The Return of The Native LitChart

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The Return of the Native

number of key differences. In particular, literary naturalism is
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION interested in determinism and the overwhelming power of
nature in comparison to humankind. The leader of literary
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS HARDY naturalism is French author Émile Zola, and other notable
Thomas Hardy was the son of a stonemason and a well- authors include Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Jack London, and
educated woman who served as his teacher throughout his Edith Wharton. Important naturalist works include London’s
early childhood. Hardy’s family wasn’t particularly wealthy, and The Call of the Wild
Wild, Wharton’s The House of Mirth
Mirth, and Crane’s
though he received some schooling, his parents did not have The Red Badge of Cour
Courage
age. Many of the important literary
the means to send their son to college. Instead, Hardy became naturalists are American, which makes Hardy something of an
an architect’s apprentice; he worked as an architect into the outlier. Hardy was also influenced by the British realist
1860s, when he began his writing career. He started off writing tradition, notably the novels of George Eliot. Additionally, The
poetry but remained unsuccessful. In 1868, he finished his first Return of the Native’s relatively frank portrayal of adultery
novel, The Poor Man and the Lady, but couldn’t find anyone to paved the way for modernist novels like Henry James’s The
publish it. Hardy’s next attempt was 1871’s Desperate Remedies, Golden Bowl and D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which
which did find a publisher, although it wasn’t successful. Hardy featured frank depictions of sexuality and infidelity.
finally achieved success in 1874 with Far from the Madding
Crowd, which allowed him quit his day job and focus entirely on
KEY FACTS
writing. Over the next two decades, Hardy published a number
of works that are now considered classic works of English • Full Title: The Return of the Native
literature, including The May
Mayor
or of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the • When Written: 1878
d’Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscur
Obscuree (1895). Although • Where Written: Sturminseter Newton, Dorset, England
Hardy never found success as a poet in his lifetime, he never
• When Published: 1878
stopped writing poetry. After his death, poets such as Ezra
Pound and W. H. Auden revived Hardy’s poetry, and it played • Literary Period: Naturalism, Realism
an important role in shaping the landscape of modernist poetry. • Genre: Naturalism
• Setting: Egdon Heath
HISTORICAL CONTEXT • Climax: While attempting to find each another in a storm,
A crucial feature of Egdon Heath, the setting of The Return of Wildeve and Eustacia drown and die.
the Native, is that it has not been touched by civilization. As • Point of View: Third Person
such, most of the characters in the novel are not affected by
notable historical events. The one exception is Clym, who does EXTRA CREDIT
get a taste of the outside world by traveling to Paris. The novel Funeral Arrangements. Thomas Hardy had two funerals: one
takes place in the middle of the 19th century, during which time for his ashes, which were buried in Poets’ Corner in
Paris was considered one of the cultural capitals of the world. Westminster Abbey, and another for his heart, which was
Along with London, Paris was where one would go to start a buried in Stinsford, his birthplace.
business, take in great works of art, and marvel at technological
advances. Clym shuns Paris, however, and prefers the simple
Belgravia. The Return of the Native was originally published in
life of the heath to the hustle and bustle of a big city. Another
monthly installments in Belgravia, a magazine. Belgravia’s
important historical context to consider when reading The
reputation for publishing sensationalistic writing initially gave
Return of the Native is that it was published in Victorian England,
The Return of the Native a more controversial reputation that it
which was noted for its sexual repression. Although it may
perhaps deserved.
seem relatively tame today, The Return of the Native was
shocking to many of its initial readers because it features
passages about adultery. PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
RELATED LITERARY WORKS The Return of the Native opens with Venn, a reddleman,
transporting Thomasin Yeobright back to Egdon Heath.
The Return of the Native is a work of literary naturalism, a
Thomasin is upset because she was supposed to wed Damon
movement that is similar to literary realism, although with a
Wildeve earlier that day but couldn’t due to an issue with her
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marriage license. Meanwhile, the residents of Egdon Heath are never happened. For a long time, Clym and his mother don’t
lighting bonfires to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. The locals speak to each other.
dance, sing, and gossip about the latest news on the heath, One hot, summer day, Mrs. Yeobright decides to visit Clym and
including the fact that Clym Yeobright is set to return from make amends. When Mrs. Yeobright arrives, Eustacia is inside
Paris at Christmas time. Clym is Thomasin’s cousin, and the talking to Wildeve. Not wanting Mrs. Yeobright to think any
locals always assumed that the two of them would marry worse of her than she already does, Eustacia does not open the
before Clym left for Paris. The locals also discuss how Mrs. door for Mrs. Yeobright. Instead, she sneaks Wildeve out the
Yeobright, Clym’s mother, has openly objected to Thomasin’s back and assumes that Clym, who is taking a nap, will get up and
marriage to Wildeve, whom she considers socially inferior. answer the door. However, Clym does not answer. By the time
When Mrs. Yeobright learns that Thomasin didn’t marry Eustacia returns, Mrs. Yeobright has left. Meanwhile, Mrs.
Wildeve after all, she gets even angrier. She knows that the Yeobright walks home depressed—she thinks Eustacia and
aborted marriage will be the talk of the town, further Clym have deliberately rejected her, and she shares this fear
embarrassing the Yeobright family. Though Wildeve insists that with a young boy named Johnny who accompanies her as she
he still plans to marry Thomasin and will do so as soon as walks. After Mrs. Yeobright parts ways with Johnny, a
possible, he’s not being entirely truthful: the same night he was venomous snake bites her.
supposed to marry Thomasin, he pays a visit to Eustacia Vye, Clym later wakes from his nap and decides to visit his mother,
whom he has been courting in secret. Eustacia likes Wildeve, despite Eustacia’s protests. However, on his way to his
though she is angry about his plans to marry Thomasin. Both mother’s house, he discovers her lying unconscious in the grass.
Eustacia and Wildeve share a mutual hatred of Egdon Heath Clym takes Mrs. Yeobright to the nearest cabin. The locals
and dream about escaping; in particular, Eustacia longs to travel fetch a doctor to try to save Mrs. Yeobright, but they are too
to Paris. late, and she dies. To make matters worse, Johnny tells Clym
Despite Wildeve’s promises, he continues to postpone his that his mother was angry with him before she died. This news
marriage to Thomasin. In the meantime, he repeatedly meets devastates Clym, and Eustacia is too scared to tell him the
with Eustacia in private and promises her that he still loves her. truth.
Unbeknownst to Wildeve and Eustacia, Venn has been spying After Mrs. Yeobright’s funeral, Clym starts asking around to
them and caught wind of their tryst. Venn loves Thomasin, figure out why his mother was so mad at him. Eventually,
though she rejected him when he asked her to marry him. Johnny tells Clym that Mrs. Yeobright was walking back from
Nonetheless, Venn remains faithful to Thomasin and wants Clym’s house after Clym turned her down. Johnny also tells him
what’s best for her, so he visits Eustacia and asks her to stay that Eustacia was inside with Wildeve when. Enraged, Clym
away from Wildeve. Unfortunately, this only makes Eustacia confronts Eustacia and the two of them have a big fight.
want Wildeve more. Eustacia leaves Clym and moves back in with her grandfather.
Eustacia’s infatuation with Wildeve ends once she hears that In the meantime, Thomasin gives birth to her first child, which
Clym Yeobright is returning from Paris. She considers Clym a she names baby Eustacia, and Wildeve inherits a fortune.
knight in shining armor who can take her away from Egdon, so Wildeve feels bad for Eustacia, whom he still loves, and tells her
she sets her sights on him instead. No longer able to marry that he will help her in any way he can. In response, Eustacia
Eustacia, Wildeve goes through with his marriage to Thomasin. asks him to take her to Budmouth, where she can find a ship to
Meanwhile, Clym and Eustacia strike up a romance. However, Paris. Wildeve agrees to do so, though he does not tell
Clym isn’t exactly the person Eustacia thought he'd be: Eustacia Thomasin about his plans. One night, Thomasin follows
thought that Clym could help her escape to Paris, but Clym Wildeve, realizes that he is going to see Eustacia, and assumes
wants to stay put and start a school in Egdon. Ultimately, they the two of them are having an affair. Shortly afterward,
reach a compromise, and Clym promises to move them to Thomasin arrives at Clym’s house and tells him that she thinks
Budmouth, a fashionable, seaside city not far from Egdon. Wildeve and Eustacia are planning to run away together.
Though Mrs. Yeobright disapproves of the Vye family, Clym and Concerned, Clym begins searching for Eustacia and Wildeve,
Eustacia get married. who are indeed planning to depart for Budmouth. Clym leaves
Clym and Eustacia’s happiness is short-lived. Clym lacks the in the middle of a terrible storm, as do Eustacia and Wildeve.
funds to move them to Budmouth, and his plans to open a Thomasin parts ways with Clym. On her way home, she
school prove difficult. To make matters worse, Clym starts to go encounters Venn and tells him about Eustacia and Wildeve;
blind, which forces him to abandon his studies. He then Venn offers to escort her home. On their way to the Quiet
becomes a furze-cutter, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Yeobright Woman Inn (Wildeve’s inn), Venn and Thomasin come across a
and Eustacia, who consider this a low-class profession. Clym’s distressing scene: Wildeve and Clym have jumped into a pond
relationship with his mother deteriorates after Mrs. Yeobright to rescue Eustacia, who has fallen in. However, the storm has
accuses Eustacia of cheating on Clym with Wildeve, though this turned the pond into a whirlpool. With the help of some of the

locals, Venn manages to get Clym, Wildeve, and Eustacia out of furze-cutter instead. Though Clym is happy with this job, Mrs.
the pond. However, by the time he does so, Eustacia and Yeobright and Eustacia disapprove, as they believe that
Wildeve are dead. harvesting crops is beneath Clym’s status. Clym’s brief
In the months following Wildeve and Eustacia’s funeral, Venn happiness comes to an end after his mother dies from a snake
becomes a dairy farmer and begins courting Thomasin; they bite. What’s more, due to a misunderstanding for which
eventually marry. Clym, overcome with grief, becomes a Eustacia was responsible, Mrs. Yeobright dies believing that
traveling preacher. However, the deaths of Eustacia and Mrs. Clym turned her away from his house. When Clym learns of
Yeobright never stop haunting him. Eustacia’s involvement in the misunderstanding, he ends their
relationship. Although he tries to reconcile his relationship with
Eustacia via a letter, she dies before he can do so. Clym
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS eventually becomes a traveling priest, though he never gets
over the deaths of Eustacia and Mrs. Yeobright.
MAJOR CHARACTERS Thomasin Y Yeobright
eobright – Thomasin Yeobright is the niece of Mrs.
Eustacia VVyye – Eustacia Vye is an aloof young woman who has Yeobright and the cousin of Clym Yeobright. Before Clym
dreams of escaping Egdon Heath and going to Paris. Eustacia moved to Paris to work as jeweler, most locals believed he
was born in Budmouth, a fashionable seaside town, but she was would marry Thomasin. However, Thomasin becomes engaged
forced to move to Egdon Heath after the deaths of her parents. to Wildeve instead. The novel opens on the day they are
Now, she lives with Captain Vye, her grandfather, who allows supposed to wed, though an issue with their marriage license
Eustacia her independence. At the start of the novel, Wildeve is postpones the wedding. Humiliated by the failed wedding,
secretly courting Eustacia, though he is engaged to marry Thomasin refuses to show her face around town. And though
Thomasin. Eustacia loses interest in Wildeve after she learns she still wants to marry Wildeve, his strained relationship with
that Clym is returning from Paris—she thinks that if she marries Mrs. Yeobright makes things difficult. And, unbeknownst to
Clym, he will take her to Paris with him. Eustacia and Clym Thomasin, Wildeve is secretly courting Eustacia, as well.
begin a romance and eventually marry. Clym tells Eustacia that Eventually, Wildeve and Thomasin do marry. The marriage is
he has no desire to return to Paris, but agrees to move the rocky from the start: Wildeve spends much of his time away
couple to Budmouth within the first six months of their from Thomasin and withholds money from her. Eventually,
marriage. However, Clym’s eyesight fails, and the couple is Thomasin gives birth to her first child, baby Eustacia, not
forced to stay in Egdon. This makes Eustacia miserable. One knowing that Clym and Eustacia’s marriage has fallen apart.
day, Mrs. Yeobright comes to visit Clym and Eustacia, but Later, Thomasin’s doubts about Wildeve prove warranted when
Eustacia doesn’t let her into the house because Wildeve has she discovers that he has resumed his affair with Eustacia. Not
come to visit (previously, Mrs. Yeobright had wrongly assumed long afterward, she goes to Clym and warns him that Wildeve
that Eustacia and Wildeve were having an affair, and Eustacia and Eustacia are planning to run off together. After Clym goes
does want her to get any wrong ideas). However, Mrs. off looking for them in the rain, Thomasin also runs into Venn
Yeobright dies on her way home after Eustacia didn’t let her in. and informs him of the situation. At the end of the novel, after
When Clym learns what Eustacia has done, he ends their Wildeve’s death, Thomasin decides to marry Venn.
marriage, and Eustacia returns to live with Captain Vye. Mrs. Y
Yeobright
eobright – Mrs. Yeobright is the mother of Clym
Wildeve still loves Eustacia, though, and he promises to help Yeobright and the aunt of Thomasin Yeobright. At the start of
her escape to Budmouth. A violent storm breaks out on the the novel, she opposes Thomasin’s marriage to Wildeve, whom
night they plan to leave, however, and Eustacia falls into a pond she believes is not high class enough for Thomasin. Eventually,
and drowns. Wildeve also dies while trying to save her. Mrs. Yeobright accepts the marriage, though her initial
Clym YYeobright
eobright – Clym Yeobright is an intelligent young man disapproval creates permanent tension between herself and
who returns to Egdon Heath after living in Paris, where he Wildeve. Mrs. Yeobright later tries to talk Clym out of marrying
worked as a jeweler for several years. Much to the dismay of Eustacia. Despite the Vye family’s wealth, Mrs. Yeobright does
Mrs. Yeobright, his mother, Clym did not enjoy living in Paris not respect them and considers Eustacia a “hussy.” Ultimately,
and is happy to return to Egdon Heath, where he plans to start Clym marries Eustacia despite Mrs. Yeobright’s disapproval,
a school for the locals. Shortly after Clym’s arrival, he begins a which causes Clym and Mrs. Yeobright to drift apart. The rift
romance with Eustacia, though Mrs. Yeobright disapproves of between them worsens after Mrs. Yeobright falsely accuses
the romance. Before long, Clym and Eustacia marry, and Clym Eustacia of seeing Wildeve on the side for money. For a long
promises that he will move the two of them to Budmouth, the time, Mrs. Yeobright and Clym do not speak to one another,
fashionable seaside town where Eustacia was born. However, although both of them miss each other. One day, Mrs. Yeobright
Clym soon becomes blind, which complicates his dream of decides to visit her son to make amends. When she gets there,
opening a school. No longer able to study, Clym becomes a nobody lets her inside and, due to a misunderstanding, believes

that Clym has abandoned her (in reality, Clym was napping and sounds the alarm that Eustacia is missing on the night of her
wasn’t even aware that his mother had tried to contact him). death.
On Mrs. Yeobright’s walk home from Clym’s, a poisonous snake Johnn
Johnnyy Nunsuch – Johnny is the son of Susan Nunsuch. He
bites her; she dies believing that her son has rejected her. encounters Mrs. Yeobright on her way back from Clym’s house,
Damon Wilde
Wildevve – Damon Wildeve runs the Quiet Woman Inn. making him the last person to see her alive. During this
The novel begins on what’s supposed to be his wedding to encounter, Mrs. Yeobright told Johnny that she was angry with
Thomasin, though an issue with the marriage license forces Clym, believing that Clym knowingly refused to see her (though
them to postpone the wedding. Although Wildeve publicly Mrs. Yeobright’s claim is untrue and the result of a
maintains that he still wants to marry Thomasin, he is carrying misunderstanding). Clym is devastated when Johnny later
out a secret romance with Eustacia. After his failed wedding, informs him that Mrs. Yeobright died angry at him.
Wildeve regularly visits Eustacia and promises her that he is
still interested in her. However, Eustacia eventually decides MINOR CHARACTERS
that prefers Clym instead and so ends her affair with Wildeve.
Gr
Grandfer
andfer Cantle – Along with Timothy Fairway, Grandfer
This prompts Wildeve decides to marry Thomasin after all,
Cantle acts as a leader to the general laborers in Egdon Heath.
though he proves to be a bad husband. He spends much of his
Grandfer loves to party, sing, and gossip. He is the grandfather
time away from home and does not give Thomasin any money
of Christian Cantle.
of her own. Additionally, once Eustacia and Clym’s marriage
falls apart, Wildeve once again starts pursuing Eustacia behind Timoth
Timothyy Fairwa
Fairwayy – Timothy Fairway (along with Grandfer
his wife’s back. He promises Eustacia that he can take her away Cantle) acts as a leaders to the general laborers in Egdon
from Egdon Heath and fantasizes about making her his Heath. Timothy is prone to gossip, storytelling, and general
mistress. Indeed, Wildeve does try to help Eustacia escape revelry.
Egdon, but a violent storm breaks out the night they plan to Susan Nunsuch – Susan Nunsuch is a meanspirited and
leave, and they drown to death after getting sucked into a pond. superstitious woman who is convinced that Eustacia is a witch.
Diggory V Venn
enn (The Reddleman) – Diggory Venn is a reddleman At one point, she stabs Eustacia with a needle in church, and
(a peddler of red dye for sheep) who is in love with Thomasin she later burns an effigy of Eustacia. Susan Nunsuch is the
Yeobright. Previously a dairy farmer, Venn became a reddleman mother of Johnny Nunsuch.
after Thomasin rejected his marriage proposal sometime Christian Cantle – Christian Cantle is the grandson of
before the events of the novel take place. The novel opens with Grandfer Cantle. Mrs. Yeobright asks Christian to bring Clym
Venn transporting Thomasin home after her failed attempt to and Thomasin their inheritance, but he gambles it away in a
wed Wildeve. Venn still loves Thomasin and always wants game of dice against Wildeve.
what’s best for her. This motivates him to try to break up
Charle
Charleyy – Charley works for the Vye family. He is infatuated
Wildeve and Eustacia so that Wildeve will still marry Thomasin.
with Eustacia and promises her his role in the Christmas play if
Later in the novel, after Thomasin and Wildeve are married,
she will hold his hand. Clym gives Charley a lock of Eustacia’s
Venn keeps an eye on Wildeve to make sure he remains faithful
hair after she dies.
to Thomasin. He also wins back Thomasin and Clym’s
inheritance from Wildeve after Wildeve wins it off of Christian Bab
Babyy Eustacia – Baby Eustacia is the daughter of Thomasin
Cantle in a game of dice. Thomasin encounters Venn during a Yeobright and Damon Wildeve.
violent storm that takes place the night that Wildeve and Olly Dowden – Olly is a local broom maker. She celebrates Guy
Eustacia go missing, presumably to run away with one another. Fawkes Day with Grandfer Cantle and escorts Mrs. Yeobright
Venn leads Thomasin to safety and helps pull Clym, along with to the Quiet Woman Inn.
the bodies of Eustacia and Wildeve, out of the pond. After Sam – Sam is a local who performs various odd jobs for the
Wildeve’s death, Venn returns to dairy farming. He courts Vyes and the Yeobrights.
Thomasin and eventually marries her.
Humphre
Humphreyy – Humphrey is a furze-cutter who is often seen with
Captain VVyye – Captain Vye is the grandfather of Eustacia Vye. Grandfer Cantle and Timothy Fairway.
He used to be a sailor and often entertains the locals with his
stories about his former life at sea. He takes Eustacia in after
both of her parents die. Although Captain Vye allows Eustacia a THEMES
great deal of freedom, his blunt and unhelpful way of speaking
often annoys Eustacia. Eustacia lives with Captain Vye for most In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
of the novel until she marries Clym. After her marriage fails, coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
Eustacia returns to live with Captain Vye, who is happy to let occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
her back into his home. Captain Vye is one of the people who a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in

