Philosophy Now Forum

Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy I think classifies as philosophical literature. Anybody out there read it? What do you think?

RachelAnn wrote:Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy I think classifies as philosophical literature. Anybody out there read it? What do you think?

I read it a few years ago. I found it a profoundly depressing novel.

Yeah, I love Thomas Hardy. Jude the Obscure is one of my favourtie Hardy novels, there was a good film version of it made if it a few years ago.
Hardy's views were influenced by Schopenhauer.

HURRAY!! Another fan of Jude the Obscure!!! That is my favorite Hardy novel, hands down.
I never knew that about Schopenhauer's influence. It fits.

These are the Hardy Poems and Novels I have read.

Hardy, Thomas,
Poetry.
Wessex Poems and other verses.
War Poems.
Poems of Pilgrimage.
Miscellaneous Poems.
Imitations, etc.
Retrospect.
Times Laughingstocks.
More Love Lyrics.
A set of Country Songs.
Pieces Occasional and Various
Lyrics and Reveries.
Poems of 1912-1913.
Miscellaneous Pieces.
Satires of Circumstance.
Selected Poems.
Novels and short stories.
Under the Greenwood Tree.
Jude the Obscure.
Life’s little Ironies.
The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
Far from the Madding Crowd.
The Return of the Native.
The Woodlanders.
Wessex Tales.
The Trumpet Major.
A Pair of Blue Eyes.
Notes on own novels and poems.
Ousby, Ian
Notes on Far from the Madding Crowd.
Hill-Miller, K. C.
Notes on Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
Various.
Notes on Hardy.

I haven't read any for a few years now.
What works of Hardy have you read?

I am not the expert you are!! I have read Far from the Maddening Crowd, could not stand "Tess" for more than three pages; much poetry: "Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker, The postman nears and goes: A letter is brought whose lines disclose By the firelight flicker His hand, whom the worm now knows." Mayor of Casterbridge, Return of the Native, Jude of course, and I still cannot stand to read "Tess." Why? Don't know. It is what it is.

I absolutely LOVE Thomas Hardy - my favourite novel is The Return of the Native although it is devastatingly upsetting.

Yes, Schop was a massive influence.

I also live where Hardy lives and Jude the Obscure worked as a mason in my home town - Salisbury.

His poetry is his real strength in my opinion - too many greats to talk about

One of the most moving books I ever read...

Hi Nisus,

I visited your blog and noticed your comment on the universe. I thought you might be interested in Pascal's famous comment:

"Blaise Pascal
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Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed. The entire universe need not arm itself to crush him. A vapour, a drop of water suffices to kill him. But, if the Universe were to crush him, man would still be more noble than that which killed him, because he knows that he dies and the advantage which the universe has over him; the universe knows nothing of this. -Blaise Pascal, Pensées"

Contrary to your blog comment, Pascal holds that the universe did not create me and it knows nothing of me.

Regardless, I admire your philosophizing.

Tom

Nisus wrote:One of the most moving books I ever read...