The Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy (1878): A Review

Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native (1878) is one of his most well-known and tragic works, exploring themes of love, fate, social constraints, and the harsh realities of rural life in Victorian England. Set on the remote heathland of Egdon Heath, the novel delves into the lives of its complex characters and their interactions with the natural world around them. Hardy’s intricate narrative and psychological depth make The Return of the Native a significant work in the canon of English literature, showcasing his skill in blending personal emotion with broader societal issues.

Plot Summary

The novel is set in the isolated village of Egdon Heath, a place of wild beauty, but also of harshness and social isolation. The story follows the lives of several characters whose fates become intertwined in this remote and unforgiving landscape.

The central figure is Clym Yeobright, a young man who returns to Egdon Heath after spending several years in Paris, where he had been working as a diamond merchant. His return to the heath is prompted by his desire to live a simpler, more meaningful life, as well as his longing to be reunited with his mother, Mrs. Yeobright, who has long lived in the village. Clym has romantic aspirations of making his life as a teacher, teaching the poor people of the area and improving their situation. He soon becomes involved with two women: Eustacia Vye, a beautiful, passionate, but somewhat manipulative woman, and Thomasin Yeobright, Clym’s cousin, who is gentle, patient, and morally upright.

Eustacia is deeply dissatisfied with her life in Egdon Heath and dreams of escaping to a more exciting and luxurious world. She falls in love with Clym, believing he is her ticket to a better life. However, Clym, though initially infatuated with Eustacia, is more interested in his plans to educate and improve the heath’s inhabitants, which puts him at odds with her aspirations. Despite their differences, they marry, but their relationship becomes strained due to the tensions between Eustacia’s desires for a more glamorous life and Clym’s devotion to his ideal of teaching the locals.

Meanwhile, Thomasin, who is kind-hearted and loyal, is also in love with Clym, but she is married to Damon Wildeve, a charming but fickle man who is initially attracted to Thomasin but is eventually drawn to Eustacia. The love triangle between Clym, Eustacia, and Wildeve becomes the central emotional conflict of the novel, with each character experiencing longing, betrayal, and deep dissatisfaction.

As the novel progresses, the characters face tragic events that are influenced by their choices and the pressures of their environment. Eustacia, in particular, becomes increasingly desperate and loses control of her emotions. Her inability to reconcile her dreams with her reality leads to a series of tragic outcomes. The novel culminates in a series of misunderstandings and tragic deaths, leaving the characters to grapple with the consequences of their actions.

Themes and Analysis

1. The Clash Between Individual Desire and Social Expectations

One of the novel’s most prominent themes is the tension between personal desires and the social expectations of the time. Clym’s desire to return to Egdon Heath and live a simple life of teaching and helping the villagers represents a rejection of the materialistic values of the outside world. However, his return to the heath conflicts with the expectations of those around him, particularly his mother, Mrs. Yeobright, and his wife, Eustacia.

Eustacia, in contrast, represents the yearning for something more than what her rural existence offers. Her desire for a life of luxury, excitement, and adventure leads her to fall in love with Clym, who, in her mind, represents the key to escaping her bleak environment. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that the characters are unable to reconcile their individual desires with the constraints of their environment, leading to feelings of frustration and alienation.

Through these characters, Hardy critiques the limitations that society places on individual aspirations, particularly in rural life, where traditional values and social expectations often create barriers to personal fulfillment.

2. The Power and Influence of Nature

Egdon Heath, with its bleak, remote beauty, plays a central role in The Return of the Native. Hardy presents the heath as both a physical and symbolic presence in the novel, influencing the characters and their fates. The heath’s harsh and unyielding environment reflects the emotional and psychological turmoil of the characters. While some, like Clym, seek to find peace and purpose in the land, others, like Eustacia, view the heath as a suffocating prison that prevents them from achieving their dreams.