black and white. prevail.” In other words, Venn persists in his work despite the
fact that the trade—and the entire way of life it represents—is
HUMANS VS. NATURE becoming “obsolete” in the face of industrialization. Moreover,
the several community celebrations that take place throughout
The Return of the Native is part of the Naturalism
the novel (like the Guy Fawkes Day bonfire and the May Day
literary movement, which generally elevated and
festival) are important, long-held rituals that connect
revered the natural world but also portrayed it as
characters with one another and with their shared heritage.
fearsome and immensely powerful. As such, the book’s setting,
Egdon Heath, acts as a character in and of itself. Many That said, Clym’s return from Paris (a modernized city) poses a
passages, including the entire opening chapter of the novel, threat to the traditional way of life in Egdon Heath. Although
feature vivid descriptions of the heath. It’s vast and beautiful, Clym does not like Paris well enough to return to it, he does
and it demands the respect of those who live on it. After all, the want to open a school in Egdon and educate its inhabitants—in
heath is a dangerous place: wildlife, weather, and darkness all effect, he wants to modernize them. However, Egdon and its
pose a threat. Most of the inhabitants of the heath respect inhabitants refuse to be modernized. When Clym suggests to
Egdon; they know how dangerous the heath can be and choose Fairway, one of the locals, that he wants to start a school in
to take precautions. For instance, in the beginning of the novel, Egdon, Fairway remarks that “he’ll never carry it out.” Indeed,
Mrs. Yeobright asks Olly to walk with her because she knows it Fairway turns out to be correct; Clym begins to lose his
is unsafe to walk alone at night. eyesight and never manages to recover. Instead, like the other
residents of Egdon, he makes his living off the land as a furze-
However, other characters, particularly Eustacia and Wildeve,
cutter—that is, someone who harvests furze, a plant to feed
choose to disrespect the heath. Eustacia regularly expresses
livestock. As such, Egdon remains untouched by the modern
her desire to move away from Egdon because she cannot stand
world. Not only that, but it also claims a so-called “modern
it. She also often walks alone in the darkness, even though she
man,” in the form of Clym, as one of its own. In this way, The
knows it is dangerous. Similarly, Wildeve wants nothing to do
Return of the Native advocates for the continued existence of
with the heath and also chooses to walk alone in the dark.
places like Egdon Heath, a rural town that’s managed to resist
Notably, neither character makes their living off of the land,
modern influences and hold onto its time-honored traditions.
unlike most of the residents of Egdon. Additionally, both
characters share an unearned respect for the modern world,
despite never living anywhere except the heath in their lives. CLASS AND MORALITY
Following her failed marriage to Clym, Eustacia decides that One’s occupation and class are crucial factors when
she cannot stand the heath any longer and asks Wildeve to help considering marriage proposals on Egdon Heath.
her escape. Wildeve agrees, and the two of them choose a Much of the drama of the first half of the novel
particularly dark and stormy night to travel, once again revolves around Mrs. Yeobright’s feelings that her son, Clym,
disregarding the rules of the heath. This decision leads to both and her niece, Thomasin, are not marrying people who are of a
of their deaths, as Eustacia and Wildeve find themselves at the high enough social standing. Mrs. Yeobright’s displeasure with
bottom of a whirlpool. Ultimately, then, The Return of the Native Thomasin and Wildeve’s marriage leads Wildeve back to
cautions against disrespect or arrogance toward the natural Eustacia. Meanwhile, her problem with Clym and Eustacia’s
world, as humans are no match for nature’s sublime power. marriage drives a permanent wedge between herself and her
son. However, a peculiar feature of Mrs. Yeobright’s character
MODERNITY VS. TRADITION is that she actually married a dairy farmer who would’ve been
below her rank in the social hierarchy, at least according to
There is a conflict staged in The Return of the Native
Captain Vye. It is unclear whether she is being hypocritical or if
between Egdon Heath and the modern world.
she just doesn’t want her relatives to make the same mistake
Egdon Heath is described in the beginning of the
that she did. Of course, though Mrs. Yeobright’s classism is
novel as a timeless place that modernity has yet to touch,
responsible for many issues in the novel, she also ends up being
making it a rather unusual location. It’s a place that’s still
correct about her relatives’ marriages, as both start and end in
steeped in history, as many of its inhabitants believe in old
disasters.
folklore and perform traditional work that some might view as
antiquated. Venn, for example, is a reddleman (someone who However, The Return of the Native does not go so far as to
sells red coloring that farmers use to mark their sheep). The reward Mrs. Yeobright’s classist attitude. In fact, it shows how a
book describes him as “one of a class rapidly becoming extinct single-minded focus on wealth and social status can be harmful.
in Wessex, filling at present in the rural world the place which, Eustacia, for instance, manipulates and betrays her lovers
during the last century, the dodo occupied in the world of throughout the book: she chooses Wildeve over Venn because
animals. He is a curious, interesting and nearly perished link he’s of a higher social class, but then she abandons Wildeve for
between obsolete forms of life and those which generally Clym because she (falsely) believes that Clym can give her a

refined Parisian lifestyle. Another example of this sort of moral
corruption happens toward the end of the book, when Wildeve SYMBOLS
inherits a fortune from a deceased relative. However, his
Symbols appear in teal text throughout the Summary and
sudden acquisition of wealth does not make him more virtuous,
Analysis sections of this LitChart.
nor does it make him treat Thomasin any better. If anything, his
money makes him more of a problem, because he now feels
justified in keeping Thomasin as his wife and Eustacia as his PARIS
mistress. As such, The Return of the Native ultimately argues Paris is an idealized wonderland for Eustacia; it
that wealth is a useful tool, but not one that is synonymous with represents everything that Egdon Heath is not. She
virtue. sees it as a modern, stylish, and sophisticated place that is
home to people who are higher class than the residents of
DECEPTION Egdon Heath. On the whole, however, Eustacia’s assumptions
Deception is an important feature of The Return of about Paris are idealized, shallow, and unexamined. Eustacia
the Native, which sees several of its characters imagines that Paris will solve all of her problems—that it is a
suffer the negative consequences of lies and deceit. place where she will be among people who think and act like
In particular, Wildeve and Eustacia build their relationship on a her. She even dreams that Clym is a literal knight in shining
faulty foundation. Both play with each other’s emotions and armor who has come to take her to Paris. However, it turns out
withhold how they truly feel: Wildeve refuses to let Eustacia that Clym’s impression of Paris is much different from
know how he feels about her compared to Thomasin, and, in Eustacia’s. For Clym, Paris is not a symbol—it is a place where
return, Eustacia doesn’t tell Wildeve that she still loves him. he actually lived, and his lived reality there is significantly
Eustacia and Wildeve’s unhealthy relationship comes to a head different from the paradise Eustacia imagines. Clym finds Paris
when their feelings for each other indirectly contribute to the to be an inhospitable environment for someone who was raised
death of Mrs. Yeobright (Eustacia’s husband, Clym’s, mother). on the heath, and he refuses to return. However, Eustacia
Eustacia refuses to let Mrs. Yeobright inside the house because refuses to listen to her husband. No matter what he tells her
she and Wildeve are talking inside, and she doesn’t want Mrs. about Paris, she still wishes to go there, believing that it will
Yeobright to think they’re having an affair. And, as a result, Mrs. grant her an escape from a life she resents to something better.
Yeobright is forced to walk home and suffers a fatal snakebite
on the way. In hopes that she can keep Clym from learning the EUSTACIA’S HOURGLASS
truth about his mother’s death, Eustacia withholds the fact that
she did not open the door for Mrs. Yeobright—and when the Eustacia’s hourglass represents the time she
truth comes out, Clym divorces Eustacia. As such, Eustacia’s spends on Egdon Heath, as a well as a countdown
deception ends up hurting everyone involved, including herself. to when she might escape to somewhere else. Eustacia often
carries around her hourglass when walking around the heath.
In addition to deceiving others, Eustacia also struggles with
She likes watching the hourglass; there is something
self-deception. Often, Eustacia has a difficult time disentangling
meaningful to her about watching time slip away. Eustacia
fantasy from reality. For instance, it does not appear that she
resents life on Egdon Heath and longs to live somewhere more
meant to trick Clym into taking her to Paris (her dream of
exciting and refined; when she watches the hourglass, thus,
escaping to Paris what attracts her to Clym in the first place).
she’s also reflecting on how much time she has spent in a place
Rather, it seems she genuinely believed he would eventually
she hates—and how much longer she must wait until she can
take her there, despite all signs pointing the opposite way. Like
leave this place behind. The hourglass also symbolizes
with her deception of others, Eustacia’s self-deceptive ways
Eustacia’s tendency to fantasize, and she uses it while waiting
only result in more misery for her and those she loves. Her
for Clym to return from Paris. Additionally, the hourglass can
sham relationship with Clym hurts Wildeve and, in the end,
be seen as a memento mori (a reminder of death). Although
hurts Eustacia herself, since the marriage ends in divorce.
Eustacia doesn’t know it while she is using it, the hourglass is
Although dishonesty and delusion perhaps save Eustacia from
counting down the moments to her death, which occurs at the
disappointment or other people’s disapproval in the short term,
end of the novel.
this sort of behavior always backfires in the end. All in all, then,
the novel shows how lying and withholding information can
destroy lives, and it implicitly suggests that facing the truth and CLYM’S EYESIGHT
communicating openly with others would be a better long-term
Clym’s declining eyesight is a physical
strategy.
representation of his imperceptiveness. Clym has
left Paris for Egdon, where he hopes to open a school despite
lacking the necessary skills and funds. Numerous characters

mention that Clym’s school is a bad idea, including Eustacia and
Mrs. Yeobright, but he continues with the project anyway. Explanation and Analysis
Eventually, his studies put too much of a strain on his eyes, and
This quote comes from the first chapter of the novel, which
he starts to lose his sight. This loss of sight represents a key
is entirely dedicated to describing Egdon Heath. It is dense
trait of Clym’s character: that is, a lack of awareness of what is
with allusions to other places including the Vale of Tempe (a
going on around him and a lack of concern for other people’s
beautiful Greek vale), Heidelberg (a German city), Baden
opinions.
(also a German city), and the Alps (a mountain range that
Clym’s shortsightedness isn’t limited to his career—it also stretches across Europe). Although Hardy makes many
extends to his relationship with his wife. From the start, allusions, his point is simple; “the more thinking among
Eustacia makes her wishes clear to Clym: she wants to go to mankind” are beginning to prefer spots of isolated, natural
Paris. Despite this fact, and despite many warnings from his beauty—such as the Alps or Egdon Heath—to urban,
mother, Clym thinks he can make Eustacia happy in Egdon. industrialized places like Heidelberg or Baden. Thus, this
Additionally, he is the last one to realize that Eustacia is passage argues for a return to the natural world as opposed
secretly seeing Wildeve (who she’s in love with). In fact, there is to increased urbanization. As such, the novel begins with
very little information in the novel that Clym learns on his own. the inverse goal of Eustacia, who wants to escape Egdon
In this way, he stands in sharp contrast to someone like Mrs. Heath for Paris. Meanwhile, the novel seems to side with
Yeobright or Venn, who are generally quite perceptive. The fact Clym, who has tried to live in Paris but believes he belongs
that Clym is losing his eyesight while all of this is going on in Egdon.
emphasizes just how undiscerning he is—he’s both figuratively
and literally shortsighted.
The sea changed, the fields changed, the rivers, the

QUO
QUOTES
TES villages, and the people changed, yet Egdon remained.
Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the
Related Characters: Clym Yeobright
Penguin Classics edition of The Return of the Native published
in 1999. Related Themes:
Book 1, Chapter 1 Quotes Page Number: 12

Indeed, it is a question if the exclusive reign of this Explanation and Analysis
orthodox beauty is not approaching its last quarter. The new
This quote comes from the first chapter of the novel, which
Vale of Tempe may be a gaunt waste in Thule; human souls may
is entirely dedicated to describing Egdon. It illustrates a
find themselves in closer and closer harmony with external
major theme in the novel, nature’s indifference to
things wearing a sombreness distasteful to our race when it
humankind. The novel’s descriptions of Egdon in this
was young. The time seems near, if it has not actually arrived,
opening chapter emphasize how little it has changed.
when the chastened sublimity of a moor, a sea, or a mountain
Though many may try, Egdon Heath is immune to unnatural
will be all of nature that is absolutely in keeping with the moods
changes. Throughout the novel, those who attempt to bend
of the more thinking among mankind. And ultimately, to the
its rules or alter it are punished. For instance, Clym
commonest tourist, spots like Iceland may become what the
attempts to start a school on Egdon, the effect of which
vineyards and myrtle gardens of South Europe are to him now;
would be to educate the heath’s citizens with new ideas.
and Heidelberg and Baden be passed unheeded as he hastens
However, Clym doesn’t accomplish his goal—when he
from the Alps to the sand dunes of Scheveningen.
becomes partially blind, it forces him to abandon his plans to
build a school, and this means he must live off the land like
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright everyone else in Egdon Heath. This passage also suggests
author Thomas Hardy’s predictions for the future. Though
Related Themes: Egdon is fictional, it is based on a real heath, and here Hardy
suggests that such heaths will endure longer than the
Related Symbols: humans who attempt to change and modernize them. In
other words, Hardy is not only against modernization for
Page Number: 10-11 such areas, but he also suggests that modernization is
impossible.

Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

Related Characters: Damon Wildeve (speaker), Thomasin
The only intelligible meaning in this sky-backed Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright
pantomime of silhouettes was that the woman had no relation
to the forms who had taken her place, was sedulously avoiding Related Themes:
these, and had come thither for another object than theirs. The
imagination of the observer clung by preference to that Page Number: 47
vanished, solitary figure, as to something more interesting,
more important, more likely to have a history worth knowing Explanation and Analysis
than these newcomers, and unconsciously regarded them as This quote comes from a conversation between Wildeve
intruders. But they remained, and established themselves; and and Thomasin after Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright visit the
the lonely person who hitherto had been queen of the solitude Quiet Woman Inn on the night of Thomasin and Wildeve’s
did not at present seem likely to return. aborted marriage. Wildeve is annoyed by how Mrs.
Yeobright treats him and says so to Thomasin. Mrs.
Yeobright’s elitism particularly annoys Wildeve—he has a
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Damon Wildeve,
good job and doesn’t think he deserves her looking down
Diggory Venn (The Reddleman)
upon him. However, even though Wildeve’s anger is
Related Themes: understandable and relatable, his reaction is not. Wildeve’s
suggestion here is that he should call off his marriage to
Page Number: 18 Thomasin as a way of getting back at Mrs. Yeobright. It is a
nasty plan, and it is even worse that he says it to Thomasin’s
Explanation and Analysis face. This is the first of two times Mrs. Yeobright will insult
This quote comes from the end of Book 1, Chapter 2, as Wildeve’s pride—she will later refuse to trust him with
Venn is staring up at the heath. There, he watches Eustacia Thomasin’s money—and in both cases, the manner in which
fleeing her fellow townsfolk who have come to build a he seeks revenge has negative implications for Thomasin.
bonfire to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. At the time, neither This is an important moment for Wildeve’s character
Venn nor the reader knows who the silhouettes belong to; because it is an early example of his selfishness and his
however, in retrospect, this moment is critical in its vengeful attitude.
characterization of Eustacia. Of all of the silhouettes, only
Eustacia moves on her own, separate from the other
members of the heath. Not only does she move alone, but Book 1, Chapter 7 Quotes
she does not even want to be seen by the others. There are Eustacia Vye was the raw material of a divinity. On
likely two reasons for this. First, Eustacia is largely anti- Olympus she would have done well with a little preparation.
social and does not enjoy fraternizing with the lower-class She had the passions and instincts which make a model
members of her community. Second, the novel later reveals goddess, that is, those which make not quite a model woman.
Eustacia went to that spot to see if Wildeve was coming to Had it been possible for the earth and mankind to be entirely in
her, which she would want to keep secret. Ironically, though her grasp for a while, she had handled the distaff, the spindle,
Eustacia means to avoid others’ attention, she actually and the shears at her own free will, few in the world would have
draws attention to herself, which is evidenced in how Venn noticed the change of government. There would have been the
sees and takes an interest in her. same inequality of lot, the same heaping up of favors here, of
contumely there, the same generosity before justice, the same
perpetual dilemmas, the same captious alteration of caresses
Book 1, Chapter 5 Quotes and blows that we endure now.
“As a matter of justice it is almost due to me,” said Wildeve.
“Think what I have gone through to win her consent; the insult Related Characters: Eustacia Vye
that it is to any man to have the banns forbidden—the double
insult to a man unlucky enough to be cursed with sensitiveness, Related Themes:
and blue demons, and Heaven knows what, as I am. I can never
forget those banns. A harsher man would rejoice now in the Page Number: 68
power I have of turning upon your aunt by going no further in
the business.” Explanation and Analysis

