JUDE THE OBSCURE: THE MARITAL INSTITUTION

THESIS:
England’s nineteenth century marital institution has a reputation of being strictly defined, socially that is. Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, a work of English

realism, criticizes the rather complex nature of marriage in terms of religion, legalities, and morality while depicting the burgeoning of a secular society through the

characters of Jude Fawley, Arabella Donn, Susanna Bridehead, and Richard Phillotson.

Laws of matrimony during the Victorian era dictated that men

were responsible for the protection and supervision of their
wives, similar to as if they are children. Wives were viewed as
subordinate and were expected to obey their husbands, subdue
their sense of sexuality, and take on the responsibility of raising
children. Through the rather motive driven pursuit for marriage,
Hardy depicts the ramifications of the social system of marriage
during the English society, most notably through the characters
of Jude Fawley and Susanna Bridehead. In essence, the
Victorian Society had no concrete, real definition of marriage
itself; rather it was associated with norms and conventions.
Hardy also incorporated differed views of marriage in terms of
religion to display the complex nature of the institution of
marriage itself and the way it brings about a secular society. Sue
serves as a symbol of unconventionality primarily in her rather
critical, fearful view of matrimony, which is illustrated by her
references to giving brides away as simply trading “a she-ass or
she-goat or any other domestic animal.” Her difficulty in
conforming to the mold of the typical societal woman makes it
quite evident that she is not ready for marriage, or what she calls
“the sordid contract” (both emotionally and sexually). Her innate
fear that such an “iron contract” will extinguish any tenderness
between her and Jude create such a theme: Sue’s unconventional
view of religion and desire for a platonic relationship vs. Jude’s desire for a societally accepted marriage
and conventional interpretation of religion.
One can argue that the institution of marriage itself solely served as a reminder of love for Sue.
Her curious nature made her a rather antithetical figure in regards to Christianity and Jude’s desires in
Christminister. However, her and Jude too are forced to submit to society due to the death of her children.
She believes that God sent his wrath due to her skepticism of religion itself.
"We must conform!...All the ancient wrath of the Power above us has been vented upon us, His poor creatures, and we must submit. There is no choice. We must. It's no use fighting

against God!"- Sue

Both Sue and Jude are followers of their own nature and set back by their separation from each
other (i.e. his remarriage to Arabella and Sue’s “fanatic prostitution” remarriage to Phillotson). The
aforementioned remarriages were completed solely out of conventionality, thus illustrating that the idea
of love is valued, but not valued to the same extent of one’s societal reputation in accordance to
conventions and boundaries. The value in regard to one’s societal reputation goes to display that both man
and woman can still be victimized by society’s morals and legalities (particularly in terms of marriage).

Sue: "...I have thought that we have been selfish, careless, even impious, in our courses, you and I. Our life has been a vain attempt at self-
delight. But self-abnegation is the higher road. We should mortify the flesh - the terrible flesh - the curse of Adam!"

Jude: "Sue,"..."What has come over you?"

Sue: "We ought to be continually sacrificing ourselves on the altar of duty! But I have always striven to do what has pleased me. I well
deserved the scourging I have got! I wish something would take the evil right out of me, and all my mounstrous errors, and all my sinful
ways!"