Jude the Obscure

Jude the Obscure

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  • Create Date:2021-11-20 09:53:14
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Thomas Hardy
  • ISBN:0241382696
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Summary

Jude Fawley, the stonemason excluded not by his wits but by poverty from the world of Christminster privilege, finds fulfilment in his relationship with Sue Bridehead。 Both have left earlier marriages。 Ironically, when tragedy tests their union it is Sue, the modern emancipated woman, who proves unequal to the challenge。 Hardy's fearless exploration of sexual and social relationships and his prophetic critique of marriage scandalised the late Victorian establishment and marked the end of his career as a novelist。

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Reviews

Kelly

This book was poignant and sometimes hard to read。 It is about the lives we dream of having vs the conformity that society demands。 It is the story of freewill and idealism reined in by stark reality。 It is about the pressure to succumb to the indoctrination of an uncaring social system。 But mostly it’s about the lies we tell ourselves in order to endure the pain of our lost hopes and dreams。

Joanna

absolutely insane

Jun

Reading Jude felt like I was watching Groundhog Day。 Many scenes with the two main characters depicted their indecision about the same matter。 When one of them made a decision that would alter their lives after a horrific tragedy, the decision came across as hasty and was in stark contrast to her indecisive habit。 Jude was a sympathetic character: he was the victim of loving the wrong person and protecting the honour of another wrong person。 He was too good for both of them。 Overall, this was a Reading Jude felt like I was watching Groundhog Day。 Many scenes with the two main characters depicted their indecision about the same matter。 When one of them made a decision that would alter their lives after a horrific tragedy, the decision came across as hasty and was in stark contrast to her indecisive habit。 Jude was a sympathetic character: he was the victim of loving the wrong person and protecting the honour of another wrong person。 He was too good for both of them。 Overall, this was a good read。 。。。more

Zara Tyb

DNF cuz it’s been too long but I’ll pick it up again once uni is done

Karalovic

This book deals with two important issues: living an unremarkable life despite big dreams, and being confined and defined by social custom (in this case, marriage)。 While it is by no means a thrilling read, it deals with its themes in a measured and consistent way and offers a 19th century perspective on the problems that are still very much present。

Paul Kouris

Easily one of the most soul-crushing books I’ve read in my entire life。 Brilliant for it’s time then but also now, as well as being unbelievably depressing and rage-inducing all at once。

Aarzoo Sultana

Reading this book was a treat!This book just like his other works makes sure to hit the nail straight in the head。 Every single thing about this book screams drama。 The main characters are complicated and sensitive and often lost in the world of their own set of beliefs。 What makes this novel interesting are its female characters。 Both of them can be taken as villans in the male characters life ruining him to his very core。 The male lead on the other hand is a complete moron who doesn't do anyth Reading this book was a treat!This book just like his other works makes sure to hit the nail straight in the head。 Every single thing about this book screams drama。 The main characters are complicated and sensitive and often lost in the world of their own set of beliefs。 What makes this novel interesting are its female characters。 Both of them can be taken as villans in the male characters life ruining him to his very core。 The male lead on the other hand is a complete moron who doesn't do anything to bring sense to his life。 Over all the character development in the novel is amazing。 The story is gripping and just like his other novels, this one also brings a surplus amount of sadness in its readers。 。。。more

Jax

Abandoned half way because it draaaaags (published as serial), but I wanted to know what happens to Sue so I read the wiki page and I was not disappointed。 What a story, however I'm still less sympathetic to Jude than I am to Sue。 Poor girl having to deal with men when she's clearly not interested in them。 Sue is the real victim here。 Abandoned half way because it draaaaags (published as serial), but I wanted to know what happens to Sue so I read the wiki page and I was not disappointed。 What a story, however I'm still less sympathetic to Jude than I am to Sue。 Poor girl having to deal with men when she's clearly not interested in them。 Sue is the real victim here。 。。。more