This quote features the novel’s first in-depth description of of Clym and sets her head spinning. However, the actual
Eustacia. It comes after Eustacia’s interaction with Wildeve Clym ends up underwhelming and disappointing her.
on Guy Fawkes Day. Throughout The Return of the Native,
Hardy often uses Greek iconography to describe his
characters and landscape. This is notable because Hardy Book 2, Chapter 1 Quotes
was writing for a rather conservative Christian audience. In “The place he’s been living at is Paris,” said Humphrey, “and
this case, the reason Hardy describes Eustacia as a they tell me ’tis where the king’s head was cut off years ago. My
“goddess,”—rather than an angel, for instance—requires an poor mother used to tell me about that business. ‘Hummy,’ she
understanding of Greek myth. Unlike the God, saints, and used to say, ‘I was a young maid then, and as I was at home
angels of Christianity, the Greek gods were flawed, often ironing Mother’s caps one afternoon the parson came in and
relying on “passions and instincts,” instead of exemplary, said, “They’ve cut the king’s head off, Jane; and what ’twill be
Christian morals. As such, Hardy characterizes Eustacia as a next God knows.’”
character who, while not fully lacking in morals, does not
abide by them either. He presents her as neither a force of
good nor a force of evil—she is not someone who will fix the Related Characters: Humphrey (speaker), Eustacia Vye,
evils of the world, but she will not substantially add to them Clym Yeobright, Captain Vye
either.
Related Themes:
Related Symbols:
To be loved to madness—such was her great desire. Love
was to her the one cordial which could drive away the Page Number: 108
eating loneliness of her days. And she seemed to long for the
abstraction called passionate love more than for any particular Explanation and Analysis
lover. Eustacia is listening to Humphrey and Captain Vye discuss
Clym’s return to Egdon Heath. Eustacia takes a clear
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright, Damon interest in Clym because he is from Paris, and so she
Wildeve carefully listens to every word Humphrey says about Clym.
However, Humphrey’s insights are not particularly
Related Themes: insightful, and they demonstrate how isolated Egdon is from
France. The event Humphrey refers to is King Louis XVI’s
Related Symbols: execution, which took place during the French Revolution in
1793. In other words, the only thing Humphrey knows
Page Number: 71 about France is more than half a century out of date.
Meanwhile, though Eustacia may know more than
Explanation and Analysis Humphrey about France, she is similarly isolated from it. All
This quotation is part of a lengthy description given of of Eustacia’s knowledge about Paris comes from what she
Eustacia that follows her interaction with Wildeve on Guy has read and heard; she has never stepped foot outside of
Fawkes Day. Here, the description characterizes Eustacia as England herself. She claims to love Paris, but, like Humphrey,
someone determined to find love. Eustacia genuinely her Paris is a dream world that likely bears little
believes in the power of passionate love, though various resemblance to the material reality of the city as it exists in
situations will challenge this belief as the novel progresses. the mid-19th century.
At this early point in the story, however, Eustacia thinks that
love is an antidote to her loneliness—something that will
solve all of her problems. However, as the novel continues, it
eventually becomes apparent that Eustacia’s love is
conditional. She loves Clym, but only as long as Clym can
take her to Paris. When Clym’s eyesight begins to fail and he
can no longer help Eustacia escape from Egdon, her love for
him starts to fade. Arguably, the most Eustacia ever loved
Clym was before she even met him: “the abstraction called
passionate love” overwhelms Eustacia after she first hears

Book 2, Chapter 3 Quotes Book 2, Chapter 5 Quotes

She was dancing to wondrous music, and her partner was On Egdon there was no absolute hour of the day. The time
the man in silver armour who had accompanied her through the at any moment was a number of varying doctrines professed by
previous fantastic changes, the visor of his helmet being closed. the different hamlets, some of them having originally grown up
The mazes of the dance were ecstatic. Soft whispering came from a common root, and then become divided by secession,
into her ear from under the radiant helmet, and she felt like a some having been alien from the beginning. West Egdon
woman in Paradise. Suddenly these two wheeled out from the believed in Blooms-End time, East Egdon in the time of the
mass of dancers, dived into one of the pools of the heath, and Quiet Woman Inn. Grandfer Cantle’s watch had numbered
came out somewhere into an iridescent hollow, arched with many followers in years gone by, but since he had grown older
rainbows. “It must be here,” said the voice by her side, and faiths were shaken. Thus, the mummers having gathered hither
blushingly looking up she saw him removing his casque to kiss from scattered points each came with his own tenets on early
her. At that moment there was a cracking noise, and his figure and late; and they waited a little longer as a compromise.
fell into fragments like a pack of cards.
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Grandfer Cantle
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright, Damon
Wildeve Related Themes:
Related Themes: Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis

Related Symbols:
This quote describes how time functions (or does not
Page Number: 118 function) in Egdon Heath near Christmas time. Here, the
mummers of Egdon Heath are all meeting at Eustacia’s
Explanation and Analysis place but they all arrive at different times because there is
This quotation is part of a dream Eustacia has after she no universal time on the heath. This passage demonstrates
hears that Clym is returning to Egdon Heath from Paris. how vastly different life on the heath is compared to the
Even before she meets Clym, Eustacia spends her days and modern world in the 19th century. Even a principle as
nights fantasizing about meeting him. As this quote simple as the proper time is up for debate on the
suggests, Eustacia’s fantasies are completely heath—there, time is considered a matter of faith rather
overblown—they construe Clym as a literal knight in shining than objective truth. However, though such a system, or
armor who has come to rescue her. In particular, the end of lack thereof, might seem inconvenient, it is considered
Eustacia’s dream is interesting, as the knight falls apart “into socially acceptable on the heath. Additionally, it is yet
fragments.” Although Eustacia does not read it as such, the another factor that emphasizes the Egdon Heath’s
end of her dream suggests that the reason she could not see timelessness. Egdon Heath is timeless in this case because it
her knight in shining armor’s face is because no such man is literally a place out of time—just as the residents’ watches
actually exists. Though she may imagine Clym to be her are out of sync with one another’s, Egdon is out of sync with
savior, he is not—nor is Wildeve. Throughout the novel, the modern world.
Eustacia continues to get caught up in similar fantasies, only
to have reality send them shattering “into fragments like a
pack of cards,” much like the knight in her dream. Book 2, Chapter 6 Quotes
The face was well shaped, even excellently. But the mind
within was beginning to use it as a mere waste tablet whereon
to trace its idiosyncrasies as they developed themselves. The
beauty here visible would in no long time be ruthlessly over-run
by its parasite, thought, which might just as well have fed upon
a plainer exterior where there was nothing it could harm. Had
Heaven preserved Yeobright from a wearing habit of
meditation, people would have said, “A handsome man.” Had his
brain unfolded under sharper contours they would have said, “A
thoughtful man.” But an inner strenuousness was preying upon
an outer symmetry, and they rated his look as singular.

Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright just fine without him. She thinks this because she believes
that Clym is her new savior—that he, not Wildeve, will be
Related Themes: man to take her away from Egdon Heath. However, despite
what she says, and perhaps even what she honestly thinks,
Related Symbols: Eustacia is not over Wildeve. Additionally, even on his
wedding day, Wildeve does not appear to be done with
Page Number: 137 Eustacia. Meanwhile, Thomasin is left in the dark, as her
wedding day has turned into an empty affair for her and a
battle between her duplicitous husband and his former
This description comes from the first time Eustacia sees lover. It is one of the crueler moments in the novel and
Clym, although these thoughts are the narrator’s, not characterizes Eustacia as manipulative and unlikeable.
Eustacia’s. The description makes Clym sound like a
troubled figure whose mind and body do not align with each
another. Furthermore, this description foreshadows events Book 3, Chapter 1 Quotes
which will occur later in the novel. The parasites that
“I found that I was trying to be like people who had hardly
overrun Clym symbolize the events that take place early on
anything in common with myself. I was endeavouring to put off
in his marriage—or, if one wants to take a more cynical
one sort of life for another sort of life, which was not better
reading, they symbolize Eustacia herself. However, even
than the life I had known before. It was simply different.”
without Eustacia, Clym is out of sync with the world around
him. He does not belong in Paris, nor, as the rest of the novel
demonstrates, does he belong in Egdon Heath. Throughout Related Characters: Clym Yeobright (speaker)
the story, Clym represents the clash of two cultures—that
of natural, isolated Egdon and that of modern, industrialized Related Themes:
Paris—which do not align with one another. This passage
conveys this misalignment in its description of his physical Related Symbols:
and mental features, as well as the way it alludes to Clym’s
ultimate fate. Page Number: 171

Book 2, Chapter 8 Quotes This quote from Clym explains his inability to fit in among
the people of Paris. Though Clym had a good job as a
When Thomasin was tremblingly engaged in signing her
jeweler in Paris, he was not happy; at this point in the novel,
name Wildeve had flung towards Eustacia a glance that said
he plans to stay in Egdon and start a school. However, a
plainly, “I have punished you now.” She had replied in a low
careful look at his words suggests that Egdon may not bring
tone—and he little thought how truly— “You mistake; it gives
him happiness, either. Although he does say that Paris is not
me sincerest pleasure to see her your wife today.”
better than Egdon, he does not say that Egdon is better
than Paris. This suggests that the unhappiness he felt in
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Damon Wildeve Paris may follow him to Egdon; indeed, by the end of the
(speaker), Clym Yeobright, Thomasin Yeobright novel, Clym only finds despair in his hometown. This should
make the reader wonder if Egdon was worse for Clym than
Related Themes: Paris. Indeed, the novel repeatedly shows how characters
who suffer the most are those who attempt—or in Clym’s
Page Number: 164 case succeed—to escape the heath.
This quote comes from Wildeve and Thomasin’s wedding. Book 3, Chapter 5 Quotes
Eustacia surprises both of them, especially Wildeve, by
attending. Eustacia’ attendance is especially spiteful, though “There is no chance of getting rich. But with my system of
ultimately representative of Eustacia and Wildeve’s education, which is as new as it is true, I shall do a great deal of
relationship. At the time, Eustacia seems to be telling the good to my fellow-creatures.”
truth; she really did come to the church simply to let “Dreams, dreams! If there had been any system left to be
Wildeve know that she genuinely believes that she will be invented they would have found it out at the universities long
before this time.”

Related Characters: Clym Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright for it. Meanwhile, Mrs. Yeobright comes off as hypocritical.
(speaker), Eustacia Vye Although it is partially true that she wants to protect her
son, she also wants to make sure her family name is not
Related Themes: tarnished. Prior to both Clym’s and Thomasin’s weddings,
Mrs. Yeobright expresses at least as much concern for the
Page Number: 200 family name as she does the welfare of her son and her
niece, if not more. Furthermore, her refusal to apologize in
this moment is emblematic of her character. She will not
This quote comes from an argument between Clym take back anything she’s said, even if it means further
Yeobright and Mrs. Yeobright, and it touches on a number of eroding her relationship with her son.
key themes in the novel. First and foremost, there is the
question of whether the heath can be changed and, more
specifically, whether it can be modernized. While Clym Book 4, Chapter 2 Quotes
thinks that there is a way to teach his “fellow-creatures,”
Mrs. Yeobright firmly believes that this is impossible. On It was bitterly plain to Eustacia that he did not care much
this count, Clym’s ultimate failure to build a school on Egdon about social failure; and the proud fair woman bowed her head
Heath symbolically suggests that Mrs. Yeobright is right. and wept in sick despair at thought of the blasting effect upon
her own life of that mood and condition in him. Then she came
This passage also addresses the question of class. As the
forward.
son of Mrs. Yeobright, Clym lived a privileged life compared
to the other members of the heath, especially in regard to “I would starve rather than do it!” she exclaimed vehemently.
education. He believes his education has helped him in life, “And you can sing! I will go and live with my grandfather again!”
and he believes that having an education can do the same
for his “fellow-creatures,” too. However, Mrs. Yeobright Related Characters: Eustacia Vye (speaker), Clym
sticks with her typical elitist attitude and insists that her Yeobright, Captain Vye
lower-class neighbors are impossible to educate. She thinks
Clym is living in a fantasy land, not unlike Eustacia. Related Themes:
Page Number: 248

“You ought to have better opinions of me—I feared you
This quote comes from an argument between Clym and
were against me from the first!” exclaimed Eustacia.
Eustacia after Eustacia hears Clym singing happily while
“No. I was simply for Clym,” replied Mrs. Yeobright, with too working in the furze. Eustacia, angry at how far her fortunes
much emphasis in her earnestness. “It is the instinct of have fallen, cannot believe that Clym can find any happiness
everyone to look after their own.” in their current situation. Evidently (and unsurprisingly),
Eustacia considers cutting furze as “social failure,” even
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Mrs. Yeobright though Clym is only doing so to support himself and
(speaker), Clym Yeobright, Thomasin Yeobright, Damon Eustacia while his eyes recover. In fact, Eustacia considers
Wildeve nearly all work beneath her, as earlier in the novel she
rejects an offer from Venn to work as a companion to an old
Related Themes: woman in Budmouth. Eustacia has never had to work a job
in her life, and she does not plan to. Clym’s expression of
Page Number: 238-239 happiness angers her not simply because he is happy and
she is not, but rather because she thinks Clym, in working
Explanation and Analysis the land like a commoner, has resigned himself (and by
This quote comes from an argument between Mrs. proxy her) to a lower social order that she cannot accept.
Yeobright and Eustacia after Mrs. Yeobright accuses
Eustacia of cheating on Clym with Wildeve for money. In
stark opposition to Thomasin’s wedding, where Eustacia is
at her worst, this moment finds her at her most
sympathetic. Her mother-in-law has made a false and
serious accusation against her and now refuses to apologize

“Yes, I fear we are cooling—I see it as well as you,” she
sighed mournfully. “And how madly we loved two months decisions or say something life-altering that they wish they
ago! You were never tired of contemplating me, nor I of could take back but cannot. Eustacia’s decision not to let
contemplating you. Who could have thought then that by this Mrs. Yeobright into her home is one such moment, as is her
time my eyes would not seem so very bright to yours, nor your decision to try and escape with Wildeve. There is a fatalism
lips so very sweet to mine? Two months—is it possible? Yes, ’tis to this idea that develops over the course of the novel. In
too true!” each case where a character does or says something that
crosses a line, their overstep seals their fate or the fate of
another person. Here, Eustacia’s failure to let Mrs.
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye (speaker), Clym
Yeobright into her home seals Mrs. Yeobright’s fate by
Yeobright
indirectly causing Mrs. Yeobright’s death (Mrs. Yeobright
dies after she’s bitten by a snake while walking home from
Related Themes:
Eustacia and Clym’s house after Eustacia fails to let her into
her home. Though Eustacia will come to regret her decision,
Related Symbols:
she cannot take it back.
Page Number: 249-250
Explanation and Analysis Book 4, Chapter 6 Quotes

Here, Eustacia is reflecting on her failing marriage with “There you mistake me. I married him because I loved him,
Clym. After only a few months together, Clym has fallen but I won’t say that I didn’t love him partly because I thought I
further than Eustacia could have ever imagined, and she saw a promise of that life in him.”
finds herself out of love with him. When Eustacia thought of
Clym as a sophisticated, intelligent, and handsome young
man who could whisk her away to Paris, she loved him
Yeobright, Damon Wildeve
deeply. However, now that he is poor, blind, and complacent,
Eustacia cannot understand how she ever loved him. Related Themes:
Notably, Eustacia lists sensual features—lips and eyes—and
speaks of contemplation rather than reality. In reality, Clym Related Symbols:
was never the man Eustacia thought he was; he had no
interest in returning to Paris and being a part of the modern Page Number: 276
world. However, Eustacia always held out hope that Clym
would change his mind. This is the moment in the story Explanation and Analysis
where Eustacia realizes that this change is never coming. This quote comes from a conversation between Wildeve
and Eustacia. Wildeve has come to visit Eustacia while Clym
naps, and Eustacia catches him up on her failing marriage. In
Book 4, Chapter 4 Quotes this moment, Eustacia outwardly admits that part of the
“Sometimes more bitterness is sown in five minutes than reason she wanted to marry Clym is because she thought he
can be got rid of in a whole life; and that may be the case here.” could take her to Paris. However, she also says that Paris is
not the only reason she loves Clym. This latter claim is up
for interpretation much more so than the former. One of
Eustacia’s unfortunate character traits is her ability to
Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright, Damon Wildeve
deceive herself. Often, Eustacia genuinely seems to believe
her intentions are pure, only to later realize that were
Related Themes:
corrupted by her desires. There are moments earlier in the
Page Number: 268 story where Eustacia genuinely believes she is in love with
Wildeve, too. However, she gets over him immediately when
Explanation and Analysis Clym comes into the picture. Then, when Clym can no
Eustacia speaks these words to Clym after Mrs. Yeobright longer get her what she wants, she sets her sights on
falsely accuses her of adultery. Eustacia’s statement applies Wildeve again. In each instance, Eustacia justifies her
to several parts of the novel. There are several moments in actions and feels that she is doing what she must. However,
The Return of the Native where characters make life-altering it seems clear that what she feels she must do is always

