Hardy's Relevance Today

In this entry I wanted to say a few things about Hardy's writing itself and why it is still relevant for readers today over 100 years later. Despite much of it being dark, brooding, and tragic, as well as somewhat inaccessible to the average reader, I would argue that it has more relevance today than it did in Hardy's day. After all, his later novels were not well received in his lifetime largely because his treatment of subject matter was considered anywhere along the spectrum from obscene to blasphemous and many places in between. He struggled to reconcile himself with ideas of the day pertaining to religion, marriage, and the place of women in society and ultimately, was unable to.

Although feminism as we know it today was probably not in existence in the late 19th century, time and time again Hardy illuminates the desperate plight of the young female farm worker of his day whose only hope for a modicum of security was to marry any man who would have her. Even then, her position in life was not guaranteed as she was still dependent on her husband's treatment of her and his ability to make a living. Hardy's work in Tess of the D'Urbervilles delves even further into the reality of how tenuous a young impoverished female's chances at happiness, security, and even survival really were. Not to mention the disproportionate burden that women almost always carry for the consequences of sexual activity, which unfortunately, is not always entered into by choice as is illustrated in the book.

Today, luckily, is a long way from Hardy's day in most respects. But on further exploration, especially for women living in poverty, is it really that different? Are all women really viewed through the same lens as men, apart from the physical and in terms of their worth, their ability to contribute something of value, their experience?

Hmmm, I've kind of gotten carried away with this and I haven't even gotten to the religion part yet (I'll have to elaborate on that in a future entry). Anyway, all I'm trying to say is that Hardy was grappling with some very advanced ideas for a self educated rural Englishman and I think his work is well worth revisiting today.

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