildeve. But as I keep reading, I start to like the joy and happiness, the banter with Diggory and Thomasin. As Sam said, it does feel like we are heading for a happier Shakespearean ending.
I also liked Pamela's thought about Eustacia and Wildeve "who would only have been happy if they had not made their earlier decisions in who they married. Even if they had not died, they would not have been happy with their previous relationships hanging over all they did.". I think that's exactly right. If they had succeeded in running away, they would have caused Thomasin and Clym to be unhappy. Was there any other way for their story to end?
FInally, thank you Jean for all the information about the dyed barbarians being Picts! One just never knows what new information will come from reading Victorian literature! That's one of my favorite reasons to read it.
BOOK SIX – CHAPTER THREE “The Serious Discourse of Clym with His Cousin”SUMMARY
Still lost in the world, Clym decides he will become a preacher. Additionally, he considers asking Thomasin to marry him. However, when he goes to discuss marriage with Thomasin, she reveals that she is already considering marrying Venn. However, before she does so, she wants to ask Clym’s permission. More specifically, she wants to know if Mrs. Yeobright would’ve approved of her marrying Venn under such circumstances. At first, Clym is not sure if the marriage is a good idea, but he eventually changes says that it is appropriate under the circumstances. Thrilled, Thomasin agrees to marry Venn.
We may, at this point be relieved Thomasin and Clym don't wed; and we may feel bad for Clym being alone. But it's important to remember when Clym considers marrying Thomasin he does it out of obligation rather than love. He says in the previous chapter that feelings of love all left him with Eustacia. Thankfully, Clym quickly perceives the error of his thinking, and, for the first time, the novel presents a happy union between two people who seem like they’ll stay together.
NOTESIf we are surprised that Clym thinks Diggory is not quite Gentleman enough remember his class consciousness comes from his mother, Mrs. Yeobright and that he is his mother's son and burdened by guilt about her.
Footnote to the last sentence
In 1912, Hardy added the following footnote after the last sentence of the novel:
"The writer may state here that the original conception of the story did not design a marriage between Thomasin and Venn. He was to have retained his isolated and weird character to the last, and to have disappeared mysteriously from the heath, nobody knowing whither—Thomasin remaining a widow. But certain circumstances of serial publication led to a change of intent.
Readers can therefore choose between the endings, and those with an austere artistic code can assume the more consistent conclusion to be the true one."
Here is what my edition has to say about this footnote:
"Many have found this note more puzzling than explanatory . . . Yet Hardy must here be recalling a very early "orginal conception" of the novel indeed, and there is little evidence as to how and why "certain circumstances of serial publication" (by implication, some form of editorial interference) should so belatedly be made to shoulder all the blame if, indeed, there were forced changes. As early as February 8, 1878 Hardy had written to Arthur Hopkins that "Thomasin . . . is the good heroine, and she ultimately marries the reddleman, and lives happily"
So he planned early on to have these two married.
Over to you!!
Those who read Tess of the D’Urbervilles met a rather unconvincing preacher called (view spoiler).In Jude the Obscure, (view spoiler) has become a preacher as well and offers pamphlets to passers-by.
I found that footnote so strange! But perhaps, looking back, this is the ending Hardy wished for--the more tragic one. While I'm personally enjoying the happiness, I can see his point. I could believe that Thomasin was a character formed to fill out her days a widow like her aunt and taking care of her daughter, and Venn to be an eternal wanderer.
Oh my goodness, I wish I'd known about that mysterious footnote yesterday! Next time I'm in Dorchester (at the Hardy exhibit in the museum) I'll look at the original pages the museum has on an interactive screen for this novel, and see anything more can be dated.My personal take on this, is that I prefer Hardy's first thought, that "[Diggory Venn] was to have retained his isolated and weird character to the last, and to have disappeared mysteriously from the heath, nobody knowing whither."