Jana M

I listened to Michael Ian Black read this book over 75 podcast episodes。 I LOVED the podcast which is called Obscure。 I loved listening to him and his commentary which is fun and informative and I highly recommend that way of "reading" this book。 I am about to begin his second season in which he reads Frankenstein。 If I had picked up a copy of Jude the Obscure and attempted to read it on my own, I probably wouldn't have made it past the first 30 pages。 I listened to Michael Ian Black read this book over 75 podcast episodes。 I LOVED the podcast which is called Obscure。 I loved listening to him and his commentary which is fun and informative and I highly recommend that way of "reading" this book。 I am about to begin his second season in which he reads Frankenstein。 If I had picked up a copy of Jude the Obscure and attempted to read it on my own, I probably wouldn't have made it past the first 30 pages。 。。。more

Mickey Dubs

Apologies to all my followers who've been frothing at the mouth to hear my opinion on Jude the Obscure, there was about a fortnight where I didn't touch it。Anyway, I liked it。 Pretty good。 Apologies to all my followers who've been frothing at the mouth to hear my opinion on Jude the Obscure, there was about a fortnight where I didn't touch it。Anyway, I liked it。 Pretty good。 。。。more

Aran Joseph

Persuasive or Pernicious, Jude the Obscure Remains as the Indelible Image of Victorian MatrimonyIt’s hard, over a century since its publication, to understand the controversy Jude the Obscure created。 Its message of earthly love as the sole reason for and the cement of marriage is so universally accepted that many find it incomprehensible that gay people were only allowed to marry civilly less than ten years ago。In the nineteenth century, marriage was still regarded as revolving around the reari Persuasive or Pernicious, Jude the Obscure Remains as the Indelible Image of Victorian MatrimonyIt’s hard, over a century since its publication, to understand the controversy Jude the Obscure created。 Its message of earthly love as the sole reason for and the cement of marriage is so universally accepted that many find it incomprehensible that gay people were only allowed to marry civilly less than ten years ago。In the nineteenth century, marriage was still regarded as revolving around the rearing of children。 Hardy unleashes what must be called a savage attack on what he perceives as a hypocritical and cruel practice。 However, whatever one thinks of this critique, from an artistic vantage Jude the Obscure deserves its reputation。The depiction of aspirants to Oxford in Victorian England, the wit, shrewdness and material desperation of the lower classes, the hypocrisy of the Established Church…all these themes are told with a talent such that English institutions themselves came to largely accept Hardy’s perspective。 I would even suggest that the story of an unwedded couple scorned by the self-righteous has become something of a paradigm in Western culture。 Anyone interested in the changing of Victorian mores should read Jude the Obscure。 While it no longer has the capability to cause controversy, its place in Western civilization certainly seems likely to be prominent for years to come。 。。。more

