The Return of the Native: Hardy’s Tragic Vision

Egdon Heath, sunk in history, representing both Man and the stage on which human drama has been performed from time immemorial, sets the tone for the sombre story of trapped human passions in Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native. The dark violence of Eustacia Vye, the idealistic intelligence of Clym, the will and affection of Mrs Yeobright, the innocence of Thomasin and weakness of Byronic Wildeve form a tragic pattern through mutual interactions. Tragedies occur, expectations are ruthlessly disappointed, “Egdon remains”, forming a microcosm of entire human fate.

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