The Female Characters In Hardy And Conrad : A Study In Cosmic Outlooks, With Special Reference To The Return Of The Native, Tess Of The D’Urberville, Jude The Obscure, Lord Jim, Nostromo And Chance

Abstract

The main purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the role played by the female characters in the cosmic outlook of Thomas Hardy and Joseph Conrad and to outline the points of similarities and differences between these roles.

Chapter one examines the world view of Hardy and Conrad based on their novels, poems (in Hardy's case), letters and non-fictive writings as well as autobiographies. Both Hardy and Conrad reached a very similar world views especially that they were subjected to the same literary and cultural influences appeared in the second half of the' nineteenth century. In this cosmic out look, human existence is depicted as a tragedy determined by powers beyond the individual's command in particular the external pressure of society and the internal compulsions of character. The individual either resigns to these forces or fights them without ever resolving life's ambiguity but only trying to lessen it and that's by believing in the ideals of love, comrnitrnent to one's duties and loyalty to others.

Chapter two explores how Hardy portrays his female characters with special reference to The Return of the Native Tess of the d'Urberville and Jude the Obscure.

Chapter three examines Conrads' women in Lord Jim, Nostromo and Chance.

The dissertation reaches the conclusion that the female characters play an indispensable part in the cos1nic view of both writers, but this part differs from one writer to the other. Hardy's heroines not only give voice to his philosophical views, but they also believe in and enact these views. Conrad's women, on the other hand, incarnate one dimension of his philosophy namely, his faith in human heart, in the ideals of love, commitment and loyalty to others in counterbalancing and lessening life's ambiguity and absurdity.