Alessandro Alegrette

"Jude, O Obscuro" é considerado clássico da chamada literatura vitoriana。 No entanto, entre tantos autores, tais como as irmãs Brontë, George Eliott, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy é aquele que é menos conhecido entre os leitores brasileiros e tem suas obras menos reverenciadas pela crítica literária。Por que? Essa é pergunta que o leitor faz quando lê "Judes, O Obscuro" seu último romance。A resposta é que Hardy nunca foi bem aceito nos círculos literários, pela maneira ousada e transgressiva como "Jude, O Obscuro" é considerado clássico da chamada literatura vitoriana。 No entanto, entre tantos autores, tais como as irmãs Brontë, George Eliott, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy é aquele que é menos conhecido entre os leitores brasileiros e tem suas obras menos reverenciadas pela crítica literária。Por que? Essa é pergunta que o leitor faz quando lê "Judes, O Obscuro" seu último romance。A resposta é que Hardy nunca foi bem aceito nos círculos literários, pela maneira ousada e transgressiva como tratava de temas polêmicos, tais como a exclusão social, e, principalmente as rígidas regras de moralidade relacionadas ao casamento。Esses temas polêmicos e controversos são explorados com profundidade pelo autor em "Judas, O Obscuro", que á época de sua publicação foi considerado um livro indecente e, por isso, Hardy sofreu duros ataques, principalmente da Igreja Católica。O protagonista do romance é Jude, um garoto pobre que sonha em ingressar na universidade para se tornar um erudito, contudo esse objeto é sempre postergado por uma série de situações, nas quais o autor lança um olhar pessimista sobre à sociedade。Em sua escrita, Hardy é um pouco diferente de outros escritores da era vitoriana。 Ele faz descrições de cenários não muito longas, quando comparado aos outros autores - embora, elas sejam bem realizadas, no aspecto arquitetônico e remetem a cidades da Inglaterra, principalmente Oxford, chamada no livro de Christminister, na qual ocorre grande parte da ação na obra。Hardy prefere focar nas relações sociais entre os personagens que revelam-se bastante complexas。 Todos os personagens do livro mesmo os secundários tem densidade psicológica e destacam-se mais por seus defeitos do que suas qualidades。Vale destacar que em "Judas, o Obscuro" são duas personagens femininas fortes que se sobrassem formando um triângulo amoroso com o protagonista, e que representam aspectos da chamada "nova mulher" do fim do século XIX:A ardilosa e ambiciosa Arabella que faz de tudo para "se dar bem" dentro do meio social em que está inserida e Sue Britheard, que tem ideias não convencionais sobre sobre o relacionamento entre homens e mulheres。 Assim, como em outras obras, Hardy vai demonstrar que tanto as convicções de Jude como de Sue não se encaixam nos rígidos padrões da sociedade vitoriana e, ambos sofrem às consequências disso, o que confere a obra um aspecto bastante dramático em algumas passagens, principalmente próximo de sua parte final。Embora escrito no final do século XIX, o romance de Hardy revela ser uma obra bastante moderna e ousada para sua época。 A abordagem de questões relacionadas ao que pode ser compreendido como "pré feminismo" podem ser consideradas transgressoras para o final do século XIX E reverberam até os tempos atuais。 Hardy também demonstra sua maestria como escritor deslocando o foco narrativo de um personagem para o outro, de modo a revelar suas emoções internas。 Além disso, o livro está cheio de referências a vários autores e textos eruditos, de Filosofia e também da Bíblia que dialogam como os temas inseridos em seu enredo。"Jude, O Obscuro" é sem dúvidas um grande clássico da literatura inglesa。 Uma obra clássica, mas moderna em sua abordagem de aspectos de uma sociedade em processo de mudança, na qual transparece as qualidades do estilo peculiar de Hardy。 Um livro que me proporcionou uma intensa e imersiva experiência literária, da qual eu não saí indiferente e que me fez refletir sobre diversas questões relacionadas às instituições sociais, principalmente o casamento。 É um livro que vale muito a pena ler e agora pretendo ler outros do mesmo autor, principalmente "Tess" que, infelizmente, está esgotado。Também vale destacar o capricho da edição。 É em capa dura, com ótima e fluente tradução e tem como extra um texto do próprio autor sobre a repercussão negativa á época do lançamento da obra。 A revista que acompanha um livro traz um texto muito interessante sobre as características principais da chamada "literatura vitoriana" que ampliam o entendimento do romance。 Além de um texto de apoio, que faz uma leitura sobre os temas da obra de Hardy。Leitura altamente recomendada。 。。。more

Oliver

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 For the first ⅔ of this book, I was nothing but underwhelmed, but, then, with the death of Sue and Jude's children, the book really comes into its own, and the long wait Is well worth it's time。 For the first ⅔ of this book, I was nothing but underwhelmed, but, then, with the death of Sue and Jude's children, the book really comes into its own, and the long wait Is well worth it's time。 。。。more

Heather

4。5。 A bit hurried in places, but otherwise beautiful and engaging, if deeply depressing。

allieereads

My soul is shattered。 Absolutely I’m fragments on the ground。 Hardy, I demand compensation。

