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AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastrain English Leters
By
CH.NUNUNG MARGANINGSIH Student Number: 024214096
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGAMME DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
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AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Leters
By
CH.NUNUNG MARGANINGSIH Student Number: 024214096
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGAMME DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
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EUSTACIA’S DECISION TO COMMIT SUICIDE IN THOMAS HARDY’STHE RETURN OF THE NATIVE
By
CH.NUNUNG MARGANINGSIH Student Number: 024214096
Approved by
Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M. Hum Advisor
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Nama : CH. NUNUNG MARGANINGSIH
Nomor Mahasiswa : 024214096
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE CONTRIBUTION OF CONFLICTS TOWARD EUSTACIA’S DECISION TO COMMIT SUICIDE IN THOMAS
HARDY’STHE RETURN OF THE NATIVE
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Universtias Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan, dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam benruk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet dan atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin ddari saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencamtumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebennarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal : 2 Juni 2009
Yang menyatakan
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I will give you rest. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble.
Then your soul will find rest”
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my life. They give me strength for my day, comfort for my tears, and light for my way. I am nothing without Them.
I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my father, Bapak, who always supports and encourages me. I thank for his patience and financial support to finish my study. I would like to thank to my lovely mother, Ibuk, who always loves, cares and prays for me. I also thank my sister, Maia, who always supports me. I thank for my family who will always walk with me throughout my life.
My gratitude goes to my advisor, Dewi Widyastuti S.Pd, M. Hum, for all the guidance, advice, and patience that helped me in finishing this thesis. I also would like to dedicate my gratitude to my co-advisor, M. Luluk Artika W., S.S. for giving me advice and suggestion for my thesis. I would like to thank to all my lectures in English Letters Department, the secretariat staffs, and to the library staffs who have helped me during my study.
Last, I would like to thank my friends, especially Monik, Wiwin, Siti, Niko, Dian, Sheila and Cinta who always support and let me lean on when life gets messy. I would like to thank De Nup, Bulbul, Ike “Kotoko”, Tuta, Ka Hota, and Entin for the beautiful moments for my days in Jogya. I also want to thank Adi for his love, support and understanding. Last, I thank all people that I cannot mention the names here that have helped and supported me
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ACCEPTANCE PAGE………. iii
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PESETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS………. iv
MOTTO PAGE ………. v
DEDICATION PAGE ……….. vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………. vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………. viii
ABSTRACT ………... x
ABSTRAK………... xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ………. 1
A. Background of the Study…..……… 1
B. Problem Formulation……… 3
C. Objectives of the Study ……… 3
D. Definition of Terms ………... 4
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………. 5
A. Reviews of Related Studies……….. 5
B. Reviews of Related Theories……… 7
1. Theories of Character and Characterization……… 7
2. Theories of Conflict……… 10
3. The Relationship between Literature and Psychology……… 12
4. Theories of Suicide………. 12
C. Theoretical Framework………... 14
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY……….. 16
A. Object of the Study………... 16
B. Approach of the Study………. 17
C. Method of the Study………. 18
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS………. 20
A. Eustacia’s Characteristics……… 20
B. Eustacia’s Conflicts ………... 35
1. Eustacia’s Conflicts with herself………. 35
a. Telling the Truth about Mrs. Yeobright’s Coming or not……….... 35
b. Going with Wildeve to Leave Egdon or not ... 37
2. Eustacia’s Conflicts with Clym Yeobright………. 38
a. The Idea of Living in Egdon ……….. 38
b. The Purpose of their Marriage ……….. 39
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Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2009.
The Return of the Nativetells about human life, especially about ambition and failure. This is shown in the character of Eustacia. Hardy presents an ambitious young woman, Eustacia Vye who is bored with her life in Egdon and she wants to get happiness in her dreamland Paris. She tries to find an ideal man who can bring her out from Egdon and go to Paris. In her struggles for achieving her ambition, she has to face the problems that will give influence to her life.
There are three objectives in this study. The first is to find out Eustacia’s characteristics in the novel. The second is to describe the conflicts that are faced by Eustacia. The third is to explain her decision to commit suicide as the contribution of her conflicts in her life.
