Heroism and Pathos in The Woodlanders: A study
Keywords:
Heroism and pathos, snobbery, frustration, selfishness, temperamental differences, wrong choices, tragic gloom.Abstract
The Woodlanders is one of the best novels written by Thomas Hardy. The
article entitled, “Heroism and Pathos in The Woodlanders: A study” is an analysis of
The Woodlanders – the story of unhappy marriage promoted by snobbery and
perpetuated by convention. The heroic characters of Marty South and Giles
Winterborne and their bitter sufferings from bitter frustration of personal desire have
been closely studied. It is also observed that the novel conveys a sense of confusion and
pathos and above all the sadness of the lives of essentially good people destroyed by
selfishness. It is also seen that the wrong choices and temperamental differences led to
tragic gloom in love and marriage. The tragic situation caused either by fate, chance or
coincidence in the novel is also studied.
The novel chases on the sublime figure of the peasant girl, Marty South, mourning by
the grave of Giles Winterborne whom she has passionately and selflessly loved. In the
novel, Hardy intensifies Nature and man, and suggests that whatever the creation of
God, it is majestic. Further the characters of Fitzpiers, Marty, Melbury and
Mrs.Charmond are closely studied.