Noble as he is, that seems much more true to his character. Clym says he is "astute" and the word "devious" is used (perhaps by the narrator). I think this melds with my idea of him being largely devious for the benefit of others. I like Diggory Venn 😊
Because he has been sweet on Thomasin throughout, as I said, it was only his gallantry which prevented him from doing much about it.
And thanks Bridget, for the info that Hardy had changed his mind very early on, February 8, 1878. Since he mentions serial publication, I assume he is pandering to the genteel lady readership again, and giving them a happy romantic ending for good and dutiful Thomasin (who was based on his sister).
Claudia - I had the same thought about those two specific would-be preachers and their mental struggles. Since we now have three of them, it's becoming a favourite theme. And of course this is Hardy, putting himself and his early desires in the novels.
I am with you, Jean, on the way this is playing out. I much prefer the ambiguous ending and having Diggory remain an eternal wanderer, as Kathleen says. It definitely fits his character better. I would have accepted more so a pairing with Clym but I think it would have taken some time to heal the wounds left open for both he and Thomasin. Also, Clym’s eyesight has improved enough for him to have a night school. And a preacher is going to need to be able to read.
Lori wrote: "Also, Clym’s eyesight has improved enough for him to have a night school. And a preacher is going to need to be able to read ..."Good points! I think when he was studying there was mention of his being able to read "books with bigger/clearer letters", but it would be a struggle at this time, when print in most books was universally so small.
All great comments, but I have to disagree. Venn has remained true to his first love, Tomasin, since the very beginning of the book and it has been Clym who never really considered their early attachment as the foundation for a marriage. And Tomasin deserves to be married to a faithful friend and lover. Ofcourse, considering the ending on the Hardy books I have read, I can see the idea of being for ambiguous. But that leaves Tomasin alone while the men wander. I think she deserves better.
I too prefer the happier ending. Diggory was devoted to Thomasin, so devoted that earlier in the novel when he thought it would lead to her happiness, he worked to enable her to marry Wildeve. So in my mind it is more consistent for him to, when she is available once again and after a respectable period of mourning, come courting for her again. Add to that the fact that he is now a wealthy dairy farmer (thanks to Claudia's insights into this, I can fully appreciate just how well off he is), he wants to come and marry Thomasin and become a father to her child and hopefully, to their future children.
This brings to mind the whole reddleman stage of his life. After Thomasin rejected his proposal of marriage two years before the events of this novel, he became a reddleman. There are many ways to digest and analyze this, as has been done here in these threads. But one way that comes to my mind is he was dejected and assumed for himself the role of the strange wanderer, the "isolated and weird character," and outcast from Egdon Heath.
He didn't want to go settle in another village and find another wife. He was still heartsick over Thomasin and being a reddleman represents his time of being rejected and alone. Now that she is available again, he is back to normal and all cleaned up, with his real skin tone, conscientiously well-dressed in colors which do not include red, and ready to return to his real path forward, his future with Thomasin.
I love this ending but was not surprised to learn of Hardy's 1912 note. After all, loading up on tragedy is part of what makes Hardy Hardy!
Kelly-Louise wrote: "After Thomasin rejected his proposal of marriage two years before the events of this novel, he became a reddleman ... one way that comes to my mind is he was dejected and assumed for himself the role of the strange wanderer, the "isolated and weird character," and outcast from Egdon Heath ..."Yes, you're right about that Kelly-Louise. Hardy himself reminded us that that Thomasin's rejection of him was the reason for Diggory Venn's occupation, a couple of chapters ago. I don't think it's in question.
Good to have you back 😊 And to hear your views on the possible alternative ending.
Claudia wrote: "Those who read Tess of the D’Urbervilles met a rather unconvincing preacher called [spoilers removed].In Jude the Obscure, [spoilers removed] has become a preacher as we..."
I'm so glad you mentioned this Claudia and Jean. I for one, did not connect Clym becoming a preacher with these other two novels -- well in fairness I have not read "Jude", but I should have remembered the preacher in "Tess".