This study uses library research. The main source of this study is a novel The Return of the Native written by Thomas Hardy. The writer also collects the data from several books and the internet sites that support this study. The writer uses psychological approach to analyze the conflicts and the contribution of the conflicts toward Eustacia’s decision to commit suicide.
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The Return of the Native menceritakan kehidupan manusia, khususnya tentang ambisi dan kegagalan. Hal ini ditunjukkan dalam karakter Eustacia. Eustacia Vye adalah seorang wanita muda yang berambisi, dia bosan dengan kehidupannya di Egdon dan dia ingin mendapatkan kebahagiaan di tempat impiannya Paris. Dia mencoba menemukan seorang pria ideal yang dapat membawanya keluar dari Egdon dan pergi ke Paris. Dalam usahanya mendapatkan keinginannya, dia harus menghadapi masalah yang akan berpengaruh terhadap hidupnya.
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menjawab rumusan masalah, pertama untuk mencari sifat–sifat dari Eustacia dalam novel. Yang kedua untuk menggambarkan konflik–konflik yang dihadapi Eustacia. Yang ketiga untuk menjelaskan bahwa keputusan bunuh diri Eustacia akibat sumbangan dari konflik-konflik dalam hidupnya.
Studi ini menggunakan studi pustaka. Sumber utama dari studi ini adalah novel berjudul The Return of the Nativeyang ditulis oleh Thomas Hardy. Penulis juga mengumpulkan data dari beberapa buku dan situs internet yang mendukung studi ini. Penulis menggunakan pendekatan psikologis untuk menganalisa konflik–konflik and sumbangan dari konflik–konflik Eustacia terhadap keputusannya untuk bunuh diri.
1 A. Background of the Study
Man is a unique creature; everyone has his or her own characteristics that can differentiate him or her from others. People also have their own needs and purposes in life. They search for the meaning life in order to get a meaningful life. They want to fulfill their needs and they want to be a whole being. In order to fulfill their needs and purposes, people have to struggle to get their needs and purposes. The struggles do not always succeed like what we want. Sometimes we have to face problems and many obstacles in our life. People have problems that lead them to some conflicts. A conflict is the condition where an individual is motivated by two or more needs or goals in life (Coleman, 1964: 83). In addition, the consequence is he has to choose one and give up the other. Conflicts influence people to do something or to take a decision to overcome it. Every decision that people take has consequences either good or bad for their life. Dealing with that situation, people often take a different way to cope with it.
A novel contains a description of life, in Understanding Unseens,Murphy states that the greatest novels reflect life and are compound similarly of many elements, just as life is a mixture of joy, disappointment, hope, sorrow, humor, suffering and success (1972: 133). The description of a story in the novel, the various problems of human life are usually revealed through the attitude and behavior of characters in the story. Graham Little says in his book Approach to Literature, a novel or play consists of characters that have their own characteristics. Those characters potentially create a conflict, which need to be solved (1981: 2). It means that characters have an important part in describing the conflicts whether the conflicts with the other people or conflicts within the characters’ mind.
Based on the explanation above, the writer is interested in analyzing one of Thomas Hardy’s novels entitled The Return of the Native because this novel displays the life of human and society. Moreover, it displays the great examples of conflicts in the story, for example the conflicts of Eustacia. The novel is talking about a young woman named Eustacia who is an orphan living with her grandfather in Egdon Heath. She is bored with her life in Egdon. She looks for an ideal man to achieve her goal, to get away from Egdon and to move to her dreamland Paris. In her struggles for achieving her goal, she faces many problems that lead her to conflicts with other people and herself.
Vye unlike Thomasin or Mrs. Yeobright; the other women characters in the novel because Eustacia is the most complex character in The Return of the Native. Eustacia has an unordinary vision of life. She is not satisfied with her ordinary life in Egdon. She has a dream to live in Paris where she can find happiness for her life. She tries to find a way out from Egdon by marrying a man who is just back from Paris, her dream land.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the previous explanation above, the writer formulates three problems that can be formulated as follows.