largely self-serving. Related Characters: Eustacia Vye (speaker), Clym

Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright, Damon Wildeve, Captain Vye
Related Themes:
Her eyes were fixed on the ground; within her two sights
were graven—that of Clym’s hook and brambles at the Page Number: 307
door, and that of a woman’s face at a window. Her lips trembled,
becoming unnaturally thin as she murmured, “’Tis too Explanation and Analysis
much—Clym, how can he bear to do it! He is at home; and yet This quotation comes from a conversation between
he lets her shut the door against me!” Eustacia and Wildeve as Eustacia tries to figure out if she
can bear to tell Clym the truth about his mother’s death.
Related Characters: Mrs. Yeobright (speaker), Eustacia Although Eustacia’s choice is not easy, her reasons for not
Vye, Clym Yeobright telling Clym the truth are admittedly selfish and at least
partially overstated. Despite what she says, it’s unlikely that
Related Themes: she believes Clym will actually kill her. Additionally, just
before Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Eustacia threatened to
Page Number: 278-279 return to her grandfather’s house anyway. However, that is
not to say that Eustacia does not feel genuine guilt over her
actions. She is not a monster, and she knows what she has
This passage shows Mrs. Yeobright’s reaction to Eustacia’s done is wrong. In this passage, she even refers to herself as
failure to open the door for her after she walked for miles “the sinner.” The use of the singular here, as well as the
on a hot summer day to see Clym at his and Eustacia’s words that follow, suggest that Eustacia blames herself
house. At this point, Mrs. Yeobright feels that her more than Mrs. Yeobright for what has happened. She does
relationship with Clym is in critical shape, so she makes her take ownership over what she has done, at least in the
way to see him, only to have her son (seemingly) reject her. presence of Wildeve, which helps make her situation more
Mrs. Yeobright takes the rejection as the ultimate insult. sympathetic.
Because she sees Clym’s hook and brambles on the door,
she thinks that he is inside the house, ignoring her. In reality,
though Clym is inside the house, he is taking a nap and Book 5, Chapter 2 Quotes
unaware that she’s come to see him. Additionally, this
“Diggory, if we, who remain alive, were only allowed to
moment leads Mrs. Yeobright to believe that Eustacia is just
hold conversation with the dead—just once, a bare minute,
as loathsome as she always thought she was. It seems to
even through a screen of iron bars, as with persons in
Mrs. Yeobright that Eustacia has poisoned Clym against her
prison—what we might learn! How many who now ride smiling
and thus ruined her relationship with her son for good. The
would hide their heads! And this mystery—I should then be at
tragedy of this moment is that Mrs. Yeobright soon dies (a
the bottom of it at once. But the grave has forever shut her in;
poisonous snake bites her during her walk home from
and how shall it be found out now?”
Clym’s house) without ever learning the truth about how
her son felt about her: that he loved her and didn’t actually
reject her. Related Characters: Clym Yeobright (speaker), Eustacia
Vye, Mrs. Yeobright, Damon Wildeve, Diggory Venn (The
Reddleman)
Related Themes:
“But, Damon, please pray tell me what I must do? To sit by
him hour after hour, and hear him reproach himself as being the Page Number: 313
cause of her death, and to know that I am the sinner, if any
human being is at all, drives me into cold despair. I don’t know Explanation and Analysis
what to do. Should I tell him or should I not tell him? I always am This quote comes from a conversation between Clym
asking myself that. O, I want to tell him; and yet I am afraid. If he Yeobright and Diggory Venn. Clym is talking to Venn about
finds it out he must surely kill me, for nothing else will be in the death of his mother; he has received contradictory
proportion to his feelings now.” information about what his mother thought about him at
the time of her death and he is trying to put the pieces


together. Ironically, even if Clym could talk to his deceased
mother, he would not get the full story, because Mrs. The story of the deaths of Eustacia and Wildeve was told
Yeobright never learned the truth before she died. throughout Egdon, and far beyond, for many weeks and
Additionally, he does not yet know that learning the truth months. All the known incidents of their love were enlarged,
will only make his life worse rather than better, for it will distorted, touched up, and modified, till the original reality bore
reveal the role that his wife, Eustacia, played in Mrs. slight resemblance to the counterfeit presentation by
Yeobright’s thoughts about Clym and in her death. Of surrounding tongues.
course, ultimately, Clym does learn the truth and regrets
doing so. Meanwhile, after the deaths of Wildeve and Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright, Mrs.
Eustacia, Clym fails to learn the full story because there is Yeobright, Damon Wildeve
no one left around to tell it. Instead—rightly or
wrongly—Clym is left with only himself to blame. He ends Related Themes:
the mystery by pointing the finger at himself, something
that many other characters in this novel refuse to do, and he Page Number: 371
lives out the remainder of his life in isolation.
This quotation kicks off Book 6, which serves as an epilogue
Book 5, Chapter 7 Quotes to the rest of the story. The quote is an appropriate
beginning of the end because it directly addresses one of
“How I have tried and tried to be a splendid woman, and
the novel’s main themes: failed communication. Throughout
how destiny has been against me! . . . I do not deserve my lot! [. .
The Return of the Native, characters misunderstand,
.] O, the cruelty of putting me into this ill-conceived world! I
misinterpret, and blatantly deceive one another, often for
was capable of much; but I have been injured and blighted and
self-serving reasons. Such failures of communication lead to
crushed by things beyond my control! O, how hard it is of
the novel’s tragic events. Mrs. Yeobright’s death is due to a
Heaven to devise such tortures for me, who have done no harm
misunderstanding; meanwhile, Clym and Eustacia’s
to heaven at all!”
marriage ends in part because Eustacia fails to be honest
with Clym. It is fitting, then, that the novel manipulates
Related Characters: Eustacia Vye (speaker), Clym Wildeve and Eustacia’s story following their deaths.
Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright, Damon Wildeve Throughout the novel, gossip and storytelling are central
parts of life for those who live on the heath. Wildeve and
Related Themes: Eustacia’s story is a perfect blend of the two. and it is ripe
for manipulation, as this passage suggests.
Page Number: 346

This quote is Eustacia’s final words before her death. He frequently walked the heath alone, when the past
Though she’s decided to run off with Wildeve, she clearly seized upon him with its shadowy hand, and held him there
isn’t happy with where her life has taken her. An important to listen to its tale. His imagination would then people the spot
question in the novel is whether characters fail as a result of with its ancient inhabitants—forgotten Celtic tribes trod their
their own actions or as a result of fate. In this case, Eustacia tracks about him, and he could almost live among them, look in
blames “things beyond [her] control. Indeed, there are their faces, and see them standing beside the barrows which
moments in the story leading up to this moment that are not swelled around, untouched and perfect as at the time of their
Eustacia’s fault. For instance, she cannot help that she did erection. Those of the dyed barbarians who had chosen the
not she Clym’s letter. She also had no way of knowing that cultivable tracts were, in comparison with those who had left
Clym would not let his mother in on the day of her death. their marks here, as writers on paper beside writers on
However, what Eustacia does not say here, and what is parchment. Their records had perished long ago by the plough,
important to contemplate, is that there were many while the works of these remained. Yet they all had lived and
decisions she did have control over, as well. For instance, died unconscious of the different fates awaiting their relics. It
Eustacia chose to keep the circumstance surrounding Mrs. reminded him that unforeseen factors operate in the evolution
Yeobright’s death a secret. She also decided against fully of immortality.
explaining herself to Clym. As such, the degree to which the
novel is about fate is up to interpretation. Related Characters: Eustacia Vye, Clym Yeobright, Mrs.

Yeobright Related Characters: Clym Yeobright, Diggory Venn (The

Reddleman)
Related Themes:
Related Themes:
Page Number: 373
Related Symbols:
This is a description of Clym Yeobright as he wanders the Page Number: 396
heath, still attempting to find solace after the deaths of his
mother and Eustacia. As he walks, Clym is reminded of all of Explanation and Analysis
the people who have lived and died on the heath before him. These are the final words of the novel, and they describe
It is not a pleasant description, though it is not an ominous Clym as he takes on his new job as a traveling preacher.
one either. Notably, the remnants of the previous Clym’s fate is fitting for his character. Throughout the story,
inhabitants of Egdon Heath are nowhere to be found, he’s not been able to fit in anywhere, and so it’s fitting that
though Clym knows they once existed. For longer than Clym he is left wandering at the novel’s conclusion. Clym’s
can imagine, people have lived on the heath and died on decision to not stick to a single theological doctrine also
heath. However, only the heath itself remains, and, as Hardy mirrors his inability to find comfort anywhere. Additionally,
regular reminds us, only the heath itself will endure. It is not it is worth mentioning that his faith is reminiscent of
clear whether Clym finds comfort or despair (or perhaps a Venn’s—unable to have the love of his life, he wanders. Also,
bit of both) in this fact. However, he knows that he too will although Clym does not end the story happy, in the battle of
someday be gone—and that the heath will live on without tradition versus the modern world, tradition wins out. Clym
him. has chosen as his profession a job that is steeped in
tradition, even if he does not practice it traditionally.
Although it is difficult to call this a happy ending, it does end
Book 6, Chapter 4 Quotes on a happy note; those who receive Clym treat him kindly,
He left alone creeds and systems of philosophy, finding which is more than he could say for the citizens of Paris.
enough and more than enough to occupy his tongue in the
opinions and actions common to all good men. Some believed
him, and some believed not; some said that his words were
commonplace, others complained of his want of theological
doctrine; while others again remarked that it was well enough
for a man to take to preaching who could not see to do anything
else. But everywhere he was kindly received, for the story of his
life had become generally known.

SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 1
Twilight closes in on Egdon Heath, a “vast tract of unenclosed Egdon Heath seems almost like a character itself. Throughout the
wild.” Although the coming night has already darkened the land, novel, long passages are dedicated to descriptions of the heath and
the sky still retains light. Egdon Heath is a special stretch of its beauty. The Return of the Native is a work of naturalism, a
land; it is “majestic without severity, impressive without genre which is known for its portrayal of nature as sublime, yet
showiness, emphatic in its admonitions, grand in its simplicity.” indifferent to the struggles of mankind. This theme is at play in the
It is a mixture of beauty and wildness that appeals to “the opening of the novel and will continue to be present throughout.
moods of the more thinking among mankind” as well as a Also important is that the heath remains untouched by outside
remote and primitive place, which rejects civilization and has influences; the people who live there are largely isolated from the
looked the same since “prehistoric times.” To the north of outside world. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that much of the
Egdon Heath is an important highway, once traveled by the novel takes place at night, including the opening.
Romans, which is still visible even as darkness settles in.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 2
An old man (Captain Vye) walks along the highway north of A reddleman is someone who sells red ochre to farmers—red ochre
Egdon Heath where he comes across a reddleman and his is used to dye sheep wool. Because they constantly handled red
wagon. The two walk together for a while, mostly in silence, and ochre, reddlemen’s skin would turn red, making the job undesirable
the old man notices that the reddleman is concerned about to most people. The nosiness that the reddleman exhibits in this
something in his wagon. Then, the old man hears a cry come scene suggests that an interest in knowing others’ business is typical
from the wagon. When he asks the reddleman about the cry, of people who lives on Egdon Heath.
the reddleman tells him that it came from a young woman he is
transporting who cried out in her sleep because she is not used
to travel. The old man presses the reddleman for more
information about the woman’s identity, which makes the
reddleman uncomfortable. The reddleman cuts off the
conversation, telling the old man that he plans to stop and rest
for a while.
As the old man continues on his way, the reddleman looks up at The woman appears to not want to be seen—otherwise, she
a large barrow sitting on Egdon Heath. There, he sees a wouldn’t be standing so still and making a special effort to avoid the
motionless figure standing so still that it seems to be part of the other figures. She also seems uninterested in associating with
structure. Suddenly, the figure moves, and the reddleman can members of her community. The reader’s first impression of her is
tell that it is a woman. It’s not long before the woman vanishes. that she flees from social interaction. At this point, for the other
In her place appear a number of other figures carrying characters—and the reader, too—the woman remains a figure
something, which they deposit on top of the barrow. It appears shrouded in mystery.
that whatever the woman was doing was unrelated to the
project of the other figures, though it seems she made an effort
to avoid them.
©2022 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 17

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 3
The people the reddleman saw are locals of a town called Guy Fawkes Day is a tradition that begin in England in 1605 after
Blackbarrow who are making a bonfire to celebrate Guy the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt on the life of King
Fawkes Day. As they light their bonfire, other fires spring up in James I; people around London lit bonfires to celebrate that the king
the distance. Around the fire, an old man named Grandfer lived. It is this tradition that the residents of Egdon Heath are taking
Cantle dances and sings. Nearby are Timothy Fairway, part in, though its historical roots seem unimportant to them.
Humphrey, Olly Dowden, and Susan Nunsuch. After Grander Instead, the locals use the holiday to drink, catch up with one
Cantle finishes his song and dance, the group gossips about a another, and gossip about news around the heath. It is through
wedding. Earlier in the day, Damon Wildeve married Thomasin characters like Timothy Fairway and Grandfer Cantle that we are
Yeobright despite the disapproval of Mrs. Yeobright, first introduced to the novel’s main characters. Throughout the
Thomasin’s aunt. The town gossips always thought that novel, the locals will continue to act as a valuable source of
Thomasin would marry Clym, Mrs. Yeobright’s son, but he left information, often by filling in important background details about
to live in Paris. the main characters. Here, for instance, they seem to implicitly
reveal the identity of the woman that Venn was transporting in his
wagon as Thomasin Yeobright.
The group’s topic of conversation switches to people who The theme of undesirable marriages runs throughout The Return
cannot marry because they are undesirable. During this of the Native. In fact, the entire novel is structured around three
conversation, Christian Cantle, Grandfer’s son, arrives and says marriages, two of which are considered undesirable by some of the
that he is one such person. Timothy changes the conversation story’s key players. Throughout the novel, social status plays a key
when he mentions possibly seeing a ghost, which looked “as if it role in determining what makes a marriage desirable or undesirable.
had been dipped in blood.” However, the conversation ends Additionally, this passage demonstrates the locals’ fear of the
when Grandfer Cantle starts singing again. As his song ends, supernatural. Though Timothy mentions a red ghost, it seems more
the bonfire begins to die down, which causes the group to likely that he’s just run into the reddleman.
notice a large bonfire burning on Captain Vye’s property.
Timothy guesses that Vye’s granddaughter, who lives there
alone, likely lit the fire.
After more dancing and singing, the group decides they will go At this point in the story, the reddleman is an outsider. He is largely
to see the newlywed couple and congratulate them. However, unknown to the locals who are confused and a little frightened by
before they can do so, the reddleman arrives, asking for the his presence. Nonetheless, he seems familiar with Mrs. Yeobright,
way to Mrs. Yeobright’s place. They tell him the way to go. whom the locals know well. Additionally, this passage introduces
Though he seems familiar, no one can place where they know Clym and explains the name of the novel—Clym is the native who is
him from. Almost immediately afterward, Mrs. Yeobright comes returning home.
across the revelers on her way to the Wildeve place to see the
newlyweds. She reveals that her son, Clym, has recently arrived
home for the holidays. Then, she asks Olly to accompany her to
the Wildeve place because it’s dark. Olly happily agrees to do
so, and the two head off together.

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 4
As Olly and Mrs. Yeobright make their way toward Wildeve’s, For Mrs. Yeobright, marriage is all about social advancement. She
Olly remarks that Mrs. Yeobright will miss Thomasin now that wants her family to move up in the world and away from Egdon
she is married because they lived together. Mrs. Yeobright Heath. She knows that this can never happen if Thomasin marries
concurs. Olly continues, saying that she is surprised Mrs. Wildeve, a common innkeeper.
Yeobright ultimately accepted the arrangement. Mrs. Yeobright
agrees but thinks she did the right thing by letting Thomasin
choose her husband. Nonetheless, Mrs. Yeobright disapproves
of Wildeve because he is an innkeeper; Mrs. Yeobright herself
is one of the wealthiest members of the heath, and she thinks
that marrying Wildeve is beneath her niece.
The road diverges, and the two women split up; Olly heads Venn reveals himself to be an upstanding man who is willing to help
home, and Mrs. Yeobright continues on to the Quiet Woman Thomasin, even without knowing the details of her situation.
Inn, owned by Wildeve, where she expects to find her niece. Additionally, it is notable that his father was a dairy-man because
When she arrives at the inn, Mrs. Yeobright finds the dairy farmers had a considerably higher social standing than
reddleman and his wagon. Mrs. Yeobright recognizes the reddleman. This begs the question: why did Venn become a
reddleman as Venn, the son of a dairy-man she once knew. Mrs. reddleman?
Yeobright tells Venn that she going to the inn to see her niece,
but Venn tells her that she isn’t there. He knows this because
Thomasin is who he’s been transporting in his wagon. Venn
explains that Thomasin chased him down on the road and asked
him for a ride. He accepted but does not know what is going
on.
Together, Mrs. Yeobright and Venn move to the back of the While around Venn, Mrs. Yeobright acts performatively. She
wagon where Thomasin lies asleep. As Mrs. Yeobright looks in expresses concern for her niece, but she doesn’t express anger.
to check on her niece, Thomasin wakes up, clearly distressed. However, once Venn can no longer hear them, Mrs. Yeobright
Mrs. Yeobright comforts her and tells her that she is almost immediately shows her true feelings; though she is concerned for
home. Together, the two of them start moving in the direction her niece, she is equally (if not more) concerned about her family’s
of the inn, leaving Venn to continue on his way. As soon as they reputation.
are out of earshot of Venn, Mrs. Yeobright’s tone shifts and she
asks Thomasin, “what’s the meaning of this disgraceful
performance?”
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 5
Mrs. Yeobright’s sudden change of tone shocks Thomasin, and Although the issue with the marriage license may seem like no big
she apologizes for any embarrassment she’s caused. She deal today, during the time The Return of the Native was written,
explains that she and Wildeve were unable to marry because of such an incident would have indeed been considered scandalous.
an issue with the marriage license, although she doesn’t know Mrs. Yeobright knows this and is correct to assume that it will
the details. Mrs. Yeobright continues to chastise her niece; she become the center of the town’s gossip. Additionally, Thomasin’s
is already angry about being the subject of gossip and expects decision to leave Wildeve for Venn suggests that she feels safe or
that this incident will only make things worse. As Mrs. comfortable around him—and perhaps even has a romantic history
Yeobright and Thomasin make their way to the Quiet Woman with him.
Inn to ask Wildeve about the issue with the marriage license,
Thomasin explains that she abandoned Wildeve and went with
Venn because she was so upset that she couldn’t get married.

Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright arrive at the inn where they find Wildeve’s explanation seems innocent enough and, unlike Mrs.
Wildeve. After briefly scolding Thomasin for abandoning him, Yeobright, he is not concerned about the social implications of what
Wildeve explains to Mrs. Yeobright that he got the marriage has occurred. Furthermore, his unconcerned attitude suggests that
license from a different town than the one he was to be maybe the mix-up with the license wasn’t as unexpected (and
married in. He didn’t read the license in advance and therefore disappointing) to Wildeve as it was to Thomasin—maybe his
didn’t know that it would be an issue. Mrs. Yeobright is angry at explanation isn’t as innocent as it seems.
Wildeve for his carelessness and reprimands him, though he
shrugs off her aggression. He tells her that she is making
something out of nothing and then asks for some time alone
with Thomasin.
Thomasin and Wildeve move off to a side room where they can Though Mrs. Yeobright intention in meddling with Thomasin’s
speak alone. Wildeve tells Thomasin that he still wants to marry marriage is purportedly for Thomasin’s benefit, it often has the
her, but he is annoyed with Mrs. Yeobright because of the opposite effect—here, it’s caused a minor rift between Thomasin
scene she’s caused and because of how she treats him. Before and Wildeve . Wildeve is annoyed by Mrs. Yeobright’s
their conversation can advance too far, the bonfire group condescension and with good reason. However, he proves that he
arrives and begins singing. Wildeve tells Mrs. Yeobright to hide can be quite condescending himself in his interactions with the
in the side room with Thomasin while he faces the bonfire crew. bonfire crew.
Unaware of what has happened, the bonfire crew enters and
congratulates Wildeve on his marriage. They all have a drink
together and engage in idle gossip. Wildeve tolerates them but
treats them rather rudely.
After a while, the conversation turns to the subject of the Vye Wildeve treats the bonfire as though it is some sort of signal for him.
homestead. Fairway tells Wildeve about the bonfire, and He also acts as though the bonfire it is more important to him than
Wildeve looks out the window to find it still burning. Soon after, dealing with Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin. His fixation on the
the revelers leave. Wildeve looks in the side room and finds bonfire becomes clear when he says to himself that he “must go to
that Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin are also gone. After a brief her,” which implies that another woman in his life (besides
detour to Olly’s house, where he drops off a bottle of wine, Thomasin) is using the bonfire to summon him.
Wildeve heads in the direction of the Vye property, while
saying to himself, “Yes—by Heaven, I must go to her, I suppose.”
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 6
After the revelers depart to see the newlyweds, a woman walks This scene mirrors the end of the previous chapter when Wildeve
up to what remains of their bonfire. It is the same woman looks at the bonfire. Though it’s still unclear who this woman is, it’s
whom Venn saw earlier. She is tall and “lady-like in her obvious that her bonfire is indeed meant to summon Wildeve. It also
movements.” Unlike most women, she is not afraid to walk seems clear that this woman often walks alone on the heath at
alone around the heath at night. As the wind blows around her, night—something that nobody else who lives on the heath seems to
making a sound which almost sounds like music, the woman do. There are rules to living on the heath if one wants to survive, and
sighs. She is looking at the light coming from Wildeve’s, which is this woman—either out of arrogance or out of ignorance about
the cause of her frustration. these rules does not follow them.

The woman turns away from the light to face the nearby In this scene, the hourglass (an important symbol that also
bonfire. She uses the little light still left to find the hourglass functions as a memento mori, or a reminder of death) points to the
she’s placed nearby. The hourglass has run its course; no sand Eustacia’s relationship to time—she seems highly attuned to the
remains in the top. When the woman sees that no sand remains passage of time. Also note: Eustacia has not lit her own fire, which
in the top, she makes her way to the bonfire at the Vye implies that she considers herself to be above manual labor.
property. Although it is a lengthy trip, the woman eventually
arrives at her destination to find the fire still burning. Near the
fire is a child named Johnny who is upset that she has left him
to tend the fire alone in the dark. He refers to the woman as
“Miss Eustacia.”
Shortly after Eustacia arrives at the bonfire, Captain Vye comes Eustacia’s explanation to Captain Vye, her grandfather, is clearly a
out and asks why she is still out and about. Eustacia tells him it lie. Johnny is annoyed that he is up so late and wants to go home.
is because Johnny is enjoying the fire and doesn’t want it to Eustacia’s reaction to Johnny’s mention of a frog jumping into a
stop. After Captain Vye leaves, Eustacia gets Johnny to agree pond suggests that the noise is actually another signal, one that
to tend to the fire just a little longer. Then, Johnny mentions Wildeve has sent.
that he’s heard the sound of a frog jumping into a pond. This
animates Eustacia, who then gives Johnny money and tells him
he can leave.
After Johnny’s departure, Eustacia meets up with Wildeve Wildeve’s continued courting of Eustacia is one reason to suspect
nearby. Though Eustacia is glad to see Wildeve, she is also that his claims about the marriage license in earlier chapters may
angry with him. Wildeve used to pursue Eustacia in secret; the not be true. Additionally, his claim that he may give up Thomasin for
two of them were apparently in love. However, Eustacia is Eustacia may not be true either. Both Wildeve and Eustacia are
upset about Wildeve’s recent engagement to Thomasin and prone to sudden and significant mood shifts, making their
pretends that she is no longer interested in him. In response, conversations with each other volatile and full of deception.
Wildeve implies that he may give up Thomasin for Eustacia. Additionally, Wildeve’s actions would’ve been considered highly
Then Wildeve departs, leaving Eustacia alone with her scandalous and immoral to the novel’s repressed, Victorian
thoughts. She still loves Wildeve, but she feels as though he is audience.
playing with her emotions.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 7
Eustacia is “the material of a divinity” with “the passions and The novel often relates Egdon and its inhabitants to Greek and
instincts which make a model goddess” but “not quite a model Roman mythology. Rather than describe Eustacia as angelic, which
woman.” She dislikes Egdon Heath, though, “since coming there would befit the Christian tradition of his audience, the novel
she had imbibed much of what was dark in its tone.” Eustacia is describes her as a “goddess.” In Greek and Roman mythology, gods
originally from Budmouth, “a fashionable seaside resort” that is and goddesses were often deeply flawed, and this is what this
20 or 30 miles away from Egdon. There, she received a good passage means to impart about Eustacia. Also like the gods and
education, though she eventually had to leave for Egdon after goddesses of the Greco-Roman tradition, Eustacia sees herself as
the death of her parents. Ever since, she’s lived with her above everyone else.
grandfather, who is one of the wealthiest people on the heath,
along with the Yeobrights.

Eustacia thinks highly of herself, as though she were goddess, Eustacia does not appreciate the heath’s beauty, nor does she
and feels as though the heath is not fit for her. Eustacia’s ego acknowledge its power. In her attempts to escape Egdon, she will
isolates her from the rest of Egdon and she spends much of her make increasingly rash and desperate decisions. Although she can
time alone. Often, she wanders the heath and hopes that scheme effectively, her ego and her desire to escape ultimately prove
something or someone will take her to a more luxurious place. to be overwhelming.
Furthermore, though Eustacia is not a schemer, she can
scheme effectively when she wants to.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 8
Johnny starts walking home but is scared of doing so in the Johnny is the first person to overhear one of Eustacia and Wildeve’s
dark. Instead, he turns around to ask if Eustacia will accompany conversations, but he will not be the last. Eustacia and Wildeve are
him. He arrives back at the fire and finds Eustacia talking to not as secret and cunning as they think they are. Additionally, the
Wildeve. But Johnny doesn’t alert them to his novel once again stresses the danger of walking alone on the heath
presence—though he doesn’t fully understand their in the dark.
conversation, he understands that he likely shouldn’t be privy
to it. As such, he decides to walk home on his own after all.
On his way home, Johnny comes across the Venn’s wagon. The Venn’s appearance is frightening to Johnny because of his red glow.
wagon scares Johnny because the children on the heath think However, Venn once again proves himself to be a kind man, albeit a
of Venn as some sort of boogeyman. He tries to sneak by Venn’s nosy one. Though Johnny is a child and does not put much thought
wagon but ends up tripping and rolling right to Venn’s feet. into why Wildeve and Eustacia would be meeting secretly, Venn
Venn asks Johnny questions about Eustacia and the bonfire, instantly knows what is going on.
and Johnny responds to them all. In return, Venn answers
Johnny’s questions about his occupation and assures him that
he isn’t any sort of boogeyman. Although Johnny is still
nervous, this largely puts him at ease. Eventually, their
conversation ends, and Johnny goes home, though not before
Venn learns that Wildeve went to see Eustacia on the night he
was supposed to marry Thomasin.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 9
Reddlemen are becoming rare around the heath, though they Throughout the 19th century, many jobs that used to be common
used to be a more common sight. Because their red glow makes began to disappear as England became more modern and
them stand out, children are afraid of them. It is a job that pays industrialized. This makes Venn a less common sight than he
well, but the bodily changes that come along with it, relegate its would’ve been 100 years prior, which only makes his odd
practitioners to a low spot on the social hierarchy. It is appearance stand out more. Though Venn makes a good living as a
especially strange that Venn chose this occupation, because he reddleman, it is odd that he would choose to lower his social
was born to a class which typically considers itself above such standing, especially in a society that is so rigorously structured
work. according to class.

Still sitting in his wagon, Venn pulls out a note Thomasin wrote Thomasin’s rejection hurts Venn so much that he exiles himself from
to him two years ago. In it, Thomasin rejects Venn’s marriage society. Reddlemen are essentially nomads who live apart from
proposal, explaining that he is not high-class enough for her, society and this is the only lifestyle Venn feels he can accept if he
even though he was a dairy farmer at the time. However, she isn’t able to marry Thomasin. Class status does not matter to him if,
does make it clear that she likes Venn, and her rejection is sent no matter what, he can never rise high enough to marry the woman
with love. After receiving Thomasin’s letter, Venn decided to he loves.
become a reddleman. This morning is the first time Venn has
seen Thomasin since she rejected him.
Nonetheless, Venn is still protective of Thomasin, and he does Throughout the novel, Venn will act as a largely silent observer of
what he can to help her. As such, Johnny’s information bothers the story’s other key players. He often operates by hiding in the
him, and he makes it his duty to figure out what is going on shadows, only revealing himself when he thinks he may prove
between Eustacia and Wildeve. Despite his love for Thomasin, useful. Although Venn is perhaps a more morally upstanding figure
his goal is to make sure she marries Wildeve, because he thinks than some of the other characters in the novel, he is not above
it will bring her the most happiness. In order to make this spying and secrecy.
happen, Venn waits silently near Eustacia’s house over the next
several nights, hoping to overhear one of her meetings with
Wildeve.
Sure enough, four nights after their first meeting, Wildeve Eustacia and Wildeve’s conversations quickly become repetitive.
comes again. Eustacia and Wildeve have a conversation that is Both play with the other’s emotions and neither is sure that they
not unlike their first. Wildeve insists that he is still interested in want to be with the other. However, their mutual hatred of Egdon
Eustacia but admits that he is in a tricky situation. Meanwhile, binds them together, though it is not clear whether Wildeve can
Eustacia continues to play with Wildeve’s emotions by actually carry out the plan he suggests. Meanwhile, Venn proves to
sometimes suggesting that she still loves him and other times be quite the schemer himself.
suggesting that she is done with him. Eventually, their
conversation turns to their mutual hatred of Egdon Heath, at
which point Wildeve suggests that they run away to America
together. This surprises Eustacia, who asks for some time to
think about his proposition. After their conversation, Wildeve
departs. Venn returns to his wagon and thinks about the best
way to break up Wildeve and Eustacia so that the Wildeve can
marry Thomasin.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 10
On a quiet, Sunday afternoon Venn walks to Captain Vye’s Unlike much of England at the time, Egdon is not especially
house to talk to Eustacia. He has time to do so because no one religious. The distance between homes makes traveling to church on
goes to church on Sunday in Egdon Heath unless someone is a weekly basis impractical, so it is a tradition that the community
being “married or buried.” Like Eustacia, Captain Vye is a bit of a has largely abandoned. Meanwhile, Venn’s arrival at the Vye
wild card, so he rarely gets visitors. Nonetheless, when Venn household suggests that he has come up with a plan to separate
arrives, Captain Vye greets him warmly. Captain Vye informs Eustacia and Wildeve.
Venn that Eustacia is still asleep but says he will tell her that
Venn wants to speak with her. Venn waits outside and is just
about to leave when Eustacia comes strolling over to him.

Venn tells Eustacia that he is worried about the marriage that Initially, Venn speaks subtly so as not to offend Eustacia and make
was supposed to occur between Thomasin and Wildeve her mad. However, Eustacia’s refusal to back down forces Venn’s
because another woman is in the picture. At first, Venn does hand.
not openly implicate Eustacia. Instead, he merely asks Eustacia
to do what she can to make sure that the other woman backs
off. In response, Eustacia pretends not to know what Venn is
talking about and claims that she has no influence over
Wildeve’s affairs. This causes Venn to drop the façade; he
directly accuses Eustacia of stealing Wildeve away from
Thomasin.
Eustacia bristles at Venn’s accusations. Although she doesn’t Here, Eustacia is a rather sympathetic character because, as she
deny meeting with Wildeve, she thinks that she is the one who says, she has been wronged at least as much as Thomasin. However,
has been wronged. After all, Wildeve courted her first; this does not sway Venn, who utilizes his only bit of leverage. He
Thomasin came into the picture later. In response, Venn knows that Eustacia wants to get away from Egdon (even more than
attempts to make her a deal. He knows an elderly woman in she wants to marry Wildeve), so he makes her a seemingly
Budmouth that needs a companion. He offers to put Eustacia in appealing offer. However, Eustacia’s ego will not allow her to take a
contact with her so that she can leave the heath. However, job, even if the job is simply acting as an old woman’s companion.
Eustacia considers herself above having to work for a living and
rejects the offers. Angered, Eustacia stops the conversation
before it can go any further and leaves. Venn departs, upset
that his plan didn’t work. Meanwhile, Eustacia feels stronger
than ever about running away with Wildeve.
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 11
Having failed to persuade Eustacia, Venn decides to talk to Mrs. Here, it is apparent that Mrs. Yeobright cares more about
Yeobright. He finds Mrs. Yeobright on her way to see Wildeve; appearances than Thomasin’s happiness. Though she suspects that
she looks upset. Venn strikes up a conversation with her and Thomasin could live a happier life with Venn, she worries about how
admits he was once one of Thomasin’s suitors. He asks whether Thomasin marrying Venn would negatively affect her family’s
there is a possibility that he could marry Thomasin, but Mrs. reputation.
Yeobright says no. Although she does not like Wildeve, she
feels that it is best for Thomasin’s reputation if she marries him.
Venn disagrees with this assessment, but there is nothing he
can do.
However, even though Venn is dejected, Mrs. Yeobright is Like many other characters in the novel, Mrs. Yeobright is happy to
excited. She now has a bargaining chip to use against Wildeve. resort to deception if it means getting what she wants. Unlike Venn,
Mrs. Yeobright arrives at Wildeve’s inn and the two of them who approaches Eustacia with an honest offer, Mrs. Yeobright uses
begin discussing the marriage between Wildeve and Thomasin. manipulation. In this case, her manipulative tactics are effective; like
Mrs. Yeobright tells Wildeve that he needs to act soon because Eustacia, Wildeve is motivated by jealousy. Additionally, Mrs.
Thomasin now has a different suitor. She does not reveal the Yeobright tells Wildeve that he cannot speak to Thomasin because
suitor’s identity, but it does not matter; the news clearly she doesn’t want him learning the truth about the other suitor.
bothers Wildeve. Mrs. Yeobright informs Wildeve that if he
doesn’t marry Thomasin soon, she will accept the offer of the
other man instead. She also tells him that he is not allowed to
see Thomasin in the meantime.

