The thematic role of tradition in “Jude the Obscure” Essay Example for Free

The thematic role of tradition in Jude the Obscure EssayHardy as a purely straight-laced writer (Carpenter, 1964) felt, however, a degree of cognitive dissonance and inner inconsistence with the existing realities, in particular, with the brotherly pressure and the dissolution of individuality in the countless traditions and rituals. The novel Jude the Obscure demonstrates the Victorian mores from a erratic viewpoint, in terms of the opposition between the spiritual nature of the personality, their aspirations, ambitions and longings, and the clutches of tradition that resist the characters in their self-actualization.In the have novel, the role of tradition is demonstration through the lens of family, cross-gender relationships and social class. Traditionalism seems to blossom in the realm of cross-gender relationships, as they argon strongly regulated by the society. In order to illustrate this assumption, it is necessary to analyze the situation Jude encounters after(pr enominal) having dated with Arabella for certain time. Due to the fact that their relationships implied no mutual responsibility, Jude decides to leave the girl after his infatuation decays I am going away, he said to her.I think I ought to go. I think it will be better for you and for me. I wish some things had never begun I was much so blame, I know. But it is never too late to mend (Hardy, Part 1, Ch. 9, 1994, at http//www. gutenberg. org). The young person woman, in her turn, from the very etymon of their affair, dreams about the marriage to him, because of the persistent social tradition, which prescribes the only model of documentation for women, which is marriage.Moreover, single women be always criticized and treated as peculiar, the Victorian tradition even attributes mental disorders to such individuals only for their marital status due to the fact that the stereotypes associated with spinsters are very unattractive, Arabella is eager to observe the social tradit ion and create her family as early as possible. Women by the tradition are divinatory to be more interested in marriage therefore.In terms of cross-gender relationships, it is also important to outline the development of the affection between Jude and Sue, his cousin. Jude gets attracted to the girl after seeing her portrait, but, being aware of his marital status, he doesnt eachows himself to approach the girl The first reason was that he was married, and it would be wrong. The second was that they were cousins. It was not considerably for cousins to fall in love even when circumstances seemed to favour the passion.The third, even were he free, in a family like his own where marriage usually meant a tragic sadness, marriage with a blood-relations would duplicate the adverse conditions (Hardy, Part 2, Ch. 2, 1994 at http//www. gutenberg. org). As one can see, the most important reasons are close-knit to the socially imposed perspectives of cross-gender relationships in order to a void blaming rumors and gossips, Jude at first deliberately creates a barrier even to the friendship with Sue.The dominance of traditions, regulating and controlling family, are to great extent similar to the previous group, as any relationship between a man and a woman (except the cases of close kinship) are considered a potential family. The family should be officially registered and approved by both secular and clerical institutions only in this case the children, natural in this partnership, are legitimate. In this sense, even though Jude is unwilling to marry Arabella, he gives his complete consent after learning that his girlfriend is pregnant.Moreover, the family-oriented tradition of the epoch harshly discriminates these children, so that they halt the burden of their parents social disobedience. Consequently, the young womans pregnancy appears false, but Arabellas manipulations seem partially justified by the society, as they are directed to the creation of family, a str uctural unit, which is easier to control in the macro- and mezzosocial levels. Arabellas friend, Anne, even demonstrates childlike glee after learning about the method the young wife has lassoed Jude MistakenWell, thats clever its real stroke of genius It is a thing I never thought o wi all my experience (Hardy, Part 1, Ch. 9, 1994). Another vital point of the depiction of the societal regulation in terms of family can be found in the beginning of Sue and Judes cohabitation and the subsequent scandal. It begins with the reception of Mr. Gillingham, Phillotsons friend, with who the man shares information that sue, his wife, intends to live with another man.Gillingham seems to speak in the name of the whole society, in the present dialogue he embodies the pressure of social tradition But- you see, theres the question of neighbours and society what will happen if everybody I am quite amazed, to recognize the truth, that such a sedate, plodding fellow as you should have entertai ned such a craze for a moment, You said when I called that she was puzzling and peculiar I think you are (Hardy, Part 4, Ch. 4, 1994).The responsibility for the wifes adultery is traditionally placed to great extent upon her spouse both this credit rating and the fact that Phillotson is threatened with termination of his employment because of Sues behavior points to the idea that woman is not merely inferior, she is also viewed by society as an infantile create, who should be reared and brought up by her spouse. After Sue and Jude begin to live together, they become severely ostracized by the society. First of all, Jude becomes a stonemason, as no other work is available to him, whereas Sue works as a street seller.Learning that the couple are not married, all lodging owners correct the take sue and Jude, even though they travel with young children and thus need an accommodation as soon as possible. Therefore, the scorn for the couple vivification without official registration o f their partnership is even stronger than the pity for the infants, as the children ,born in such an affair, can not be equated to legitimate children and the social tradition which ordinarily prescribes that society take care about minors, ignores their needs.The tragic ending of the novel can also be interpreted as the victory of social tradition. In fact, Sue and Judes children are murdered by Jude and Arabellas son He looked in bewilderment round the room. At the back of the door were flash-frozen two hooks for hanging garments, and from these the form of the two youngest children were suspended, by a piece of box-cord round each of their necks (Hardy, Part 6, Ch. 2).Importantly, Little Father Time was born in the wedlock, i. e. he symbolically has more rights, freedoms and entitlements in the family, comparing to other children. His name also points to the fact that he represents the interests of the epoch as well as its social tradition. Thus, the deaths of the children are a symbolic punishment, imposed by the social tradition for committing adultery and not creating a full-fledged family.In terms of social class, tradition is represented, first and foremost, in the point of Judes efforts towards getting access to education. Due to the fact that his only caregiver, his aunt, is a baker, she would wish him to remain within the operative class, and when young Jude asks her about Christminster and education, she responds that his future livelihood could not be combined with education, moreover, that their family has nothing in common with the intellectual circles form the city.The woman therefore refers to the Victorian tradition, which strictly determines interclass boundaries, stratifies individuals, and creates obstructions to their penetration to the higher class. To sum up, as depicted in the novel, social traditions regulate the most important areas of human life, including the relationships between genders, marriage and family as well as career a nd class behavior.As one can see from the novel, social traditions is extremely critical to any cross-gender relationships that do not regard official marriage, in which the man and woman, however, have disproportionate interest. Uniting into families is viewed as the most appropriate and traditionally approved way of social interaction, whereas individuals, living in an unregistered partnership, are marginalized. As for the social class, the tradition seeks to retain individual within their strata through regulating the access to education, training and employment.Due to the fact that the study plotline in Jude the Obscure is built upon the combination of these three representations, the role of social tradition is strong in the writing, moreover, with respect to the aforementioned obstructions and judgments the society develops in response to the characters actions, one can understand that Hardy addresses it in the negative, rather then positive or supportive tones.Works citedCa rpenter, R. Thomas Hardy. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1964. Hardy, T. Jude the Obscure. 23 family line 1994, http//www. gutenberg. org/files/153/153-8. txt