Eric Maxfield

Despite warnings about this being pretty dark and depressing i jumped in。It made a few important comments about how the pursuit of knowledge is mostly a road to unhappiness。 This is the one that is hard to swallow but kind of true in reflection。 How much happier would our lives be if we just accepted our own stupidity and carried on making the best of what we have in front of us。 And yet it is still impossible for me to agree with this view and perhaps that opens some of the lesson of this novel Despite warnings about this being pretty dark and depressing i jumped in。It made a few important comments about how the pursuit of knowledge is mostly a road to unhappiness。 This is the one that is hard to swallow but kind of true in reflection。 How much happier would our lives be if we just accepted our own stupidity and carried on making the best of what we have in front of us。 And yet it is still impossible for me to agree with this view and perhaps that opens some of the lesson of this novel。 To follow your passions despite pain is almost。。。。 Heroic?There is also an interesting challenge against marriage。 Was a beautiful argument that those who stay together by choice would be making that same choice every day to stay vs trying to trap each other in a contract。 However this too seems not to end the way you would expect。 The whole thing ends up looking like a ridiculous mess。 Maybe that too is the point。 Not that it is good or bad just to expose the deeper conflicts of a decision most of us dont consider at more than surface value。Is there some redeeming lesson that the struggle is all worth it? Well。。。。 At times i felt like that was where this was going but will have to leave it up to the reader's interpretation。The views in this book i expect would have been highly radical for the time and possibly also today。 The themes explored are not without a dark comedy but overall i found it a little jarring with my personal experiences and was tough to elevate it to a favourite。 Still I overall enjoyed this deeper exploration of some of the themes that Hardy has covered in previous novels and this concludes the wessex series for me。 My personal favourite of the series was Far from the Madding Crowd and i recommend that one over this as a first Hardy novel。 。。。more

Grace Jagger

I’ve had this on my shelf since 2013 and finally got around to reading it! This was fantastic, I enjoyed it much more than Tess Of The D’Urbevilles。 I was worried it would be quite a dry story but there was enough going on to keep me interested and the scandalous elements of the story made it very readable。 A really pleasant surprise overall, I’m glad to have read it!

Jamie

Brilliant and devastating。 That is all I can manage to say immediately after finishing this novel。 Hardy has become one of my favorite writers。

Travis Danner

ugh

Billy Herklots

It seems a waste of words to review a book that so much has been written about so here are my thoughts before I read all that has been written about it。 Hardy sees a world which is turning away fromreligion and recognises the philosophical dilemmas this causes。 He is critical of the Church and it’s institutions, seeing it as a tool to oppress whilst also seeing the stability it can bring to society。 Hardy writes of the industrialising world and the damage this has upon rural communities and thei It seems a waste of words to review a book that so much has been written about so here are my thoughts before I read all that has been written about it。 Hardy sees a world which is turning away fromreligion and recognises the philosophical dilemmas this causes。 He is critical of the Church and it’s institutions, seeing it as a tool to oppress whilst also seeing the stability it can bring to society。 Hardy writes of the industrialising world and the damage this has upon rural communities and their sense of place in a world which places such value on education and industry。 He sees a ruling, elite class taking advantage of the masses and leaves Jude endlessly banging his head against the walls he can repair but can’t get through。 There is a timelessness to this writing which extends to the complicated relationships and the difficulties of navigating a romance which exists as much in the writing of letters as it does in real world interactions。 Hardy becomes something of a proto-existentialist as the novel progresses and it’s characters occupy different places in the ultimate philosophical choices Camus argued we all face。 If we accept that life has no meaning should we commit philosophical suicide and believe in a god, commit physical suicide or accept that we create our own meaning out of life? Following immense tragedy and the philosophical dismantling of Sue and Judes relationship you can feel Hardy grapple with these questions in this novel and the ultimate outlook is bleak。‘Dear Jude, that’s because you are like a totally deaf man observing people listening to music。 You say “what are they regarding? Nothing is there。” But something is’。 ‘Perhaps the world is not illuminated enough for such experiments as ours! Who were we, to think we could act as pioneers!’ There is a sense that if Hardy stepped into 2021 he wouldn’t be surprised by what he saw, perhaps we have always been living in Hardy’s future。 。。。more

K。

Annotating this book was fascinating! The criticism about marriage and gender norms were also good。 Thomas Hardy is ingenious!!!!