Knowing his time is running out, Wildeve heads to Eustacia’s to Once again, Eustacia and Wildeve demonstrate that neither truly
see if she’s made a decision about coming to America with him. loves the other. Furthermore, Eustacia has just learned of a man
However, in doing so, he reveals to Eustacia the news that who comes from Paris, a place she fantasizes about. This knowledge
Thomasin has another suitor. This turns Eustacia off from is sure to push her even further away from Wildeve.
Wildeve, and she once again informs him that she is not sure if
she wants to be with him. However, she does promise to give
him a firm answer in a week. Immediately after this
conversation, Eustacia returns home where her grandfather
tells her that Clym Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright’s son and
Thomasin’s cousin, is returning home from Paris for the
holidays.
BOOK 2, CHAPTER 1
Winter arrives in the heath, leading to many cold and dark days. Eustacia, who normally never interacts with anyone except Wildeve,
Eustacia sits inside and listens to her grandfather, Sam and demonstrates her interest in Clym by sitting and listening to others
Humphrey discuss Clym’s return to Egdon. She learns that talk about him. Additionally, despite Wildeve’s promises to Mrs.
Clym works as a jeweler in Paris and that he is extremely Yeobright, it seems that he still hasn’t married Thomasin. This
intelligent. She also hears that both of his parents were born suggests that he is still holding out hope for Eustacia, though she
well off, though his father is now dead. Shortly afterward, their appears to have moved on from him in favor of Clym.
conversation switches to the topic of Thomasin’s marriage, or
lack thereof. Apparently, Thomasin is sick, and nobody has seen
her since the day of her aborted wedding.
Eustacia is bored by the talk of Thomasin and instead begins to Eustacia cares little about those who live around her and finds her
fantasize about Clym and the life they could lead together in thoughts drifting to self-serving fantasies. Before she even meets
Paris. While doing so, she takes a walk out on the heath. She Clym, she’s already imagined what he can do for her. In her mind, he
heads toward Blooms-End, the home of the Yeobrights. is a completely romantic figure, which is reflected in Hardy’s
Eventually, she comes to a “removed spot to which was about romanticized description of Paris as “the centre and vortex of the
to return a man whose latter life had been passed in the French fashionable world.”
capital—the centre and vortex of the fashionable world.”
BOOK 2, CHAPTER 2
Although she is still feeling down about her disastrous love life, Mrs. Yeobright acts rather cruelly to her niece, maintaining an “I told
Thomasin agrees to help Mrs. Yeobright prepare for Clym’s you so” attitude. Meanwhile, Thomasin is miserable and
arrival. Together, they clean and pick apples while discussing embarrassed, and Clym’s arrival only makes things worse. At one
the ongoing situation. Thomasin is upset because she feels as point, the community thought that Thomasin and Clym would
though people are judging her unfairly. However, Mrs. marry, and so Thomasin is nervous for Clym to find out that not
Yeobright doesn’t feel bad for Thomasin because she warned only does she plan to marry someone else, but she has also
her not to get herself into such a situation. Still, both of them tarnished the family’s name as a result. Additionally, the marriage
think it is best that Thomasin goes forward with the marriage. still has not occurred and it is not clear if it ever will.
Thomasin insists that she still loves Wildeve, though Mrs.
Yeobright thinks she is lying. Additionally, Thomasin asks that
Mrs. Yeobright not tell Clym about her current situation; she
wants to be able to tell him herself. Mrs. Yeobright agrees not
to tell Clym, and then the two of them head to spot where they
expect him to arrive.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 3
Still excited by Clym’s impending arrival, Eustacia spends time Eustacia spends her day looking for Clym only to ignore him when
near the Yeobright property, hoping to catch a glimpse of the she finally crosses paths with him. It is not clear why she does so.
man from Paris. However, it looks as though no one is home, so Perhaps it is because she is not friendly with the Yeobrights, or
she decides to head back. Just then, she hears the Yeobrights perhaps she is too nervous and excited to think clearly. Regardless,
and, shortly afterward, passes them on the road. As she does her first interaction with Clym is over before it even begins.
so, the Yeobrights greet her, and the sound of Clym’s voice
excites her. However, she keeps her head down during this
brief exchange and therefore does not get a chance to see
Clym. Nonetheless, this interaction is still enough to get
Eustacia to fantasize about Clym for the rest of the day.
Eustacia heads home and asks Captain Vye why they aren’t More than anything else, this passage is an important and easy to
friendly with the Yeobrights. Captain Vye doesn’t give a clear miss bit of character development for Mrs. Yeobright. Despite
answer, though he does tell her that she would not like them insisting that Thomasin marry someone who is at the very least her
because they are simple country people. This confuses social equal, it seems that Mrs. Yeobright herself married below her
Eustacia, who thinks of Mrs. Yeobright as “a lady-like woman.” social standing. This opens up a number of questions about her
Captain Vye then tells Eustacia that Mrs. Yeobright was born character. Does Mrs. Yeobright regret her choice? Is she acting
rich but married a dairy farmer who was well below her social hypocritically?
standing.
After her conversation with her grandfather, Eustacia goes to Eustacia literally dreams of Clym as a knight in shining armor. This
bed and dreams about a “man in silver armour” who takes her is a highly romanticized depiction of a man who Eustacia still has
magnificent places and dances with her. However, the man not even met. Thinking of him in such a high regard can only lead to
never removes his helmet, and Eustacia never sees his face. She disappointment, though this is a lesson that Eustacia has yet to
wakes up frustrated that her dream concealed the face of her learn.
knight in shining armor. As such, Eustacia spends her days
walking around the heath, hoping to catch a glimpse of Clym.
However, after several days of doing so, she has no luck and
eventually gives up on this plan.
BOOK 2, CHAPTER 4
It is two days before Christmas. Eustacia is sitting home alone, Although she partially brings the isolation upon herself, it is not
upset that she is unlikely to see Clym before he returns to difficult to see why Eustacia finds the heath so lonely. It is difficult
Paris. Because Egdon Heath is so remote, the community does for her to come into contact with Clym, even as she actively tries to
not get together for Christmas, so even the holidays cannot do so. However, the arrival of the mummers gives Eustacia the
bring Eustacia and Clym together. While sitting and moping, opportunity she has been looking for. A mummer is an English term
Eustacia hears a knock on the door. She answers it to find a for an actor who delivered pantomime performances around the
group of mummers who want to use Captain Vye’s fuel-house holidays, especially Christmas; they were prominent in the 18th and
to rehearse their play. Eustacia gives them permission to use it. 19th centuries.

The mummers go to the fuel-house to rehearse, and Eustacia Here, Eustacia proves resourceful in managing to find a way to the
follows them. She learns that the play will be performed at the Yeobright’s party. This shows how determined she is to get to Clym,
Yeobright’s place, which piques her interest. After the her knight in shining armor.
rehearsal, Eustacia invites a boy named Charley inside and asks
him to tell her his lines. She repeats them back to him and then
asks if she can have his role in the play. In return, she promises
to pay him. Charley declines her offer but provides a
counteroffer: he will give her his part if he can hold her hand for
a half hour. Eustacia tells him she will do it for 15 minutes
instead, and Charley agrees to her terms.
The next night, Charley returns and gives Eustacia his costume. Charley’s feelings for Eustacia are sweet and innocent—and this
The two of them hold hands for several minutes, though makes Eustacia’s manipulation of him for personal gain all the more
Charley ends the session early, insisting that he wants to save cruel.
some of his time for later. Eustacia tells him that that’s fine, as
long as he’s used up the whole 15 minutes by the end of the
week. Then, Eustacia leaves to put on the costume. When she
returns, Charley decides that he wants to use up more of his
hand-holding time. Before long, he forgets about his time limit
and unwittingly uses up all he has left. This pleases Eustacia and
the two of them go their separate ways.
BOOK 2, CHAPTER 5
The following evening, Eustacia meets her fellow mummers Eustacia’s decision to join the mummers is a big moment of
near the fuel-house. She introduces herself as Miss Vye’s character development, and it also reinforces her genuine desire to
cousin who has come to replace Charley because he is ill. The escape Egdon. Previously, Eustacia has actively avoided the rest of
others are skeptical at first, but Eustacia recites a few lines to her community, and now she is going to perform in front of all of
win them over. The mummers head to Blooms-End, and them. Once again, she remains steadfast in the notion that Clym is
Eustacia wonders whether all of this effort is worth it. her savior, despite having never met the man.
However, she convinces herself that her efforts will not be in
vain, because she will soon meet the man who has “the power
to deliver her soul from a most deadly oppression.”
The mummers arrive at Blooms-End but have to wait outside in Eustacia is not used to others treating her like a member of the
the cold—there is still dancing going on inside, and they have to lower classes, and she bristles at the idea of waiting outside in the
wait their turn. After a while, the mummers consider heading cold. This sense of entitlement immediately gives her away to her
inside before they are called, though Eustacia insists that doing fellow mummers, all of whom are presumably used to much worse.
so would be rude. After talking amongst themselves for some
time, the mummers ask Eustacia if she is Eustacia Vye. Eustacia
does not give a clear answer to their question, though it is
obvious that the mummers have figured out the truth. They
promise not to reveal her true identity.

Eventually, it is time for the play to begin. Eustacia, who plays Eustacia proves that she can more or less keep up with her fellow
the Turkish Knight, has a lead role for the first half of the play, mummers, despite joining the troupe at the last minute. It is unclear
and she does a decent job. She recites her speeches perfectly, at this point whether anyone suspects the truth of her identity.
though she does struggle when she has to partake in sword
fights. Overall, the performance is mediocre, so nothing
Eustacia does makes her stand out one way or another.
Halfway through the performance, Eustacia’s character dies.
During her death scene, Eustacia makes sure she falls against a
wall so that she can spend the rest of her time scanning the
party for Clym.
BOOK 2, CHAPTER 6
As the play continues, Eustacia keeps a look out for her knight Thomasin, it appears, is still not showing her face in public after her
in shining armor. As she looks around, she notices that failed marriage ceremony. Additionally, although Eustacia fails to
Thomasin is not present. Then, her gaze settles on Clym, who is see it, Clym is not as perfect as she has imagined him to be.
an impressive-looking young man. Though he is handsome, one However, Eustacia fails to see anything in Clym other than what he
looking critically at Clym would recognize that something is can provide for her.
eating him up inside. However, Eustacia doesn’t notice this.
Instead, she immediately falls in love with him; he is everything
she dreamed about and more.
The play ends, and Timothy and Christian arrive. Mrs. Though Eustacia has managed to get physically close to Clym, she is
Yeobright chides them for their tardiness, but they insist that now faced with a problem; that is, how can she interact with him
they wanted to wait until the opportune time to arrive. Clym without revealing her identity? Even when Clym comes to her, she
welcomes the newcomers, and everyone catches up with one cannot bring herself to strike up a conversation with him.
another. Meanwhile, Eustacia continues to stare at Clym, still
smitten by his good looks and charm. After a while, Clym offers
the mummers a drink and, though Eustacia declines, Clym’s
attention thrills her.
As the party continues to drag on, Eustacia begins to worry Thomasin’s excuse to Clym is confusing for him because he still
that her identity will be revealed. Nonetheless, she continues hasn’t learned about her engagement to Wildeve. Meanwhile,
to follow Clym around, which results in her eavesdropping on a Eustacia continues to struggle with courting Clym. Because she has
conversation between Clym and Thomasin. Clym wants isolated herself from the community, Eustacia has no way to
Thomasin to join in the fun, but Thomasin says that she is too contact Clym after the night of the Christmas party. Additionally,
sick to do so. Eustacia sees through Thomasin’s excuse, though she doesn’t want to make a scene by revealing her true identity.
Clym is confused. Later on, Clym confronts Eustacia and asks
her if she is actually a woman. Eustacia says that she is but
refuses to reveal her true identity. After the party, Eustacia is
upset because she knows that, although she has finally met
Clym, she is no closer to getting him to marry her. Clym doesn’t
even know her true identity, and she worries that Thomasin
could end up with him instead.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 7
The day after the party, Captain Vye asks Eustacia where she’s Although Captain Vye is Eustacia’s guardian, he treats her more as a
been—he thinks that her behavior has been strange lately and friend than a granddaughter. He does not give her orders and allows
wants to get to the bottom of it. At first, Eustacia replies her to go where she pleases. Unlike Mrs. Yeobright, Captain Vye is
vaguely, but she eventually admits that she was acting in a play. not concerned with social improprieties or his family name.
Eustacia’s answer amuses Captain Vye, and he drops the Additionally, Eustacia immediately sees through Mrs. Yeobright’s
subject. After their conversation, Eustacia leaves and starts scheme regarding Venn. There are moments such as this that make
walking. Before long, she spots Venn and approaches him. She Eustacia seem quite perceptive. However, she still has difficulty
asks Venn why he is still in Egdon during the wintertime when examining her own situation with the same critical eye.
his services are no longer needed. Venn admits that his
continued presence is related to Thomasin. Eustacia writes him
off as a last resort for Thomasin who Mrs. Yeobright is simply
using to her advantage.
In the middle of her discussion with Venn, Eustacia spots Eustacia’s decision to avoid Wildeve rather confront him head-on
Wildeve coming up the road. Hoping to avoid him, Eustacia asks speaks to her immaturity and inability to self-reflect.
Venn if she can sit in his wagon, where she won’t be seen.
However, she does not tell Venn the truth of why she wants to
do so. Venn allows her to sit in the wagon and, after a short
time. Wildeve passes by. Venn realizes why Eustacia hid and
tells her so. Eustacia tells Venn that, despite what he may think,
she wants Wildeve to marry Thomasin. Venn is surprised; he
knows that Eustacia and Wildeve are meant to meet that very
evening.
Eustacia wants to get rid of Wildeve but doesn’t know how. Here, Venn’s motives are questionable. Certainly, he derives some
Venn tells her to write Wildeve a letter and says he’ll deliver it satisfaction out of getting to deliver Wildeve the news. He feels
to him on Eustacia’s behalf. Eustacia does so, though she does Wildeve has wronged Thomasin and that this incident will put him
not understand why Venn is so interested in helping another in his place.
man pursue the woman he loves. Regardless, Venn takes the
letter from Eustacia and delivers it to Wildeve.
Eustacia’s letter is short and to the point. Eustacia blames Venn, who largely lives apart from society, cannot believe that
Wildeve for their failed relationship and returns all of the gifts, Thomasin would still want to be with Wildeve after what he has
via Venn, that he ever gave her. This angers Wildeve, though done. However, Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright’s feelings about
Venn is quite pleased. Venn thinks that Thomasin will reject propriety and honor will not allow them to make any other decision.
Wildeve, which is what he feels Wildeve deserves. Meanwhile,
Venn will be the next in line for Thomasin’s hand. Excited, Venn
makes his way to Bloom’s End. However, when he arrives, he
finds Wildeve who explains to Venn that he and Thomasin will
soon be married. Mrs. Yeobright confirms Wildeve’s
assertation and Venn departs, once again sad that he cannot
marry Thomasin himself.

BOOK 2, CHAPTER 8
Clym is away visiting a friend while the drama occurs between The beginning of this chapter replays the end of the previous
Thomasin’s suitors. However, he hears rumors about what has chapter, this time from Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright’s perspective.
been going on and writes angrily to his mother about the Evidently, Thomasin never told Clym about her suitors and let him
situation. Although Thomasin is upset by her situation, she still learn the drama for himself. In this way, she is like Eustacia; she
insists on marrying Wildeve. She has just spoken to Wildeve, avoids responsibility and allows others to deliver bad news.
who promises that they will marry soon. While discussing the
situation with Mrs. Yeobright, there is a knock on the door—it’s
Venn. Mrs. Yeobright answers and sends Venn away by
informing him that Thomasin will marry Wildeve. Thomasin
feels bad for Venn but thinks that there is nothing that can be
done to fix his broken heart.
Several days later, Thomasin and Wildeve get married. Unlike Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright, Clym is not overly concerned
Thomasin does her best to put on a happy face, though the with the optics of Thomasin’s wedding. However, he is hurt that he
circumstances of her marriage clearly upset her. She insists was kept in the dark and not invited to the wedding itself.
that no one she knows be allowed to attend the ceremony and
purposely schedules it the morning of Clym’s return so that he
will not have time to come. When Clym returns, Mrs. Yeobright
catches him up on the situation. Clym tells her that he wants to
go to the wedding anyway, although he is too late.
Venn shows up at the Yeobright residence and tells the This part of the novel contains a nasty bit of Eustacia’s
Yeobrights that the wedding is over. He knows because he sat characteristic posturing. Though she clearly wants to tell Wildeve
nearby and watched the whole thing. The wedding went that she is done with him, she does so by ruining his wedding day.
smoothly this time, though oddly, Eustacia was in attendance. Additionally, the latter half of the novel demonstrates that Eustacia
Venn doesn’t witness Eustacia’s interaction with Wildeve; is not as over Wildeve as she pretends to be.
however, the narrator makes it clear that Eustacia attended to
demonstrate to Wildeve that she no longer cares for him. In a
low voice, she tells Wildeve, “it gives me sincerest pleasure to
see her your wife to-day.”
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 1
As time stretches on, it becomes clear to the locals that Clym Eustacia wants Clym to take her to Paris, but Clym has no desire to
doesn’t plan to leave Egdon Heath anytime soon. They gossip return to Paris. This conflict is central to the entirety of Books 3 and
about why this might be. When Clym comes for his haircut, Sam 4. Additionally, Clym’s desire to build a school near Egdon suggests
and Fairway ask him why he is still around. Clym reveals to that he wants to modernize the heath, an environment notoriously
them that he did not like Paris because he didn’t like his job and immune to modernization.
couldn’t find people who think like him. Instead, he wants to
stay in Egdon and start a school. However, Fairway thinks that
he will change his mind before too long.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 2
Though Clym’s love for Egdon is genuine, his plan for a school is Clym’s plans are the last thing Mrs. Yeobright wants to hear about
half-baked. When he reveals his plans to Mrs. Yeobright, she is after Thomasin’s disastrous marriage. She worries that Clym will
shocked and angered. Mrs. Yeobright worked hard to make continue to lower the status of their family by remaining at Egdon.
sure that Clym was educated and could make a better life for Although Mrs. Yeobright and Eustacia will soon clash heads, they
himself than what can be found on the heath. She feels as are not all that different from each other. Both believe that life is
though Clym wants to throw all of her hard work away. Clym better away from the heath.
insists that wealth and status aren’t everything, though Mrs.
Yeobright clearly disagrees.
In the middle of their argument, Christian arrives with a story. Eustacia likely attended church hoping to see Clym, although that
Apparently, Eustacia attended church for the first time in a long obviously did not happen. However, her plan works indirectly
time. During the service, Susan Nunsuch jabbed Eustacia with a because Clym learns her name and immediately takes an interest in
needle. Though Mrs. Yeobright doesn’t like Eustacia, she feels her. Also, it is worth noting that the reason Susan jabs Eustacia is to
bad for her, and Clym is even more sympathetic. Clym also test whether she is a witch.
wonders whether such simple and superstitious people would
truly benefit from the school he hopes to build. However, he is
interested in Eustacia and begins looking for an excuse to meet
her. He thinks she might be the same woman he met at the
Christmas party. Before long, an excuse arrives, as Sam informs
Clym that the Vyes are having an issue with their well. Clym
insists on coming along to help.
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 3
Mrs. Yeobright is worried that Clym will become romantically Once again, Mrs. Yeobright’s efforts to interfere in a family
involved with Eustacia and tells him so. However, Clym ignores member’s love life go ignored. Unsurprisingly, Clym immediately
her and heads to the Vye residence. When he arrives, he finds a takes an interest in the beautiful Eustacia, whom he also feels quite
group of local men attempting to remove a water bucket that is bad for. He thinks of superstition as a primitive way of thinking that
stuck in the well. Clym offers to help, though nothing comes of his school could help modernize.
it. Eventually, the men leave, deciding that there is nothing
more that can be done for the time being. Eustacia is upset so
Clym offers to get her some clean water. Eustacia politely
declines his offer and then the two of them try once again to
get the bucket out of the well. However, they fail, and Eustacia
cuts her hand in the process. Clym examines her wound and
offers an apology on behalf of Egdon for what occurred at
church.
Over the next few days, Clym and Eustacia begin meeting up Mrs. Yeobright suspects that Eustacia was the reason why Wildeve
with each another, and a romance starts to blossom. Mrs. refused to marry Thomasin, which makes the elder woman dislike
Yeobright is upset by this development and tells Clym to stay her. Additionally, Eustacia is a bit of an outcast in the Egdon
away from Eustacia. However, Clym doesn’t listen. Mrs. community, and Mrs. Yeobright worries about how such a marriage
Yeobright is especially angry after she hears that Clym gave would affect the Yeobright family’s reputation.
Eustacia a gift that was meant to be hers. Tensions continue to
rise between Clym and his mother. One day, they get into a big
fight; Mrs. Yeobright calls Eustacia a “hussy,” and Clym storms
out, not wanting to say anything that will make matters worse.

