Thomas Hardy’s Feminist Consciousness in Jude the Obscure

Abstract

This paper tries explore Thomas Hardy`s feminist consciousness in his last novel Jude the Obscure by analyzing the characterization of the heroine Sue Bridehead,his deep sympathy for this Victorian woman, and his criticism of patriarchal ideology. It is argued that Sue’s anti-marriage pronouncements, her refusal to conform to the traditional feminine role, and her challenge of accepted ideas of marriage and maternity, are actually a projection of Hardy`s personal views and criticism on marriage as a social institution, all of which are evidence to unveil Hardy`s sensibility that is feminist.