Suzanne

A sad story of ambition and delusion。 The reader accompanies Jude throughout his unhappy life。 It is a tragic tale but must have been considered scandalous when first published in serialized form in 1895。 Hardy repudiates any objections in the preface to the novel as follows:"For a novel addressed by a man to men and women of full age; which attempts to deal unaffectedly with the fret and fever, derision and disaster, that may press in the wake of the strongest passion known to humanity; to tell A sad story of ambition and delusion。 The reader accompanies Jude throughout his unhappy life。 It is a tragic tale but must have been considered scandalous when first published in serialized form in 1895。 Hardy repudiates any objections in the preface to the novel as follows:"For a novel addressed by a man to men and women of full age; which attempts to deal unaffectedly with the fret and fever, derision and disaster, that may press in the wake of the strongest passion known to humanity; to tell, without a mincing of words, of a deadly war waged with old Apostolic desperation between flesh and spirit; and to point the tragedy of unfulfilled aims, I am not aware that there is anything in the handling to which exception can be taken。"The strongest passion involves pre-marital sex, entrapment into marriage, abandonment and bigamy, living together unmarried and even the witholding of sex within marriage - quite a tall order even in our modern times。 It is that "deadly war between flesh and spirit" that leads to the tragic abandonment of Jude's early ambitions to become a scholar, reflected to some extent in a similar failure on the part of Mr。 Phillotson, initially Jude's role model but eventually his nemesis as the husband of Jude's beloved cousin Sue。An absorbing story which, to my mind, certainly fulfills Hardy's aims for his tale。 。。。more

SH

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Rachael

The first novel I never finished…。and was probably less than 100 pages from the end。 I just could not bear it any longer。 😂 Not recommended。

Lilly

The setting was nice

Osama Siddique

The last of Hardy's novel it is quintessentially Hardy with its pervading gloom, a deeply melancholic perspective on life, beautiful descriptions of the imaginary Wessex countryside, cathedral towns as well as commercial cities, and complex characters battling with social norms, fate and their own idiosyncrasies and complexes in the pursuit of happiness。 Class and privilege, the contestation between Town and Gown, the nature of attraction and love, and perhaps above all the institution of marria The last of Hardy's novel it is quintessentially Hardy with its pervading gloom, a deeply melancholic perspective on life, beautiful descriptions of the imaginary Wessex countryside, cathedral towns as well as commercial cities, and complex characters battling with social norms, fate and their own idiosyncrasies and complexes in the pursuit of happiness。 Class and privilege, the contestation between Town and Gown, the nature of attraction and love, and perhaps above all the institution of marriage in a society breaking the shackles of medieval social and religious attitudes are the primary themes of Jude the Obscure。 Marygreen, Christminster, Melchester, Shaston, and Aldbrickham are not only vividly described places that recur in the novel as the location of its action and determine its organizational structure - distinct from each other due to their nature and characteristics as bucolic rural areas or thriving commercial hubs or laidback university towns - they chart the progress of the young orphan Jude Fawley's life。 Hardy's prose is always evocative and it is particularly so in the initial parts when the destitute Jude, who lives with a surly great-aunt, aspires to be a scholar and often gazes at the distant steeples of Christminster - modeled on Oxford - where he one day aspires to study。 It is here that Hardy is ethereal as he describes how the boy envisions the far-off city across the rolling landscape。 For instance:"Some way within the limits of the stretch of landscape points of light like the topaz gleamed。 The air increased in transparency with the lapse of minutes, till the topaz points showed themselves to be the vanes, windows, wet roof slates, and other shining spots upon the spires, domes, freestone work, and varied outlines that were faintly revealed。 It was Christminster; unquestionably; either directly seen, or miraged in the peculiar atmosphere。The spectator gazed on and on till the windows and the vanes lost their shine, going out almost suddenly like extinguished candles。 The vague city became veiled in mist。 Turning to the west he saw that the sun had disappeared。 The foreground of the scene had grown funereally dark, and near objects took on the hues and shapes of chimeras。"The boy's yearning for higher learning is deeply touching as he aspires to become a scholar despite his humble situation。"He had heard that breezes travelled at the rate of ten miles an hour, and the fact now came into his mind。 He parted his lips as he faced the northeast, and drew in the wind as if it were a sweet liquor。You," he said, addressing the breeze caressingly, "were in Christminster city between one and two hours ago, floating along the streets, pulling around the weather-cocks 。。。 and now you are here, breathed by me - you, the very same。Suddenly there came along this wind something towards him - a message from the place - from some soul residing there, it seemed。 Surely it was the sound of bells, the voice of the city, faint and musical, calling to him, "We are happy here!"Despite all his attempts to learn on his own his social context and economic circumstances create a path dependency that is difficult to evade。 An ill-advised marriage with Arabella Donn is to have far-reaching consequences on the rest of his life。 Once actually in Christminster as a young man with stonecutting as his trade he realizes time and again how difficult it is overcome class and privilege barriers and he becomes increasingly despondent as time passes by。 One ray of light that seems to appear is his cousin Sue Bridehead- a highly intelligent, spirited and amiable soul who is also deeply conflicted and given to oversensitivity and self-reproach。 The novel progresses by exploring themes of organized religion, faith, education, sexuality, marriage, fidelity, love, guilt, idealism, grief, punishment, penance, retribution, and social taboos and increasingly gets darker and darker。 More often than not Hardy is successful in showing how circumstances and the state of social existence in their age are to blame for Jude and Sue's growing despair and pessimism - especially towards marriage and people living out of wedlock - as also their inability to find financial stability and personal equanimity。 However, Jude and Sue also appear to hypersensitive individuals - wanting to take on social taboos but also troubled greatly when facing the backlash - which too contributes greatly to their inability to determine the right course of action for their lives。 Both Jude and Sue also have a reversal of roles when it comes to religion and Sue's conflicted views on sexuality and marriage persist in tormenting her and other around her, especially Jude and the schoolmaster Phillotson。Hardy's dialogue is natural, his description of places and emotions masterly, and his characterization vivid。 However, this is one of the darkest books that I have ever read and one cannot but at times wonder if Hardy's bleak outlook on life is rather excessive and unnatural。 Some of the scenes stay with you - the slaughtering of the pig; the tragedy that the young ones undergo; episodes of deep moral doubt and self-loathing undergone by Sue; Arabella's coarseness, lax morals, apathy and single-minded pursuit of her interests。 Arabella, Sue, the martyr-like schoolmaster Phillotson; the itinerant quack -doctor Vilbert, the young, sombre boy called 'Little Father Time' and of course Jude himself are dexterously drawn。Nothing like the classics for deep and moving explorations of inner and outer lives。 Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure is perhaps the darkest book I have read - it leaves you rather empty and spent but it also stays with you, troubling, provoking and disturbing。 。。。more

