Jude The Obscure

This blog is a response to a task assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English (MKBU). This blog is about the novel of Thomas Hardy named Jude the Obscure. For more information click here.

1) What is the significance of the epigraph written by Hardy - 'Letter Killeth' - for this novel, Jude the Obscure?

Ans. 

As we know the novel is about religion, marriage and sexuality. It is said that “Letter killeth spirit gives life”. This phrase tries to put a light upon the religious text that we read and takes the wrong meaning out of that text. When one tries to understand the text literally, means taking the literal meaning of the text that things kill but while one tries to to get the soul means that the essence of that religious text then one can find real meaning and that text gives life that spreads peace.

In contemporary time we also find people try to live life according to whatever has been told in the religious text. When one follows it literally it altogether has a different meaning. One should always know the context and the background. We can say ‘listen between the lines’ that should be done while following any text. For example The religious text Bhagavad Gita, has so many interpretations that have been written on one text so everyone has found something good in the text by their understanding but If one would take it literally then the real value of the text will be lost.

2) Is it possible to connect the meaning of the epigraph of 'Esdras' at the beginning of the first chapter of the novel and the myth of Bhasmasur?

Ans.

Hardy has put this epigraph at the beginning of the first chapter:

"Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sake. Many have perished, have erred, and sinned for women…O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?" – Esdras

These lines suggest how women can play a destructive role in men's lives. As mentioned in the above lines by Esdrad that Because of the women many men have lost their wits and became servants of women's will. Many have perished, made errors and sins for women. 

The same story we find in Hindu mythology of Bhasmasur. Bhasmasur was an Asur, who did the Tapa and Lord Shiva gave a boon that when he puts his hand on someone else's head that person would perish and nobody can kill him. Now as we know hindu mythology what a person does after getting these types of boons, He does the same he starts killing Devas Once even he tries to kill Lord Shiva.

Now, matter comes to Lord Vishnu, He disguises himself into a beautiful girl named Mohini. When Bhasmasur sees him he is charmed by the beauty of Mohini, he proposes to her to marry. Mohini says if you can dance with me and follow every dance step I do then she will marry him, he agrees. Mohini started making different postures of dance Bhasmasur followed. Bhasmasur became blind after seeing the beauty of Mohini; he forgot about the boon. Mohini did the posture of putting her hand on her head , Bhasmasur followed and perished immediately.

Here we find the same concept: how women can make men blind and make men do whatever women want. Men become the servant ,forgetting their true identity. In Bhasmasur’s myth we find that due to a woman he even loses his life.  

3)Structure of the Novel 'Jude the Obscure'.

Ans. As we know that novel was written in different parts. The novel was periodically published in the ‘Harper's New Monthly Magazine,’ and after completion of the novel, it was published as a book form in 1895. So some of the parts of the novel we find are distorted. Some of the critics also said that Hardy was not clear what he wanted to convey through this novel.

In the novel, the belief system of Jude and Sue also changes. In the beginning of the novel Jude reads books related to the religion, he is sympathetic towards birds and earthworms in contrast, in the beginning Sue is secular, rationalist. But in the end we find there is the reverse of the belief system. Sue becomes religious, she regrets leaving Philotson and living with Jude for this sin; she again goes to live with Philotson for peanance. And Jude becomes indifferent to all these religious beliefs. 

Their ideology is considered as evil modern spirit. It was a Victorian time, people used to believe that the Victorian era was already at its peak now new things will ruin it. So this modern concept of courtship and living together without marriage are still considered evil and sinful.

Hardy has tried to think beyond his contemporary time but still he was bound by time. He gives freedom to his characters to live their life freely but in the end they are bound to suffer because of their so called sinful acts. Still we can see that sin and bad results concept is in the author's mind, he can't be free from it.

In the preface Hardy also pointed out that the novel is a tragedy of unfulfilled aims. The fall of the Jude and Sue is bound to happen. They are never destined to be together so whatever they do living together is not in their destiny.