Thomas Hardy and animals

Evers, Alma (1989). Thomas Hardy and animals. University of Birmingham. M.Litt.

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Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to show that animals were of great - and generally overlooked - importance to Hardy in his life and work. It examines some of his relationships with his pets and his sympathy with many of the animal welfare movements which developed during the latter decades of his life. Working horses are discussed as his constant metaphor for the labouring human poor including the private soldier, sheep as a metaphor for the human parishioners of Weatherbury in Far from the Madding Crowd, bulls and pigs as the dominant imagery linked to specific humans in The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure. Tess of the d’Urbervilles is seen as the culmination of Hardy's treatment of animals in his novels, especially in its anthropomorphism and in the use of attitudes towards animals as a yardstick for assessing the condition of the human soul. As he always insisted, Hardy subscribed to no specific philosophy, but his outlook on animals, it is argued, was basically Monistic.

Only the novels are discussed in detail, although Hardy's drama and poetry are referred to.

'Animals' should really read 'mammals' (although other creatures are mentioned) , but to use this term in the title would sound too pedantic.

Type of Work:	Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Litt.)
Award Type:	Masters by Research > M.Litt.
Supervisor(s):	Supervisor(s) Email ORCID Rees, Joan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
College/Faculty:	Faculties (to 1997) > Faculty of Arts
School or Department:	School of English
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PR English literature
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/18086

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