The natural landscape is not just a backdrop but an active force that shapes the lives of the characters. Hardy often personifies nature, suggesting that it can both nurture and destroy. The heath becomes a metaphor for the isolation and emotional turmoil the characters experience. It serves as a constant reminder of the contrast between the characters' desires for change and the unchanging, relentless nature of the environment.

3. Fate and Tragedy

Fate plays a crucial role in The Return of the Native, with many of the characters’ tragic outcomes being a result of the choices they make and the forces they cannot control. The novel’s sense of inevitability is established from the start, as the characters are bound by their environment, their desires, and their past actions. Clym’s idealism, Eustacia’s obsession with escape, and Wildeve’s fickleness lead to a tragic series of events that are, in many ways, beyond the control of the characters themselves.

Hardy’s exploration of fate underscores the theme of the inevitability of suffering. The characters’ attempts to escape their circumstances or fulfill their desires are thwarted by forces beyond their comprehension. This creates a tragic cycle of longing, failure, and despair, which is characteristic of Hardy’s works.

4. The Complexity of Love and Relationships

The relationships in The Return of the Native are complex and fraught with misunderstandings, unrequited love, and the destructive power of desire. Clym’s love for Eustacia is marked by idealism and passion, but it becomes increasingly clear that their differences, particularly their differing views of life and the world, make their relationship untenable. Eustacia’s longing for escape and Clym’s devotion to his ideals create a chasm between them that cannot be bridged.

Similarly, the relationship between Thomasin and Damon Wildeve is marked by infidelity and emotional manipulation. Wildeve’s inability to commit to Thomasin and his attraction to Eustacia further complicate the lives of all the characters involved. Hardy presents love not as a source of ideal happiness, but as something often marked by selfishness, misunderstanding, and emotional suffering.

5. The Consequences of Social Isolation

Isolation is another key theme in The Return of the Native. Many of the characters are isolated in some form, whether physically, emotionally, or socially. Clym’s return to the heath alienates him from his family and society, and Eustacia’s desire to escape leads her into emotional isolation. This theme of isolation is further explored through the character of Mrs. Yeobright, whose sense of alienation from her son and the community leads to a tragic outcome.

The social isolation experienced by the characters contributes to their emotional distress and their inability to connect with others in meaningful ways. Hardy portrays how the characters’ sense of isolation often leads them to make impulsive or misguided decisions that ultimately shape their tragic fates.

Literary Style

Hardy’s writing in The Return of the Native is marked by his characteristic realism and psychological depth. His descriptions of the landscape, particularly the heath, are vivid and evocative, using nature as both a literal and symbolic element in the story. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing Hardy to explore the internal conflicts of his characters in depth, while also building a sense of inevitability toward the tragic climax.

The narrative is rich with psychological insight, as Hardy delves into the minds of his characters, exposing their motivations, desires, and fears. The dialogue is natural and often laced with subtext, allowing Hardy to explore the complexities of human relationships and the misunderstandings that arise between people.

Reception and Legacy

The Return of the Native was a commercial success upon its publication and was well-received by critics, though it also provoked some controversy due to its treatment of sexual desire and social issues. Today, it is regarded as one of Hardy’s finest novels and a key work in the English literary canon. Its exploration of love, fate, and the forces of nature continues to resonate with readers, and it remains a significant contribution to the tradition of English rural literature.

The novel has been adapted into various stage and screen productions, further cementing its place in popular culture. Hardy’s portrayal of rural life, coupled with his critique of social and romantic conventions, ensures that The Return of the Native remains a timeless classic.

Conclusion

The Return of the Native is a deeply moving and tragic novel that explores the complexities of love, fate, and identity against the backdrop of rural England. Through the lives of its richly drawn characters, Hardy paints a poignant picture of the struggle between individual desires and the constraints of society and nature. With its exploration of human relationships, isolation, and the inevitability of fate, The Return of the Native remains a powerful and relevant work that continues to captivate readers and provoke thought on the nature of human existence.