Marriage, By Thomas Hardy - 1568 Words

Marriage is a topic whose perceived importance is constantly changing with the passage of time, but marriage remains, and has remained, a heated topic of discussion for centuries. Thomas Hardy wrote Jude the Obscure in 1896, and used it to critique marriage, among many other things. The novel explores the implications of the state of marriage, the foolishness of the marriage of convenience, and the contractual nature of love in matrimony. Thomas Hardy s novel Jude the Obscure offers a critical portrayal of marriage, illustrating the contradictions and pitfalls of matrimony through explorations of unison, division, and love, as well as the misconceptions and social connotations that often contribute to unhappy couples. The first marriage portrayed in the novel, the marriage of Jude to Arabella, is a catastrophe; it falls apart because the couple, and in particular Arabella, treats marriage as an end-goal, not realizing the implications of living in a marriage. Firstly, Jude has no int ention of marrying Arabella until she essentially forces him to by trickery and seduction; Arabella treats Jude, and the potential marriage to him, as an object that must be obtained, and does not see the difficulties that arise when it must be maintained. Arabella s desires are clearly depicted when Hardy writes â€Å"she had gained a husband; that was the thing – a husband with a lot of earning power in him...† (67). Arabella s plans represent the ill-conceived, yet often heard, passionateShow MoreRelatedPersonal Goals Influencing Marriage in the Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy1008 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Goals Influencing Marriage in the Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy When one thinks of marriage, images of happiness, faithfulness, and unconditional love come to mind. Marriages are not for allowing two lovers to accomplish personal goals, but rather for faithful companions to live the rest of their lives together. 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