The Return of the Native

By Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy’s “The Return of the Native” is a captivating novel that uses a variety of literary devices to bring its story to life. With its complex characters, intricate plot, and vivid descriptions of the English countryside, the novel is a masterful exploration of love, fate, and the human condition. Hardy employs techniques such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony to create a rich and layered narrative that continues to captivate readers to this day.

Themes 📚

1. Fate and Chance: The novel explores the theme of fate and chance, as the characters struggle to reconcile their desires with the unpredictable twists and turns of life.
2. Love and Desire: The novel delves into the complex themes of love and desire, as the characters navigate the often fraught and treacherous waters of romantic relationships.
3. Nature and the Environment: The novel emphasizes the importance of nature and the environment, as the characters grapple with the rugged landscapes of the English countryside and the impact of human activities on the natural world.
4. Class and Social Mobility: The novel highlights the theme of class and social mobility, as the characters grapple with the constraints of their social position and struggle to overcome the limitations of their birth.
5. Isolation and Loneliness: The novel explores the theme of isolation and loneliness, as the characters experience feelings of alienation and detachment from the world around them.
6. Tradition and Change: The novel raises important questions about the tension between tradition and change, as the characters grapple with the pressures of modernization and the pull of tradition.
7. Gender Roles and Expectations: The novel challenges traditional gender roles and expectations, as the female characters assert their independence and agency in a patriarchal society.
8. Justice and Revenge: The novel delves into the themes of justice and revenge, as the characters seek to right wrongs and settle scores.

Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽

1. Symbolism: Hardy uses a variety of symbols throughout the novel, including the heath, the bonfire, and the characters’ physical appearances, to convey deeper meaning and add layers of complexity to the narrative.
2. Foreshadowing: The novel is full of foreshadowing, with hints and clues about the characters’ fates and the outcome of the story sprinkled throughout the narrative.
3. Irony: Hardy employs irony to create tension and highlight the gap between the characters’ expectations and the reality of their situations.
4. Imagery: The novel is rich in evocative imagery, from the descriptions of the heath and the changing seasons to the characters’ physical appearances and clothing.
5. Characterization: Hardy’s characterization is vivid and detailed, with each character having their own distinctive personality, motivations, and flaws.
6. Foils: The characters in the novel often serve as foils to one another, highlighting their differences and illuminating their strengths and weaknesses.
7. Point of View: Hardy uses a variety of narrative perspectives throughout the novel, including omniscient narration, third-person limited narration, and first-person narration.
8. Themes and Motifs: The novel is rich in themes and motifs, including the themes of fate, love, and isolation, and the motifs of the heath and the bonfire.
9. Setting: The novel’s setting, the rugged and desolate English countryside, is an important literary device in its own right, serving as both a backdrop and a character in the story.
10. Structure: Hardy’s careful structure, with its carefully constructed plot and carefully crafted chapters, creates a sense of unity and coherence that draws the reader into the story.

Examples of Literary Devices 📋

1. Foreshadowing

Example	Explanation
Eustacia’s dissatisfaction	Eustacia’s dissatisfaction with life on the heath foreshadows her eventual downfall.
Clym’s blindness	Clym’s temporary blindness foreshadows the figurative blindness he experiences in understanding the people around him.
Mrs. Yeobright’s strained relationships	Mrs. Yeobright’s strained relationships with her son and daughter-in-law foreshadow the tragic events that unfold later in the novel.

2. Symbolism

Example	Explanation
Egdon Heath	Egdon Heath represents the power and indifference of nature, as well as the characters’ struggle to find meaning and happiness in a harsh environment.
The reddleman	The reddleman symbolizes the persistence of tradition and the rural way of life in the face of change.
Eustacia’s bonfire	Eustacia’s bonfire symbolizes her longing for passion and excitement, as well as her reckless and impulsive nature.

3. Imagery

Example	Explanation
Egdon Heath	Hardy’s vivid descriptions of Egdon Heath establish the novel’s setting and create a sense of place.
The storm	The storm serves as a powerful image of nature’s destructive force and the characters’ struggle against it.
Eustacia’s appearance	Eustacia’s dark and striking appearance creates a strong visual image that sets her apart from the other characters.

4. Irony

Example	Explanation
Clym’s return to the heath	Clym’s return to the heath is ironic because it ultimately leads to his unhappiness and the destruction of his relationships.
Eustacia’s desire for Paris	Eustacia’s desire for Paris is ironic because she ultimately fails to escape the heath and finds tragedy instead of the excitement she craves.
Mrs. Yeobright’s intentions	Mrs. Yeobright’s intentions to reconcile with Clym and Eustacia are ironic because they lead to her death and further tragedy.

5. Allusion

Example	Explanation
Biblical references	Hardy alludes to the Bible in his descriptions of the heath, such as comparing it to the “valley of the shadow of death” from Psalm 23.
Classical mythology	Hardy references classical mythology, such as comparing Eustacia to a tragic Greek heroine, to emphasize the novel’s themes of fate and suffering.
Shakespearean references	The novel contains Shakespearean references, such as comparing the heath to King Lear’s heath, which adds depth and complexity to the story.

6. Pathetic Fallacy

Example	Explanation
The storm	The storm in the novel reflects the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters, particularly Eustacia.
The barren heath	The barren and desolate heath mirrors the characters’ feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction with their lives.
The changing seasons	The changing seasons reflect the characters’ emotional journeys and personal growth.

FAQs 💭