“Tony Kytes The Arch Deceiver,” “Old Mrs Chundle” And “The Withered Arm” Essay Example

horse and cart to do some business for his father. In "Tess of The D'urberville," the steam train is also used for travel, but it is a rare occurrence since it had recently been invented. Due to the isolated nature of "Wessex" and its distance from other civilizations, the dialect spoken there would be almost unrecognizable in nineteenth-century London. This can be seen clearly in "Old Mrs Chundle." For instance, Mrs.

Chundle announces that she will be having her own dinner soon, consisting of boiled tatters and cabbage with a small amount of bacon. She offers this meal to someone, asking if they would like it. Due to Mrs. Chundle's geographical and personal isolation, her accent is quite noticeable, whereas the Curate's dialect, originating from a different part of England, is noticeably different.

"No, I'll join you. Call me when it's ready." The way he speaks is also influenced by his education and social class. Within Hardy's stories, social class is explored and prominently depicted in "The Withered Arm." Rhoda Brook is clearly from a lower class; she is not only a single mother, which subjects her to discrimination, but she also resides in a dilapidated cottage. The cottage is described as being made of mud-walls, with rainwater creating indentations and channels on its surface. Additionally, parts of the thatched roof reveal protruding rafters, resembling bones breaking through the skin.

Gertrude Lodge exhibits a distinct superiority in social standing, as evidenced by the comment made by Rhoda's son: "yes and more. A lady complete." Initially, Farmer Lodge treats his new wife with kindness, but his attitude drastically changes when she becomes disabled with a withered arm. At

this point, he hardly even speaks to her, revealing his shallow nature and suggesting that he only married Gertrude for her physical appearance. Furthermore, he refuses to acknowledge his own biological child from his previous relationship with Rhoda.

The reason for possible secrecy regarding the main character's illegitimate child is the potential negative impact on his reputation within the community. This social divide between classes is further emphasized in "Old Mrs Chundle" where the Curate holds a higher social status compared to Mrs Chundle.

Chundle expresses her belief in social class when she says, "Oh, faith, I don't want to eat with my betters – not I." Similarly, when asked why she hasn't been to Enckworth, her nearest town, she replies, "I never had any business there – a great mansion of a place, holding people that I've no more doings with than the people of the moon." These quotes highlight Chundle's reluctance to associate with the higher class and her sense of not belonging. Both "The Withered Arm" and "Tess of the D'urberville" heavily focus on crime and punishment.

"Even minor offenses, such as theft, could lead to the death penalty. Hardy had personal exposure to capital punishment during his youth and likely witnessed public executions. This influence is evident in his novel 'Tess of the D'urbervilles,' where the protagonist, Tess, is hanged for killing Alec, who had previously raped her. Similarly, in 'The Withered Arm,' Rhoda's son is executed for being present by chance when a barn was set on fire. It is worth noting that this echoes Hardy's own childhood, as his father shared a story with him about a man who was hanged

for merely being present during a haystack arson. These instances exemplify the unjust and inequitable nature of the legal system. The theme of magic and superstition also plays a significant role in 'The Withered Arm.'

Every village in Wessex had its own witch specializing in curses. These witches were often sought after to cast the "evil eye" on enemies, a practice known as "overlooking." Rhoda, who was jealous of Gertrude, believed she had cursed her after a dream. Rhoda uncovered her left hand and arm and saw that they matched the limb she had seen and seized in her dream. She became fixated on the discoloration, thinking she saw the shape of her four fingers in it.

When Gertrude sought a cure for her withered arm, she went to the conjuror Trendle who told her she must place her arm on the fresh dead body of a man. Throughout all of this, Farmer Lodge was unsupportive of Gertrude as he did not believe in superstition. Alongside magic and superstition, fate and fortune also played a role in these stories.

At that time, many individuals had faith in destiny and luck. In the story "Tony Kytes the Arch Deceiver," it appears that fate is to blame for Unity and Hannah declining Tony's proposal and leaving him with Milly. "Ultimately," Tony says to Milly, "it seems as if fate has decreed that it should be you and I, or no one." However, this could be perceived as a mere coincidence since Tony would have been willing to marry any of the other girls if they had accepted his proposal first. The passing of "Old Mrs Chundle" after attending church

is also interpreted as fate because she had falsely claimed to be a regular churchgoer to the curate and died when she finally tried to attend a service.

“She was eager to hear you again later on. However, it was ordained otherwise for the poor soul, and she was soon gone.” However, it could also be the way life works. Mrs Chundle was an elderly lady, and rushing around and running up a hill at her age could have killed her. The belief in fate and fortune was strong in the nineteenth century because people used it as a way of making sense of life. People believed that what was meant to be was meant to be. In conclusion, I appreciate the significant use of superstition in “The Withered Arm” and how it highlights the differences in social classes throughout all the stories. In my favorite story, “Tony Kytes the Arch Deceiver,” I particularly admire how Tony uses his charm on all three women to his advantage.

These stories provided me with a glimpse into life during the Nineteenth century, highlighting the contrast between that era and our present-day living.