Contrasting Sue and Arabella in Thomas Hardy´s 'Jude the Obscure'

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Didactics - English - Literature, Works, grade: 12, University of Marburg, course: The Pre-Modern Novel: Hardy and Conrad, language: English, abstract: Two completely different women, Susanna Bridehead and Arabella Donn, share the same man in Thomas Hardy´s Jude the Obscure. Jude´s cousin Sue is a 'pretty, liquid-eyed, light-footed young woman' . Her mind, her education, her unconventional beliefs and especially her insistence on these beliefs impress Jude. His affection to Arabella Donn is quite different. She whom he addressed was a fine dark-eyed girl, not exactly handsome, but capable of passing as such at a little distance, despite some coarseness of skin and fibre. She had a round and prominent bosom, full lips, perfect teeth, and the rich complexion of a Cochin hen's egg. She was a complete and substantial female animal -- no more, no less. Of course, Sue and Arabella are not just contrasting in their appearance but they have oppositional ideas, beliefs and attitudes towards life. Therefore, they lead their lives under different circumstances and get different social recognition. By this example, Hardy criticizes the rigidity of certain conventions in the Victorian Age. In the following I will analyse various aspects which demonstrate the differences between the two characters, namely the two women's relation to Jude and their attitude towards sexuality, marriage, motherhood, religion and education.