I'm thrilled that everyone is writing about Hardy's footnote! You all make such good points about both endings. I think either ending is plausible and valid, it just comes down to what one prefers.
I find it curious that Hardy simply left us with a footnote. I mean, he made so many changes over the years to this novel, why not completely change the ending as well? Perhaps that would have been too different for readers to tolerate. I can't think of another novel with two different, published endings. So, perhaps it's just not done. I wish I could find more information about Hardy's thoughts - other than just this footnote. But he had so many of his letters destroyed when he died, that usually these mysteries can't be solved.
Now . . . on to our last chapter
BOOK SIX -CHAPTER FOUR “Cheerfulness Again Asserts Itself at Blooms-End, and Clym Finds His Vocation”SUMMARY
Thomasin and Venn’s wedding is a happy event for everyone except Clym, who is too sad to attend. Instead, Clym spends his day walking near the Vye property, where he spots Charley. Charley is also still saddened by Eustacia’s death, and he asks Clym if he can have something of hers to keep. In response, Clym gives him a lock of Eustacia’s hair. At the end of the day, Thomasin comes to see Clym and tells him that she is off to start her new life with Venn. Eventually, Clym realizes his dream of becoming a preacher, though he never manages to get over the deaths of Eustacia and Mrs. Yeobright.
Clym’s ending is ultimately tragic. Though he manages to become a preacher, he cannot let go of the past or relinquish his own guilt. Though his mother and Eustacia had flaws of their own, Clym cannot help but feel that their tragic fates were avoidable. However, the novel is not without hope; Thomasin and Venn appear genuinely happy, and baby Eustacia represents the new life that will populate the heath in the years to come. Though I have to say, the way Hardy describes the heath in this novel, I think I can say for sure the heath will continue on with or without people living there.
A FEW FINAL NOTES"Waxing a bed-tick" - a bed-tick is a homemade mattress. Beeswax would be rubbed over a hard linen or cotton covering so as to provide adhesive and thereby keep the feathers relatively evenly spread, after the material was turned inside out, as the goose feathers emptied into it.
"And the king rose up . . . say thee nay" - This is from the Bible 1 Kings 2:12-25. Taking the words just as they are, this quote seems to fit exactly the feelings Clym carries with him about his mother and wife. However, the context of this bible passage doesn't match. The mother is this context is Bathsheba. She is asking her son, Solomon, to allow his brother, Adonijah, to marry the woman of his choice. Solomon not only refuses his mother (once he hears the request) but he also has his brother killed. So not really the morally impeachable story that Clym (and Hardy) allude to with this quote.
Okay my friends, I am now handing this over to you! Now that we've finished, please feel free to write about anything you want! I won't post anything new on Saturday, August 29th, giving anyone not finished yet a chance to catch up. But I've got some topics for further discussions that I will start posting on Sunday, August 30th.
I look forward to reading all your responses!!
Thank you so much Bridget for the time and energy you put into this group read while managing to meet your family's needs!I enjoyed the last reunion of the Greek Choir and their a bit hilarious comments - Grandfer is his old self and always reminds us of his glorious Year Four.
I was reassured about the dairy farm, as the text mentioned: The wedded pair took their seats in the four-wheeled dogcart which Venn’s head milker and handy man had driven from Stickleford to fetch them in. Thomasin won't need to be up at 5 am and milk the 80 cows and do the job again at 5.30 pm.
Yes, Clym's fate is very sad. As you, and Hardy said, this is "the inevitable movement onwards" and the Heath will still be the Heath, no matter what happens to its successive inhabitants.
Thus, Chapter One of the book makes fully sense!
There is another preacher I am thinking of - a convinced preacher by choice in Adam Bede by George Eliot.