Cory Nguyen

what the fuck??

D

Okay, it's been a day since I finished this book and I was just too shattered to write a coherent review。 (Though if memory serves, Tess hit me harder--there should be a Hardy support group for readers like me!) Hardy goes after so many societal institutions in this novel, but his greatest talent is his ability to create characters imbued with such life and pathos。 In Jude, he has created the epitome of a 'worthy' who is befallen by all manner of misfortunes, only the stone coldest of hearts cou Okay, it's been a day since I finished this book and I was just too shattered to write a coherent review。 (Though if memory serves, Tess hit me harder--there should be a Hardy support group for readers like me!) Hardy goes after so many societal institutions in this novel, but his greatest talent is his ability to create characters imbued with such life and pathos。 In Jude, he has created the epitome of a 'worthy' who is befallen by all manner of misfortunes, only the stone coldest of hearts could fail to be moved。 This was the big project of English literature in the 19th century, wasn't it-- to show readers the error of societal ways by taking them on a harrowing journey with the most sympathetic of characters。 And you know it will all end in tragedy, yet Hardy's writing somehow makes you wish along the way that his gloriously real characters will find happiness。 As with Tess, Hardy's themes are critical of various issues and here he takes aim at marriage, education, and religion most forcefully。 And although reams could be written about his genius at combining attacks on these institutions while writing a compelling narrative with complex characters, I was most taken with his portrait of grieving parents whose decisions made in their profound grief lead to further tragedy。 Again as with Tess, it's almost too much to bear, but the reading experience is just wondrous。 I can't wait for the next one。 。。。more

Pallas Nelli

well that was depressing

Novelle Novels

After a slow start this ended up becoming so good and very emotional。。 Definitely a dark book but liked some of characters and found myself hating others。