Two completely different women, Susanna Bridehead and Arabella Donn, share the same man in Thomas Hardy´s Jude the Obscure.
Jude´s cousin Sue is a “pretty, liquid-eyed, light-footed young woman” . Her mind, her education, her unconventional beliefs and especially her insistence on these beliefs impress Jude. His affection to Arabella Donn is quite different.
She whom he addressed was a fine dark-eyed girl, not exactly handsome, but capable of passing as such at a little distance, despite some coarseness of skin and fibre. She had a round and prominent bosom, full lips, perfect teeth, and the rich complexion of a Cochin hen's egg. She was a complete and substantial female animal -- no more, no less.
Of course, Sue and Arabella are not just contrasting in their appearance but they have oppositional ideas, beliefs and attitudes towards life. Therefore, they lead their lives under different circumstances and get different social recognition. By this example, Hardy criticizes the rigidity of certain conventions in the Victorian Age.
In the following I will analyse various aspects which demonstrate the differences between the two characters, namely the two women’s relation to Jude and their attitude towards sexuality, marriage, motherhood, religion and education.
Table of Contents
1. Relation to Jude
2. Sexuality
3. Marriage
4. Motherhood
5. Religion
6. Education
Objectives and Topics
This work aims to analyze the stark contrast between the characters Susanna Bridehead and Arabella Donn in Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" to demonstrate how Hardy utilizes these female figures to critique the rigid societal conventions of the Victorian Age.
- The influence of Sue and Arabella on the protagonist, Jude Fawley
- The representation and function of sexuality in Victorian relationships
- Differing attitudes towards marriage as a social and legal institution
- The impact of motherhood and social responsibility on female autonomy
- The role of religion and education in defining modern versus traditional womanhood
Excerpt from the Book
3. Marriage
Similar to Sue´s sexual behaviour is her negative attitude towards marriage. In a conversation with Jude she says: If marriage is only a sordid contract, based on material convenience in house-keeping, rating, and taxing, and the inheritance of land and money by children, making it necessary that the male parent should be known –which it seems to be- why surely a person may say, even proclaim upon the housetops, that it hurts and grieves him or her?
She believes that this contract on the one hand, allows man and woman to love each other and on the other hand, forces them to keep this love. Sue disclaims that she needs an agreement of the government to love Jude and to live with him. Apart from this inappropriate view in the Victorian Age, for her, the ideal marriage is not between lovers but between good friends who care for each other. She expects to have the same interests and opinions to share a life instead of just sharing a bed. That is why she marries Mr. Phillotson.
He can be trusted because he understands Sue, he accepts and admires her mind and would protect her against any harm. Although this marriage meets her expectations, Sue´s firm conviction that a promise of marriage is unnecessary does not allow her to be happy. Jude also knows that: "You are dear, free Sue Bridehead, only you don't know it! Wifedom has not yet squashed up and digested you in its vast maw as an atom which has no further individuality." Furthermore, it is questionable if Sue defines the right criteria for her husband´s choice. She conditions a good friendship which she also finds in Richard. What difference is between him and Jude? Both of them come up to her expectations but she wants Jude. That means there should be feelings in her heart which she represses.
Summary of Chapters
1. Relation to Jude: This chapter explores how Jude Fawley links the two women, seeking a balance between Sue’s rationality and the physical attraction he feels toward Arabella.
2. Sexuality: The analysis focuses on how sexuality serves as a point of conflict, where Sue remains sexually unresponsive as a form of independence, while Arabella uses it as a tactical weapon.
3. Marriage: This section contrasts Sue’s rejection of marriage as a "sordid contract" with Arabella’s pragmatic approach to using marriage for social and material security.
4. Motherhood: The chapter examines the different ways the two women approach motherhood, with Arabella viewing it as a natural function and Sue struggling with the heavy guilt following the death of her children.
5. Religion: This part details Sue’s dramatic turn from intellectual skepticism to religious fear and penance, contrasted with Arabella’s indifference toward religious doctrine.
6. Education: The final chapter contrasts Sue’s intellectual ambitions and love of books with Arabella’s complete disinterest in education, highlighting their differing social standings and values.
Keywords
Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure, Sue Bridehead, Arabella Donn, Victorian Age, Sexuality, Marriage, Motherhood, Religion, Education, Rationality, Feminism, Social Conventions, Literature, Character Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This work examines the thematic differences between Susanna Bridehead and Arabella Donn in Thomas Hardy's novel "Jude the Obscure" to highlight the author's critique of Victorian societal structures.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the influence of the two women on the protagonist, their conflicting views on marriage and sexuality, the impact of motherhood, and their differing relationships with religion and education.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate how Hardy uses the contrast between "the New Woman" (Sue) and the "sensualist" (Arabella) to illustrate the rigidity of Victorian conventions.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, examining specific character behaviors, textual evidence from the novel, and secondary scholarly perspectives.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body is structured into thematic chapters covering the characters' relationships with Jude, their attitudes toward sexuality, their views on marriage, their roles as mothers, and their perspectives on religion and education.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure, Victorian Age, gender dynamics, social conventions, and the distinct personas of Sue Bridehead and Arabella Donn.
How does Arabella view the institution of marriage compared to Sue?
Arabella views marriage as a pragmatic tool for material gain and security, whereas Sue views it as a stifling contract that limits personal freedom and true intellectual companionship.
Why does Sue ultimately retreat into religious penance?
Following the traumatic death of her children, Sue collapses under the weight of her guilt and interprets the tragedy as a divine punishment, leading her to abandon her intellectual independence for a life of submission.
- Quote paper
- Nermin Bastug (Author), 2009, Contrasting Sue and Arabella in Thomas Hardy´s "Jude the Obscure", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/195177