I echo Claudia, Bridget, in thanking you for both keeping us all together and for your leadership, notes and interpretations. I've particularly enjoyed the edits Hardy made, which you've told us of, and the illustrations by Arthur Hopkins you provided. I do think special mention also should be made to Claudia for her insights and comparisons with other European novels, which has gone above and beyond anything expected from a group member.
Though having said that, I do very much appreciate everyone's comments, and value the time spent in providing them for us to share your thoughts. It really has made an immense difference, and I love this approach where we can mimic the original readers' experience and their developing thoughts, and have learned a lot from everyone here. Thank you all so much for your dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm.
This is a perfect end chapter, isn't it? We meet some of the rustics again - though I felt a little subdued when I read that the incorrigible ancient Grandf'er Cantle was 71 years old ... 😆 Ah well, my grandmother seemed ancient to me too, in her 70s. I mentioned her over-exerting herself by walking, earlier, but did not then realise how tragic it would be for Mrs Yeobright. I did grow to like her far more, in the end. My opinions changed of several characters, and this is just as it should be as we grow to know them as individuals, rather than one-dimensional stereotypes. Bridget - thank for your notes. The making of the pillows episode was both hilarious and lovely. Those feathers falling down were just like confetti 😊 I was going to mention that in my childhood we had pillows made of ticking. It referred to a thick linen: cream coloured with a thin navy blue stripe pattern - almost like pinstripe. They were incredibly heavy, perhaps because of all the goose feathers inside (I loved how the geese watched the proceedings with indignation! 😂) These pillow and bolsters also seemed to last for ever - we might even still have one or two in our loft.
Best of all, was the description of Clym, I thought. His was a sad ending, but I hope this work gave him solace. And I appreciated how Hardy was realistic about Clym's eyesight, He could no longer study as minutely as he needed to be a church preacher, but used many sources for his moral talks.
We see now, how Hardy views Clym as the main character, and the symbolism of his standing on Rainbarrow, above the masses, is perfect. We have come full circle, with this echo of Eustacia at the beginning, before we knew her.
I think that both are human manifestations of the heath, but how different they are. Of course, this is just my fancy 🥰
Bridget - I'm really looking forward to the follow-up next week, and thank you again for this marvellous experience.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I echo Claudia, Bridget in thanking you for both keeping us all together and for your leadership, notes and interpretations. I've particularly enjoyed the edits he made which you've told us of, and..."Thank you, Jean for organising things and providing us with news and photographs from the field, as well as helping us putting a few things into perspective and adding some specific information like, for example, what Mrs Yeobright's (family) guineas exactly were, and many more details.
WeIl I'm hardly an expert on Dorset cows, even though I can see some (and some sheep) as I type! My source of reference seemed to be Mr Crick's dairy farm in Tess of the D’Urbervilles - and that seemed to be a much smaller concern than Diggory Venn's.Joking apart, you really are a woman of many talents, Claudia: a true Renaissance woman 😊
Many thanks to Bridget, Jean and all who participated (or just followed along). The novel did not rise in my Hardy rankings -- certainly not in the top 5, as I would put The Woodlanders ahead of it for sure and maybe 1 or 2 others. I would push back on the "sad" ending for Clym -- he was, after all, his own master and successfully escaped the materialistic life he was unsuited for.
Bridget, thank you so much for leading us through this experience. You kept us on track and pulled out so many interesting details. A big thank you to Jean as well, especially for making us feel we too were in and around Egdon Heath!I have such mixed feelings about these characters but agree with Keith about Clym. He can have a very fulfilling life doing what he most wanted all along.
I look forward to the extended discussion!
Bionic Jean wrote: "WeIl I'm hardly an expert on Dorset cows, even though I can see some (and some sheep) as I type! My source of reference seemed to be Mr Crick's dairy farm in Tess of the D’Urbervilles ..."I was thinking of Mr Crick's dairy farm as well. Generally speaking, Thomas Hardy is very well documented on agricultural matters.