BOOK 3, CHAPTER 4
Clym spends his days studying and his nights with Eustacia. Clym and Eustacia have fallen in love with each other, which makes
One night, Clym meets Eustacia, and the two them discuss Mrs. it hard for either one of them to look at their situation objectively.
Yeobright’s feelings toward her. Though Eustacia worries that Clearly, Clym has no interest in returning to Paris. Eustacia thinks
Mrs. Yeobright hates her, Clym is convinced that his mother she can convince him to go anyway, and Clym thinks that he can
will come around. Eustacia turns the topic of conversation to convince her to stay. Additionally, though it is possible that Mrs.
Paris, a subject Clym finds boring. Eustacia tells Clym that she Yeobright may come around, it is certainly not a guarantee; Mrs.
will marry him if he’ll take her to Paris, though he tells her that Yeobright has proven herself to be quite stubborn up to this point in
this is unlikely to happen. This displeases Eustacia, though she the novel.
ultimately tells Clym that she will marry him anyway.
Afterward, Eustacia leaves, and Clym is left to wonder whether
marriage is a good idea. He thinks Eustacia is still set on going
to Paris, regardless of what she says. He also worries about
what their marriage will do to his relationship with his mother.
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 5
Mrs. Yeobright hears from Captain Vye that Clym is going to Although the conditions surrounding their impending marriage are
marry Eustacia, and she is not happy. She yells at Clym and calls not ideal, Clym and Eustacia have managed to make a compromise
Eustacia “an unworthy person.” This doesn’t go over well with in the form of Budmouth. Still, though, Eustacia holds out hope for
Clym, who, once again, angrily storms out of the house. He Paris, suggesting that Clym is right to be concerned about rushing
meets up with Eustacia, and the two of them discuss Mrs. into this marriage too quickly.
Yeobright’s disapproval. Then, they move onto a happier
subject; Clym promises Eustacia that after the first six months
of their marriage, he will move them to Budmouth. In the
meantime, they will live in a small cottage while Clym studies.
Eustacia is hesitant, but she ultimately agrees to Clym’s
conditions. Eustacia leaves, and Clym contemplates his
situation. He loves Eustacia but is worried about what she
expects out of their marriage.
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 6
Clym leaves Blooms End, wishing Mrs. Yeobright farewell. He A number of issues arise in this novel because characters refuse to
tells her that he hopes that she comes to see him soon, but she interact with one another directly. Instead, they act passive
says she probably won’t—Clym is planning to marry Eustacia aggressively or turn to an outside source for help. This is the case
soon, and Mrs. Yeobright still disapproves. After Clym leaves, with Thomasin in this passage, and it results in a chain reaction of
Thomasin arrives and asks her aunt some questions about anger and misunderstandings.
money. Apparently, she wants some money, but doesn’t know
how to get it from Wildeve. It is unclear whether she’s asked
him for any directly. Mrs. Yeobright tells her that she should
insist that Wildeve give her money, though the suggestion
makes Thomasin uncomfortable. Mrs. Yeobright worries that
Wildeve is not treating Thomasin very well.

Although it doesn’t solve the larger issue of Wildeve’s Although Thomasin does not do a good job of advocating for herself,
treatment of Thomasin, Mrs. Yeobright offers Thomasin her it does seem to be the case that Wildeve is not a good husband.
inheritance. Thomasin accepts, and Mrs. Yeobright promises to Eustacia’s engagement to Clym has reignited his jealousy, and more
send it over soon. The conversation then turns to Clym’s problems are sure to follow.
marriage. Thomasin tells Mrs. Yeobright that she is being too
harsh on her son. Thomasin also reassures her that Clym still
loves her; she just needs to talk to him. However, Mrs.
Yeobright is stubborn and says she will not do so. Meanwhile,
Wildeve learns that Eustacia is engaged, and he discovers that
he still has feelings for her after all.
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 7
Mrs. Yeobright does not attend Clym’s wedding. Instead, she Again, Mrs. Yeobright fails to place any faith in Wildeve. Although
spends the day at home, sad and alone. Before long, Wildeve this is not overly concerning to Wildeve in the moment, it will have
stops by because he heard there is something for Thomasin repercussions later in the novel.
that needs to be picked up. Immediately, Mrs. Yeobright is
skeptical of Wildeve. She thinks Wildeve may know about
Thomasin’s money and means to claim it for himself. As such,
she tells Wildeve that she will give it to Thomasin later. Wildeve
finds this strange but does not put too much stock into it.
After Wildeve’s departure, Mrs. Yeobright contemplates the Mrs. Yeobright’s decision to trust Christian over Wildeve
best way to send Thomasin the money without Wildeve’s immediately backfires as it seems that Christian and Wildeve are
knowledge. She decides that it would make the most sense to bound to run into each other. Evidently, Mrs. Yeobright’s decision to
have Christian deliver it. Additionally, she decides to give Clym distrust Wildeve is not merely class-based—after all, Christian is not
his part of the inheritance as a wedding gift. She gives the well off—it is character-based, as well.
money to Christian and tells him her plan. Christian agrees to
deliver the money and sets off to do so. On his way to
Thomasin, he comes across some of the locals, including
Fairway, who convince him to come to Wildeve’s inn with them.
Christian arrives at the Quiet Woman Inn with the others, and Christian’s involvement in gambling cannot go anywhere good,
they convince him to gamble. He manages to win some money seeing as he possesses a large sum of money that is not his.
and insists on keeping the dice that led him to victory. After, Meanwhile, although Wildeve is far from the most sympathetic
Christian briefly speaks to Wildeve and implies that he has character in the novel, his anger at Mrs. Yeobright is not
money to give to Thomasin. Wildeve realizes that the money is unwarranted. As far as he’s concerned, he’s done nothing to make
what Mrs. Yeobright refused to give him. He is annoyed that Mrs. Yeobright think that he would withhold money from
she doesn’t trust him enough to give him Thomasin’s Thomasin.
inheritance and starts to plot his revenge.

Wildeve follows Christian from the inn and talks him into Wildeve’s scheme is clear; he wants to take the money in Christian’s
gambling some more. He tells Christian that the money he is possession to teach Mrs. Yeobright a lesson. Indeed, he succeeds in
gambling with belongs to Wildeve anyway, so it won’t be a big getting the money, but Venn’s sudden appearance suggests that he
deal if he loses. Christian accepts the offer and slowly loses all may not keep it for long.
of Thomasin’s money. He becomes addicted to the game and
starts using Clym’s money, as well. Wildeve is unaware that
some of the money belongs to Clym and continues with the
game. Eventually, Christian loses all of the money that Mrs.
Yeobright gave to him and then flees in shame. However, just as
Christian departs, Venn shows up.
BOOK 3, CHAPTER 8
Venn challenges Wildeve to a game of dice. Slowly, Venn wins Venn once again proves himself to be Thomasin’s savoir, even if
back all of the money Wildeve made off of Christian. As the Thomasin does not know it. Although his actions are largely selfless,
game progresses, Wildeve becomes increasingly angry, it is apparent that Venn enjoys getting the better of Wildeve, whom
although he eventually concedes defeat and hands over all of he feels is undeserving of Thomasin. Additionally, Wildeve’s decision
the money to Venn. Shortly after the game ends, the to hide from Eustacia suggests that he still has unresolved feelings
newlyweds (Eustacia and Clym) go by in their carriage. Wildeve for her.
hides, not wanting to interact with Eustacia, though Venn
congratulates them. He also informs them that he needs to find
Thomasin to give her the money, and they point him in the right
direction. Unfortunately, Venn does not know that half of the
money belongs to Clym, so he does not give him any.
BOOK 4, CHAPTER 1
July arrives. Eustacia and Clym are enjoying their marriage. Tension begins to build between Eustacia and Clym because Clym
However, as more time passes, Eustacia worries whether she has not followed through on his promises. Eustacia not only
will ever be able to escape to Budmouth, let alone Paris. expected to go to Budmouth, but she also hoped to go to Paris.
Meanwhile, Clym worries that starting his school will be more Meanwhile, because of a misunderstanding, Clym and his mother
difficult than he anticipated. At the same time, Mrs. Yeobright is have yet to reconcile.
upset that her son never thanked her for the money she sent
his way. She has already received a note from Thomasin
thanking her for the money and expects the same from Clym.
Mrs. Yeobright remains unaware that Christian gambled away
her money.
Mrs. Yeobright wonders whether Eustacia has something to do Misunderstandings build upon one another until conflict between
with the missing money. She decides to go see her, but before Eustacia and Mrs. Yeobright is worse than ever before. Notably, Mrs.
she can do so, Christian confesses to what he’s done. Mrs. Yeobright refuses to apologize to Eustacia, even when she realizes
Yeobright is angry with Christian and fires him, but then, that she is wrong. Though Eustacia is not perfect, she is
wondering what she will do without him, instantly rehires him. understandably offended by her mother-in-law’s actions, and it is
Mrs. Yeobright thinks that Wildeve and Eustacia might be hard to blame her for acting as she does. However, Eustacia’s
romantically involved with each other and that Wildeve gave actions place even more stress on Clym’s relationship with his
Eustacia the other half of the money, so she departs to confront mother.
Eustacia. Eventually, Mrs. Yeobright finds Eustacia and
confronts her. Eustacia is appalled at the accusation and
vehemently denies it. Mrs. Yeobright believes her but does not
apologize. Instead, the two women get into a screaming match,
and then Eustacia storms home, angry and upset.

BOOK 4, CHAPTER 2
Eustacia returns home upset and tells Clym that she never One of Eustacia’s major character flaws is that she refuses to speak
wishes to speak to his mother again. She refuses to go into plainly to Clym. There are a number of key moments in the novel
more detail, leaving Clym in the dark about what all transpired. where Eustacia chooses silence over an explanation when an
Later in the day, Thomasin arrives with Clym’s half of the explanation could make things better. Perhaps her silence is in part
inheritance money. Apparently, Thomasin heard about the fight due to the fact that she has unresolved feelings for Wildeve, even if
between Eustacia and Mrs. Yeobright, though she doesn’t say she has not acted upon or consciously acknowledged them.
how. Thomasin tells Clym to be grateful that the money was
not lost. Clym responds that he would rather not have the
money if he could’ve avoided such an incident.
Knowing that Eustacia is unhappy, Clym studies extra hard so Clym and Eustacia’s plans have quickly fallen apart. Now that Clym
that they can move soon. However, he is quickly beset by can no longer offer Eustacia an escape from Egdon, it becomes
misfortunate. His constant studying has had a negative impact difficult to know if she still loves him. Certainly, a large part of
on his eyesight, and he starts to go blind. A doctor tells him Eustacia’s love for Clym is predicated on his ability to get her away
that it will be months before he can read again without putting from Egdon, something he no longer appears able to do. Also note
an undue strain on his eyes. This means that Clym and Eustacia that Clym’s diminished eyesight corresponds with Eustacia’s waning
will have to continue living in their small cabin, which horrifies interest in Clym; this helps establish Clym’s eyesight as a symbol for
Eustacia. Even when Clym is better, it doesn’t seem as though his (figurative) shortsightedness—he’s inability to see that Eustacia’s
he will be able to build a school anytime soon. love for him is (and perhaps always has been) conditional.
Because he cannot read, Clym decides to become a furze- A furze-cutter is someone who harvests furze, a plant used to feed
cutter. Clym enjoys the job and spends much of his time singing. livestock. Eustacia considers Clym’s new job to be low class and
Eustacia overhears one of Clym’s songs, at which point she cannot stand to think that her husband could ever find himself in
decides to confront him. Eustacia cannot believe that Clym can such a position. Certainly, Mrs. Yeobright would agree.
find pleasure in such work, which she feels is beneath him.
However, Clym thinks that she is overreacting and tells her so.
They need money, so why shouldn’t he do something he enjoys?
This does not satisfy Eustacia, who leaves in tears.
BOOK 4, CHAPTER 3
Clym and Eustacia’s relationship takes a turn for the worse. Eustacia doesn’t feel as though she can live in Egdon any longer. At
Though Clym tries to comfort his wife, Eustacia cannot bear this point, Clym’s condition has shattered her fantasies of escape,
what has become of their future. Clym questions Eustacia and she wonders if she will be driven to insanity. She has wasted her
about whether she ever loved him. He thinks it likely that she life by failing to leave Egdon, and she has wasted Clym’s life by
was more interested in what he could do for her than anything marrying him.
else. Eustacia refuses to answer Clym’s questions directly, and
Clym departs. Eustacia, now alone, says aloud, “Two wasted
lives—his and mine. And I am come to this! Will it drive me out
of my mind?”

Wanting to feel better, Eustacia decides to go to a party that Clearly, Eustacia is desperate: previously, she avoided all social
the wife of a cattle-dealer invited her to. When Eustacia arrives interaction, and yet now she is attending a party. Her renewed
at the party, she finds that the cattle-dealer’s wife is not relationship with Wildeve suggests a number of issues for the plot
present and that she doesn’t know anyone else. Eustacia walks moving forward. Eustacia has already been accused of being
around on her own for a while and eventually spots Wildeve. unfaithful to Clym and now it seems as though that accusation may
Wildeve asks Eustacia to dance, and she accepts. Although become a reality.
nothing inappropriate happens, it is clear that both parties still
have feelings for each another.
After the party, Wildeve and Eustacia walk home together. Both Eustacia and Wildeve act selfishly. While they attend a party,
Eustacia learns that Thomasin is going to have a baby, while their spouses are at home—one blind, one pregnant. Furthermore,
Wildeve learns of Clym’s blindness. On their way home, they know that they are acting inappropriately, which is why
Wildeve and Eustacia spot Venn coming down the path. Not Wildeve actively avoids Venn. However, as always, Venn is quick to
wanting to attract undue attention, Wildeve decides to go off in catch on to the truth, and he is also privy to Eustacia and Wildeve’s
a different direction. Although Venn cannot recognize Wildeve, former relationship.
he does notice a figure depart from Eustacia’s side. When he
meets Eustacia on the road, he assumes that the figure must
have been Wildeve. Venn is worried about Thomasin and goes
to Wildeve’s house. Wildeve isn’t not home, but Thomasin is, so
Venn asks her questions about her husband. However, he
doesn’t learn much and ultimately departs. Wildeve returns
home later on and becomes worried after Thomasin tells him
that Venn stopped by and asked about him.
BOOK 4, CHAPTER 4
Venn resorts to drastic measures to keep Eustacia and Wildeve Venn is willing to do anything to keep Thomasin happy, even if it
apart. He spends much of the evening hours following Wildeve means spending his evenings threatening Wildeve. However, while
around and scaring him. Among other things, he fires a gun at Wildeve and Eustacia are not entirely innocent, they also are not as
Wildeve when he sees him heading in the direction of guilty as Venn thinks they are. As such, the information he gives
Eustacia’s house. Wildeve knows that Venn is responsible, Mrs. Yeobright is unfair to Eustacia and Wildeve, and it only makes
though he does not spot him. Feeling as though he’s scared matters worse between Mrs. Yeobright and Clym. Meanwhile, Clym
Wildeve off for the night, Venn pays Mrs. Yeobright a visit. is clearly devastated by his ruined relationship with his mother.
Venn tells Mrs. Yeobright about Clym’s condition, though she Both Mrs. Yeobright and Clym feel betrayed. While there is some
still won’t go see him. Venn warns her that Eustacia and validity to them feeling betrayed, their division comes from
Wildeve seem to have started a secret relationship, but Mrs. miscommunications and assumptions more than anything else.
Yeobright refuses to do anything about it. Meanwhile, Eustacia
and Clym are at their home discussing Clym’s relationship with
Mrs. Yeobright. Clym gets mad at Eustacia because she does
not seem to care about his relationship with his mother.

BOOK 4, CHAPTER 5
On a sweltering day in August, Mrs. Yeobright decides that she Egdon Heath can be a dangerous place (particularly for an older
will pay Clym a visit. The walk to Clym and Eustacia’s place is woman), even in the daytime. In this case, the sweltering heat
long and hot, which is difficult for an older woman like Mrs. exhausts Mrs. Yeobright, and it is a testament to how much she
Yeobright. On her way to Clym’s house, she spots Clym out in wants to see her son that she pushes through her exhaustion. Like
the field, although she does not recognize him at first. She is Eustacia, Mrs. Yeobright cannot stomach the thought of her son
shocked to learn that he has become a furze-cutter. This new being a furze-cutter, but she does not want to ruin their relationship
revelation, along with the heat, makes Mrs. Yeobright stop and completely by telling him so.
sit down. She looks at her son’s new house and thinks about
how she will approach Clym and Eustacia after not seeing them
for so long.
BOOK 4, CHAPTER 6
On the same day that Mrs. Yeobright goes to see Clym and Wildeve’s arrival at Clym and Eustacia’s home is a disaster waiting
Eustacia, Wildeve decides to do the same. Wildeve arrives to happen. Mrs. Yeobright already suspects that something
before Mrs. Yeobright and Eustacia lets him in. Wildeve and inappropriate is going on between Eustacia and her former suitor,
Eustacia talk as Clym takes a nap, exhausted from working in and arriving at Clym’s to find Eustacia and Wildeve together would
the hot sun. Wildeve only now realizes how low Eustacia’s vindicate her feelings.
fortunes have sunk, and he reminds her that she should have
married him instead. Eustacia doesn’t take kindly to this remark
and tells Wildeve that it is his fault that were not married.
Wildeve agrees and admits that he wishes they were still
together.
In the middle of their conversation, Eustacia and Wildeve hear Eustacia finds herself in a difficult position; though she hasn’t been
a knock at the door. Eustacia looks and sees that Mrs. unfaithful to Clym, she assumes Mrs. Yeobright will think the worst
Yeobright is standing outside. She debates whether to open the of her if she sees her with Wildeve. Eustacia’s decision to turn Mrs.
door with Wildeve present. She knows the Mrs. Yeobright will Yeobright away proves to be one of the most important moments in
assume the worst of her if she does. Eustacia notices Clym the entire novel, as the fallout of this moment sets up the story’s
waking up and knows that he will answer the door whether she climax.
likes it or not. Ultimately, Eustacia tells Wildeve to sneak out
the back, which he does. Eustacia goes outside with him,
assuming that Clym will answer the door. However, when she
returns inside, she finds Clym still asleep, and Mrs. Yeobright is
nowhere to be found.
Devasted, Mrs. Yeobright heads home. She saw Eustacia look Mrs. Yeobright is understandably devasted; she compromises her
at her through the window and thinks that she and Clym are core values to repair her relationship with her son, only for her son
refusing to let her in. On her way home, Mrs. Yeobright walks to turn her away—or so she thinks. Of course, Mrs. Yeobright does
alongside Johnny and tells him about everything that has not know the full story and so the information that she gives Johnny
transpired. Johnny brings Mrs. Yeobright some water, but she is incorrect. This misinformation is crucial for the plot moving
barely drinks any of it because it is warm. Afterward, Mrs. forward.
Yeobright dismisses him and sits alone in the grass. It is still
excruciatingly hot outside, and she is having a difficult time
breathing.

