How does Hardy explore the tensions of family life and love in his short stories Essay Example

an elegant follower of the arts, using the outdated phrase "a votary of the muse". Ella showcases her desire for passion and sophistication by speaking French in the middle of sentences, seemingly to display her knowledge and romanticism.

Hardy employs phrases, couplets, and bouts-rimes to convey Ella's aspiration to appear as of a higher social standing. The usage of another language would add to one's erudition and prestige.

Hardy's use of language when describing Will's personality is reflected in his "squarely-shaped sentences" and use of shorter, less refined words. For instance, the quote "The husband's business was that of a gun maker in a thriving city northwards, and his soul was in that business always" highlights how Will's mind was always focused on his work and business, with little attention given to his relationship with Ella. On the other hand, Robert Trewe is described as a "bachelor gentleman," and further elaborated on by the landlady who describes him as "a different sort of young man from most - dreamy, solitary and rather melancholy." This illustrates how Ella and Trewe share similar personality traits and both tend towards introspection.

Throughout the story, Ella's imagination serves as her fatal flaw, providing an escape from reality and her family and causing extensive harm, particularly at the end. Although there was no betrayal, Will refuses to acknowledge evidence to the contrary, leading him to disown his child. The parallels between Ella and Sophy Twycott, the main character in another of Hardy's works, 'The Son's Veto', are noteworthy as both women share a similar downfall caused by a fatal flaw. Sophy also hails from a humble background, having become a vicar's wife

and risen in status.

The protagonist is a woman with a disability who used to work for a reverend as his maid. The reverend marries her out of pity, resulting in a marriage lacking true love. Following the death of Mr Twycott, Sophy is left without any financial or social responsibility, indicating her late husband's belief that she was incapable. The narrator of the story is omniscient and can describe what they see, manipulating the reader's emotions towards particular characters. This is showcased in the description of Sophy as "an invalid young lady - not so much of an invalid - sitting in a wheeled chair, which had been pulled up in the front part of a green enclosure, close to a bandstand..."

The narrator portrays Sophy in a way that evokes pity due to her disability, causing the reader to sympathize with her when she introduces her son Randolph. Despite wanting to be seen as a lady and maintain her family's social status, Sophy acknowledges that she cannot do so and will always be of lower status. The use of the word "paroxysm" to describe Randolph's reaction suggests his education and class. Sophy feels isolated from her son, recognizing that while she may not be a lady, he is a gentleman, making their relationship difficult. This statement gives insight into how Sophy perceives their relationship dynamics.In the text, Sophy expresses her distress regarding the social differences between herself and her son. She clarifies that he belongs to a different intellectual level and social status. Though she is legally considered a lady, those around her observe that she behaves more like people from her past. Following

the death of her husband, Sophy starts contemplating about Sam, an old friend who proposed to her in the past but works as a gardener with low social standing. Hardy depicts Sam's status through his countryside dialect by saying "Such a lady as ye've been so long, you couldn't be a wife to a man like me." Due to financial struggles, physical limitations, and the dissimilarity in lifestyle with her son, Sophy begins questioning her happiness. In order to avoid loneliness, she seeks companionship.

Sophy's feelings of neglect and loneliness are alleviated by Sam's reappearance, providing her with a sense of purpose. Although she expresses sorrow that she cannot spend more time with him due to her disability, this marks the first time she acknowledges it and desires change. Her love for Sam may be a contributing factor in this desire. However, her son prohibits their relationship due to concern over Sam's social status, prioritizing his own life over his mother's happiness and causing Sophy to feel deep sadness.

"The Son's Veto" revolves around the conflict between Sophy's personal yearning for love and her sense of responsibility towards her son. The story's tension arises from the reversal of the traditional societal hierarchy where parents hold a higher status than their children; thus, there is a clash between parental and filial roles. The narrative ends tragically, with the realization that Sam and Sophy could have enjoyed a blissful future together if Randolph had not intervened and deemed Sam unworthy."

In "A Tragedy of two Ambitions", Sam witnesses Sophy's death while his shop thrives, elevating his social status and financial situation, which enables him to marry her and

save her from a lonely death. The story emphasizes the influence of social class on tragedy, much like in "The Son's Veto" where the omniscient narrator describes the scene with sensory details. The story follows Joshua and Cornelius, who like Randolph, long for a higher social standing, which ultimately becomes their tragic flaw. Hardy adds to the tragedy by portraying Sam's despair as he watches Sophy's funeral procession.

Joshua and Cornelius aim to eliminate their father as they fear he may obstruct their aspiration for a higher social standing, which they plan to realize through their sister's impending nuptials to the wealthy Squire Fellmer. The siblings observe their father's drowning without making any attempts to rescue him, ultimately leading to an unfortunate incident where they both repent for their actions, and the sister fails to marry Fellmer. This tragic outcome, driven by the yearning for social elevation, is a recurring motif in Hardy's works, despite each story being composed in varying styles.

The endings of 'An Imaginative Woman', 'The Son's Veto', and 'A Tragedy of Two Ambitions' differ in style and pacing. The former has a sudden and unexpected ending, while the latter is drawn out and subtle but still powerful. As for 'A Tragedy of Two Ambitions', its ending differs from the other two in terms of style. Notably, both 'An Imaginative Woman' and 'The Son's Veto' feature female protagonists who die before the tragedy unfolds.

All the three stories dealt with family predicaments and social class, where one of the parents posed a hindrance.