The writing style of Thomas

Hardy in “The Return of the

Native”

Special Thanks to;

Sir Aftab Akram
Introduction of Novel;
• “The Return of the Native” is
the well-known novel of
Thomas Hardy, which is
considered as his sixth novel,
and it was published in 1878.
Many critics consider the
character of “Eustacia Vye” as
the one of most memorable
characters of English
literature.
 Introduction of Novel
• This novel first appeared in
the serial magazine
“Belgravia” that was famous
for its sensationalism. Hardy
faced many difficulties in
finding a publisher because of
the novel’s controversial
themes but it became one of
the famous and highly
regarded novels in the
twentieth century.
 Introduction of the
Novel
• The story of this novel is
basically about the “love and
lives” of residents; who were
living in the fictional country
of Wessex, England, where
Hardy was raised.
 Style; The third-
person point of view;

• The novel “The return of the

Native” demonstrates the
third-person point of view; as
narrator referred characters
by using pronouns such as
“He” or “She”.
 Point of View
• Some critics explained his
point of view as an omniscient
point of view, this means that
events of the novel can be
seen through the eyes of any
character that serves writer’s
purpose, and these critics
explained that this point of
view was used to confuse
readers during shifting of
different scenes..
 Point of View
• other critics argue that this
point of view is not
omniscient because the writer
unfolds various points of
views but when it is settled to
one particular point of view, it
remains consistent. New
information in the novel is
explained in the narrator’s
point of views,
 Point of View
• for example, the appearance
of Wildeve and necessary
information about him is the
example of this point of view.
Similarly, the shifting of
narrative for Clym and
Eustacia explained this point
of view as well. These
aforementioned critics call it
the “Limited omniscience
 Structure
This novel was written for the
serial magazine and this can be
easily detected through its
structure. The writer wrote
actions within a specific episode
with specific ending lines to raise
the curiosity of the readers. The
writer intentionally used such a
structure that readers would buy
magazines for next month as
well.
 Structure
• for example, when he returns
unmarried from Angelbury
then ending of the chapter
with his aunt’s remark explain
this technique very well.
According to some critics, this
novel was structured like a
Shakespearean drama,
although it is written in the six
books these critics argue that
the sixth one is added just to
please the public of that time.
 Symbolism
• Darkness;
• The writer used Darkness in the
novel both to show time as well
as to show danger and death for
example in “the dark hue of the
winter period” it represents time
but in other places, it is used to
show the doomy and gloomy
conditions. Darkness was
connected to Eustacia’s
character to show his
personality.
 Darkness
• Darkness was also symbolized
in this novel to show ancient
history as well. So, darkness
was used to symbolize time,
personal traits as well to set
the tone that shows dangers
and warnings.
 Symbolism
Birds in this novel were mainly
linked with the character of
“Thomasin Yeobright”. Birds
have symbolized both positive
and negative ideas for example
birds with cages represent
vulnerability, on the other end
when they were associated with
the character of Diggory these
birds show happiness
 Symbolism
• Paris;
• Paris was used to symbolizing
longing and desire for
Eustacia, as well as for the
entire foreign world especially
those modern and urban
areas; these were areas that
Eustacia longed to join.
 Symbolism

• Bonfire;
• Bonfire in the novel is used to
symbolize light as well as to
symbolize secret signals and
secret meetings between
Eustacia and Damon.
 Symbolism
• Telescope and hourglass;
• As Eustacia is carrying
telescope and hourglass,
these two items are used to
symbolize Eustacia’s approach
toward time and her situation
in an isolated place. Eustacia
used telescope for spying so it
represents the theme of
confusion between fantasy
and reality.
 Settings
This novel was set in “Egdon
Heath, England” between 1840
and 1850. Critics consider the
description of Egdon Heath as
one of the finest descriptions in
all English literature;because of
its bad conditions, the civilized
world has left it so it was the
place that was isolated from the
modern world.
 Genre
This novel is a mixture of Drama,
tragedy as well realism. The
ending of the novel reveals that
the writer was highly influenced
by Shakespearean tragedies.
Similarly, this novel has
explained the social conditions of
the Victorian era as well, so this
shows the elements of realism in
it. This Novel is a mixture of
drama, tragedy, and realism
 Tone
Likewise to genre variations, the
writer has used different tones in
this novel as well. The first tone
can be categorized as the
philosophical tone while explaining
events and people without
involving emotions writer explained
them with very little sympathies.
Similarly, there is a humorous tone
as well to explain the character of
Eustacia.
 Conclusion
• The novel return of the native
is a well-known novel of
Thomas Hardy, this was his
sixth novel that was published
in 1878. The story of this novel
is basically about the “love and
lives” of residents; who were
living in the fictional country of
Wessex, England, where Hardy
was raised.
 Conclusion
• This novel “The return of the
Native” demonstrates the
third-person point of view
while the writer has used
different symbols in the novel
as well. The writer has
explained the plot with the
variations in the genre as well
as in tone.
Thank You