Even if proceedings are very different nowadays, even if things are different in the US from what they are in Europe, a ewe is still a ewe and a cow still a cow, they have the same illnesses and the work has the same demands. It is still, as it used to be, a matter of observation and work.
I agree with Keith on The Woodlanders which I love more. Nevertheless, this group reading was a great opportunity to appreciate this one more.
And yet again, I have forgotten almost all of The Woodlanders, except one key point (in this case about Marty South). And I remember enjoying it. "Generally speaking, Thomas Hardy is very well documented on agricultural matters."
Definitely Claudia! Between 1881 and 1883 (when he moved back to Dorchester, to Max Gate) Thomas Hardy read old farming magazines, and wrote nonfiction articles himself, which were published in these magazines, although they are now mostly forgotten; overshadowed by his poetry, novels and stories.
As you'll know Thomas Hardy was committed to the local rural traditions of Dorset, and despaired that modern methods of mechanisation were destroying the world he knew and loved. He therefore gleaned as much information as he could about the old times from his mother and grandmother. I think it says a lot that Thomas Hardy had the authority to actually write knowledgably for farmers though 🤔
Oh yes, Bridget - you were saying "I can't think of another novel with two different, published endings." I agree it's unusual with Victorian novels, but there is Great Expectations! So I would have quite liked it if Hardy had also written an alternative one. You make a good point about him having edited all his novels profusely over the years, so I have to assume he is being honest when he say we can choose which we prefer - and I suspect that he found it difficult to make that choice himself.
Another novel set around here and in Victorian times, is The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles. That has two different published alternative endings too! But it is a modern novel.
John Fowles lived in Lyme Regis, where it is set, and his house is open to visitors on certain days of the year. When Hardy writes about Lyme Regis in his works, he gives it its true name.
I will add to the chorus about all the contributions many of you have made. I — as a Yank who didn't have any classical education except for a single class taught by the French teacher that covered Shakespeare's The Tragedy of King Richard the Third — have found your references of great importance and welcomed all the insight you provided.I found the last chapter very satisfying with Venn and Thomasin well matched and happy in marriage. And I think Clym has found a vocation that will provide him with much satisfaction. With all that has happened to him, I think this will provide him wit what he seeks, as much book learning as his eyes will give him and the ability to share his knowledge with others. Its not his school but, in the future, who knows?
Keith, Kathleen and Pam - I do agree that "sad" is not quite the correct word for Clym's destiny here. It's wistful and poignant; I suspect his mind might still wander to what "might have been", and I certainly hope that he could soon rid himself of the thought that he caused 2 women's deaths. Venn pointed out to him that this was not true, but with Clym's contemplative nature, it could lurk as a guilty feeling in the back of this mind.
Thank you, Bridget and Jean, for a wonderful experience reading "The Return of the Native." Bridget, you did a great job of leading this read while traveling for your family. Jean, I loved the local color that you brought to the read. A big shout out to Claudia for pulling memorable quotes from each chapter. I enjoyed the other members' comments too.I'm glad that Diggory and Thomasin had a happy ending. It was a good balance to the darkness since three characters died and Clym was dealing with decreased sight and guilty feelings at the end. Hardy had to please his serial readers and his publishers.
"All that remained of the desperate and unfortunate Eustacia". by Arthur Hopkins, Belgravia December 1878
Reading Schedule and LINKS TO EACH CHAPTER SUMMARY for ease of location:
Tuesday 25th Aug Chapter 1
Wednesday 26th Aug Chapter 2
Thursday 27th Aug Chapter 3
Friday28th Aug Chapter 4
Saturday 29th Aug through Friday 4th September open discussion of entire novel
*After a week of open discussion we will resume weekly reading of a Hardy poem probably through the end of the year . . . . but more on that later.
**The Arthur Hopkins illustration above depicts a scene from the last chapter of Book Five. However, it was not printed until the December 1878 issue of Belgravia, with the entirety of Book Six. That's why I saved it for posting until now.