BOOK 4, CHAPTER 7
Clym wakes up from a dream about his mother. He bemoans Eustacia doesn’t want Clym to see his mother because she knows
the fact that she still hasn’t come to see him. Not wanting to that Mrs. Yeobright will tell her son that Eustacia refused to let her
admit what she has done, Eustacia keeps quiet about the in. However, though Clym ignores Eustacia, he may be too late; Mrs.
events that transpired earlier in the day. Deciding that he Yeobright was already exhausted and dehydrated, and now she’s
cannot take it anymore, Clym decides to visit his mother. been bitten by a deadly snake. Additionally, because this is Egdon
Eustacia begs him not to go and even offers to go herself, but Heath and doctors are not readily available, all Clym can do is wait
Clym won’t listen. On his way to his mother’s house, Clym finds and hope someone will come soon.
her lying in the grass. Concerned, he carries her to the nearest
houses he can find, which happens to be where Sam, Fairway,
and Humphrey live. Sam quickly deduces that Mrs. Yeobright
was bitten by a snake. He tells Clym that until they get a doctor,
the best they can do is to rub the fat from other snakes on the
wound. They do so, but Mrs. Yeobright’s condition doesn’t
improve.
BOOK 4, CHAPTER 8
Eustacia worries about what will come out in the conversation Wildeve’s new fortune is important because it is yet another way
between Clym and Mrs. Yeobright. While Eustacia is at home that Eustacia can get out of Egdon Heath. She thinks that her
alone, Captain Vye shows up and tells her that Wildeve relationship with Clym is coming to an end, and she knows she
recently came into a large fortune. He also takes notice of her needs a backup plan. However, she also does not want to become
current living situation and tells her that she should’ve married the heartless adulterer that Mrs. Yeobright thinks she is.
Wildeve instead. Additionally, Captain Vye offers Eustacia
money, though she refuses to take anything from him. Eustacia
knows that Wildeve is still in love with her and wonders what
will become of that love now that he has his fortune. She goes
outside to walk and think over her present circumstances.
On her walk, Eustacia encounters Wildeve, although their Clearly, Wildeve does not care for Thomasin as much as he cares for
meeting doesn’t seem like much of a coincidence on Wildeve’s Eustacia. Though he does not ask Eustacia to join him on his travels,
part. Wildeve tells Eustacia about his fortune, which he didn’t he implies that it is a possibility, and he knowingly mentions Paris to
reveal earlier because he didn’t want to seem as though he was entice her. However, before Eustacia can even begin thinking about
bragging. Wildeve tells Eustacia that he plans to travel all such a possibility, she is met with the consequences of her earlier
around the world, including Paris, whether Thomasin actions: Mrs. Yeobright’s death.
accompanies him or not. While walking together, Wildeve and
Eustacia spot a light coming from nearby. They go to
investigate and find that a number of people, including a doctor,
are standing, and crying over the body of Mrs. Yeobright who
has just died. However, they remain out of sight to avoid
arousing suspicion. Eustacia overhears Johnny tell Clym that
his mother described herself as “a broken-hearted woman” who
was “cast off by her son.”

BOOK 5, CHAPTER 1
In the wake of Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Clym feels incredibly In the wake of his Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Clym’s obsession with his
guilty. Eustacia still hasn’t told him that Mrs. Yeobright came to mother only grows stronger. He feels extreme guilt about what
see him, and Clym holds himself responsible for his mother’s happened and Eustacia selfishly denies him the truth. However, like
death. A few weeks after Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Thomasin all important pieces of information in this novel, the truth has a way
pays her brother a visit and tells him that her baby will be born of surfacing—whether Eustacia wants it to or not. Meanwhile,
in two months. Clym acknowledges the news but is too Wildeve also continues his selfish streak by making sure that his
distracted by his own guilt and shame to care. He cannot name does not come up.
understand why his mother said what she did before her death.
While Clym and Thomasin are talking, Eustacia goes outside to
find Wildeve, who has come to get his wife. Wildeve advises
Eustacia to tell Clym the truth, but to omit that Wildeve was
present. Before their conversation can continue, Thomasin
shows up and departs with her husband.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 2
One evening, while Clym is still depressed, Christian arrives Christian’s information sets Clym on a path to find out the truth.
and provides him with a new piece of information. Mrs. Although Clym does not know it yet, it seems that learning the truth
Yeobright had forgiven her son and was on her way to see him about Mrs. Yeobright’s death will cost Clym his relationship with
on the morning of her death. Clym is confused; he now has two Eustacia.
pieces of contradictory evidence. Not long after, Venn stops by,
and Clym tell him that his mother is dead. The news shocks
Venn, though he seconds Christian’s opinion that Mrs.
Yeobright forgave Clym.
Realizing that something doesn’t add up, Clym decides to speak Because Eustacia does not speak up about what actually happened
to Johnny again. Johnny is Susan Nunsuch’s son, and she on the day of Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Clym is now left to assume the
assures Clym that Johnny is telling the truth. Nonetheless, worst.
Clym demands to speak with Johnny again. This time, Clym
finds out that by the time Johnny saw his mother, she was
already on her way back from Clym’s home. Johnny tells Clym
that he saw a man enter Clym’s house and then watched as
Eustacia turned Mrs. Yeobright away. This infuriates Clym, who
leaves to find Eustacia.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 3
Clym arrives home and begins yelling at Eustacia; he blames Once again, Eustacia refuses to adequately defend herself. Though
her for Mrs. Yeobright’s death and accuses her of having an Clym’s accusations are largely false, they are not unreasonable, and
affair. Eustacia denies his accusations but refuses to explain Eustacia does little to help case. Although Clym quickly realizes that
further. Eustacia eventually admits that she is partially some of his accusations go a step too far, he still wants
guilty—but not in the manner Clym thinks. Clym asks her to answers—which Eustacia repeatedly denies him. Additionally, in a
explain herself, and she refuses. Eventually, Eustacia admits twist of cruel irony, Thomasin names her child after Eustacia, just as
that she did not unlock the door immediately. However, she Eustacia and Clym’s marriage starts to crumble.
promises that that she would have done so had she realized
that Clym hadn’t answered it either. Still, she does not make
any mention of Wildeve. Upset by the whole situation, Eustacia
leaves to go back to her grandfather. Later in the day, Clym
learns that Thomasin’s given birth to a baby girl, whom she
names Baby Eustacia.

BOOK 5, CHAPTER 4
Eustacia heads to her grandfather’s place, completely lost. All of Eustacia’s hopes and dreams have failed, and so she considers
When she arrives, she finds Charley, who is visibly concerned ending her own life. However, despite her poor treatment of him,
for her safety. However, she refuses to tell Charley what Charley is determined to make sure that nothing happens to
happened. Eustacia heads inside and sees her grandfather’s Eustacia. Even though Eustacia hates the heath, many of its
guns. She looks at them and contemplates suicide. Noticing residents are kind to her, with Charley being the primary example.
this, Charley takes them down from the wall and puts them
somewhere that Eustacia cannot find them. When Eustacia
asks him to fetch her the guns, he tells her, “I care too much for
you to give ‘em up.” Eustacia is angry at Charley for not allowing
her to end her own life, but she eventually calms down and tells
him that she is no longer suicidal.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 5
Guy Fawkes day arrives again, so Charley builds the Vyes a At this point, an entire year has passed since the start of the novel.
bonfire, hoping to cheer up Eustacia. Captain Vye thinks that This time, the bonfire, which previously gave Eustacia hope, is now a
this is a good idea, although it doesn’t work as intended. symbol of fear. Eustacia doesn’t want Wildeve to come to her, for
Eustacia does not feel up to doing anything and worries that fear that his presence will make matters worse. However, Wildeve
Wildeve will think she is signaling him. Indeed, Wildeve shows ultimately proves himself useful, and Eustacia once again has some
up and converses with Eustacia. Wildeve appears sympathetic hope that she can escape Egdon.
to Eustacia’s situation, and he offers to help her in any way he
can. Although Eustacia doesn’t want to ask too much of
Wildeve, she does ask him if he can help her get to Budmouth.
From there, she hopes to sail to Paris. Wildeve promises that
he will help Eustacia get to Budmouth.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 6
As Eustacia schemes to escape Egdon Heath once and for all, Throughout The Return of the Native, characters tend to spend
Clym attempts to sort out the truth. He doesn’t think that too much time deliberating and talking to anyone and everyone
Eustacia is guilty of all he accused her of, and he starts to feel except the person they should be talking to. Though Thomasin gives
ashamed of how he acted. He wants to make things right but Clym helpful advice, he should really be speaking to Eustacia—and
isn’t sure how, so he decides to visit Thomasin and ask her for his time to do so is quickly running out.
advice. Thomasin is surprised to learn what’s happened
between Eustacia and Clym. She tells Clym that he must fix
things right away and suggests writing Thomasin a letter. Clym
and Thomasin switch the topic of conversation to Thomasin’s
life. Thomasin complains that Wildeve is not present in her life.
Clym goes home and writes to Eustacia. His letter is partially an It is hard to imagine that Clym’s ambivalent letter will do much to
apology, though it is clear that he still places a significant cheer up Eustacia, though it is at least an attempt to save their
amount of blame on her for his mother’s death. Nonetheless, failing marriage. Meanwhile, it is clear that Wildeve has just
Clym promises to forgive her and tells her, “Our love must still returned from meeting with Eustacia, and he does a poor job of
continue.” Meanwhile, Wildeve arrives home, where Thomasin hiding it from Thomasin.
promptly questions him regarding his whereabouts. Wildeve
refuses to answer her questions, though, so Thomasin decides
to question him directly about Eustacia. Wildeve bristles at the
mention of Eustacia’s name and tells Thomasin that he doesn’t
want to talk about her.

BOOK 5, CHAPTER 7
Eustacia decides once and for all that she is leaving Egdon Superstition is common among the residents of Egdon Heath, and
Heath. Before signaling to Wildeve that she is ready to depart, Susan is the most superstitious of all. The effigy Susan creates and
Eustacia takes a walk around the heath. While on her walk, burns suggests that she still believes Eustacia is a witch.
Susan spots her. Susan is angry at Eustacia because her son
Johnny is ill and thinks that it is all Eustacia’s fault. Susan
creates an effigy of Eustacia and then shoves needles through
it before burning it in the fire.
After Eustacia returns from her walk, she starts a bonfire to let Clym’s missed letter is yet another instance of failed
Wildeve know that she is on her way. Before she departs, communication in the novel. Additionally, the rapidly changing
Clym’s letter arrives. She doesn’t see it, though, because weather is an ominous sign. As Eustacia suggests here, it seems that
Captain Vye accepted it and assumed his granddaughter was her dreams of Paris simply are not meant to be, though she
asleep. Eustacia starts to make her way to Wildeve’s but begins continues to chase them anyway.
to have second thoughts. She doesn’t know if she can count on
Wildeve, and the weather is starting to get bad. In misery, she
cries out, “How I have tried and tried to be a splendid woman,
and how destiny has been against me! . . . I do not deserve my
lot!” Nonetheless, she continues to make her way to Wildeve’s.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 8
Clym waits and wonders if Eustacia will return. Before long, Thomasin immediately recognizes what her husband has done,
Thomasin arrives with her child and tells Clym that she thinks suggesting Wildeve is not as sly as he thinks. Additionally, yet
Eustacia has gone to meet Wildeve. Earlier, she heard Wildeve another major character has left the safety of his home to face the
take money out a chest in their bedroom, so she assumes that powerful weather of the heath.
he means to run off with Eustacia. Shortly afterward, Captain
Vye shows up and confirms that Eustacia is missing. Clym
leaves to go look for Eustacia.
Thomasin stays put at first, but then, against her better Even more characters end up in the bad weather, making disaster
judgement, decides to go looking for Eustacia and Wildeve. appear immanent. However, Venn has repeatedly proven himself to
Thomasin quickly gets lost, though she luckily comes across be the most resourceful character in the novel, so it is lucky for
Venn and lets him know what is going on. Venn is confused; he Thomasin that she finds him.
thought he heard a woman crying shortly before Thomasin
arrived. However, Thomasin assures him that the crying did not
come from her or her child. Together, Venn and Thomasin head
off into the storm in the direction of Thomasin’s house.
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 9
Wildeve spots Eustacia’s fire and prepares to take her to Unsurprisingly, Wildeve is planning to do almost exactly what
Budmouth. He thinks that the good deed he is doing for Thomasin feared he’d do. His willingness to help Eustacia is not a
Eustacia will allow him to make her his mistress while still purely selfless act; it is an attempt to fulfill a fantasy of his own.
keeping Thomasin as his wife. He sees no issue with this However, Eustacia’s scream signals that Wildeve’s plan will never
arrangement and thinks himself worthy of both women. On his come to fruition.
way to meet Eustacia, Wildeve comes across Clym. Nearby is a
pond, from which Wildeve and Clym hear Eustacia scream.
Both Clym and Wildeve jump into the water to try and save her.
Venn arrives shortly after and helps them.

Several members of the community are drawn to the scene In this climactic moment, all of the central characters converge into
because of the commotion it has created. Everyone works one place, though two of them don’t make it out alive. Similar to
together, along with Venn to save Clym, Wildeve and Eustacia. Mrs. Yeobright’s death, Eustacia and Wildeve’s deaths leave a lot of
Eventually, everyone is recovered from the pond, although questions, although it is unlikely that those left behind will find any
Eustacia and Wildeve are dead. Although Clym is breathing, he answers.
is unconscious and does not look good. Back at the inn,
everyone tries to make sense of what happened, but no one has
the full story now that Eustacia and Wildeve are dead.
Eventually, Charley arrives, looking for Eustacia. Clym tells
Charley that Eustacia is dead and takes him to look at her body.
In death, her beauty is described as, “eclips[ing] all her living
phases.” Clym blames himself for the entire situation and
wonders whether he will ever recover.
BOOK 6, CHAPTER 1
The story of Wildeve and Eustacia becomes well-known, even Although the last year of Thomasin’s life has not been easy, it seems
by those who did not know them. After Wildeve’s death, as though she will eventually recover. However, Clym remains
Thomasin learns that her husband had many debts, which she obsessed with the past and unable to pull himself away from what
uses his fortune to pay off. Additionally, she is forced to move happened. Meanwhile, it seems that Venn may finally be an
back to her aunt’s old home with Clym. Although she is appropriate match for Thomasin.
devasted by what happened, Thomasin is glad that she still has
Baby Eustacia to keep her company. Clym, however, is a shell of
himself and spends most of his time wandering between the
graves of his loved ones. Meanwhile, Venn gives up his
reddleman career and returns to dairy farming. This catches
Thomasin’s attention, and she and Venn strike up a romance.
BOOK 6, CHAPTER 2
Thomasin discovers that her nurse borrowed one of her gloves Most deceptive actions carry a negative connotation in this novel.
and took it to a party. Thomasin saw Venn at this party, and he However, Venn’s glove ploy works perfectly because it is done with
told he was looking for the glove of a beautiful woman. As it genuine love and innocence rather than a selfish desire to
turns out, Venn knew the glove belonged to Thomasin, and manipulate Thomasin.
Thomasin realizes the whole situation is one big romantic
gesture. Thomasin goes and speaks to Venn about the glove
incident, and the two of them start to fall in love.
BOOK 6, CHAPTER 3
Still lost in the world, Clym decides he will become a preacher. Clym considers marrying Thomasin out of obligation rather than
Additionally, he considers asking Thomasin to marry him. love. However, he quickly perceives the error of his ways and, for the
However, when he goes to discuss marriage with Thomasin, first time, the novel presents a happy union between two people
Thomasin reveals that she is already considering marrying who seem like they’ll stay together.
Venn. However, before she does so, she wants to ask Clym’s
permission. More specifically, she wants to know if Mrs.
Yeobright would’ve approved of her marrying Venn under such
circumstances. At first, Clym is not sure if the marriage is a
good idea, but he eventually changes says that it is appropriate
under the circumstances. Thrilled, Thomasin agrees to marry
Venn.

BOOK 6, CHAPTER 4
Thomasin and Venn’s wedding is a happy event for everyone Clym’s ending is ultimately tragic. Though he manages to become a
except Clym, who is too sad to attend. Instead, Clym spends his preacher, he cannot let go of the past or relinquish his own guilt.
day walking near the Vye property, where he spots Charley. Though his mother and Eustacia had flaws of their own, Clym
Charley is also still saddened by Eustacia’s death, and he asks cannot help but feel that their tragic fates were avoidable. However,
Clym if he can have something of hers to keep. In response, the novel is not without hope; Thomasin and Venn appear genuinely
Clym gives him a lock of Eustacia’s hair. At the end of the day, happy and baby Eustacia represents the new life that will populate
Thomasin comes to see Clym and tells him that she is off to the heath in the years to come.
start her new life with Venn. Eventually, Clym realizes his
dream of becoming a preacher, though he never manages to
get over the deaths of Eustacia and Mrs. Yeobright.

To cite any of the quotes from The Return of the Native covered in
HOW T
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To cite this LitChart: MLA
MLA Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Penguin Classics. 1999.
Sawyer, Ian. "The Return of the Native." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 28 CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Nov 2022. Web. 28 Nov 2022.
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. London: Penguin
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL Classics. 1999.
Sawyer, Ian. "The Return of the Native." LitCharts LLC, November
28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-return-of-the-native.

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The Return of the Native

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The sea changed, the fields changed, the rivers, the

Book 1, Chapter 1 Quotes Page Number: 12

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Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

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Book 2, Chapter 3 Quotes Book 2, Chapter 5 Quotes

Related Themes: Page Number: 129

Explanation and Analysis

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Explanation and Analysis

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Page Number: 248

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Explanation and Analysis Book 4, Chapter 6 Quotes

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largely self-serving. Related Characters: Eustacia Vye (speaker), Clym

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Book 6, Chapter 1 Quotes

Explanation and Analysis

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Yeobright Related Characters: Clym Yeobright, Diggory Venn (The

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

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