1. What are the characteristics of Eustacia in the novel? 2. What are the conflicts experienced by Eustacia?
3. How do the conflicts contribute to Eustacia’s decision to commit suicide?
C. Objectives of the Study
D. Definition of Terms
To give more understanding for this thesis, some important terms need to be understood in the analysis.
1. Conflicts
Internal conflict is the conflict between two desires within a character. This conflict involves a character’s mind and feeling where a character has the opposing desires and he has to choose one for him. External conflict is the conflict between characters or between a character and his environment. This conflict involves a character and other things outside the character himself (Stanton, 1965: 16). Conflict is the opposing of two needs or valued goals in life (Coleman, 1964: 83). It implies that conflict is the condition where an individual is motivated by two or more needs or goals and the consequence he has to choose one and give up the other.
2. Suicide
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Some criticisms toward Thomas Hardy’s literary work are very important for the writer in understanding the novel. Thomas Hardy delivers a powerful and firm attitude towards Edgon. He feels that it is a dark, scary and living place. He uses and combines various literary techniques in order to achieve his goal of conveying his feelings towards the heath to his readers. As what is stated in the http://www.bookrags.com/criticsm about this novel:
In The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy feels that Egdon Heath, the setting of the novelThe Return of the Nativeis a powerful, scary, dark and dreary place s various techniques to express this attitude. He uses some of the techniques he used to convey this thought are diction, imagery, syntax, and tone. The diction he chooses was specific and concrete, presenting an actual place that was depressing. Imagery played a very important role in Harding’s portrayal of the heath as a powerful, scary, live place. Syntax is also used to enhance the power of the heath. The tone of the description of the heath is morose, somber and gloomy.
This novel is dealing with human issue about marriage. In The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy presents the reader with two pairs of lovers that marry to accomplish personal goals, not because of a mutual love and a desire to obtain a lifelong soul mate.
Hardy reveals the true motives governing the participants in the novels marriage alliances: Eustacia, Clym, Thomasin, and Wildeve marry to carry out their individual plans for the future, rather than for love of one another. (http://www.classic-literature.co.uk/book-criticism/).
The Return of the Native shows the dominance of nature over man, stressing man’s impermanence against the infinity of nature. This belief, also
known as fatalism, is emphasized throughout the novel. This view is shared by the character of Eustacia Vye in the novel like stated by David Cecil in Hardy the Novelist:
Man in Hardy’s books is ranged against impersonal forces, the forces conditioning his fate. Hardy embodies fate in various forms. We are witnessing a battle between man and destiny. Always, so Hardy tells us, there is discord in the nature of existence. Eustacia the gorgeous, tragic Eustacia ofThe Return of the Nativefights for happiness. She has no wish to make other people unhappy; only, forced by the pressure of her nature towards the sunlight, she brushes aside anything that impedes her way. Fate is her enemy, as is that of her rivals (1956: 27-29).
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy achieves the intensity of classical Greek tragedy in its depiction of a pitiable human struggle against relentless fate. The author’s somber view of human existence is expressed both in the superb opening description of Egdon Heath and in the tragic lives of Clym Yeobrigt who is the retuned native of the heath, his cousin Thomasin, Damon Wildeve, his mother Mrs. Yeobright, and in Eustacia. (http://www.classic-literature.co.uk/book-criticism/).
The entire opening chapter of The Return of the Native is devoted to a lengthy description of Egdon Heath, the setting of the novel. The heath must be significant in terms of the themes and the continue progress of the novel. The author of the novel, Thomas Hardy, makes the Heath so significant to the point that it can be looked upon as a character like any other in the novel.
country’ evokes an immensity of space, it will shape with precision the destinies of every person in the story (Arthur Mc Dowell, 1956: 68-69). The criticisms above have provided much information to the writer about the novel. Different from all the previous studies above this thesis will discuss about the influence of conflicts toward Eustacia in her decision to commit suicide.
B. Review of Related Theories
To support this study, the writer uses some theories. The theories are important as the guidance in answering the problems mentioned in the problem formulation.
1. Theory on Character and Characterization
Character is the important thing in a piece of literary work because the character can build the story more alive and interesting. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms states “Characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- dialogue and what they do – the action “(1981: 20).
In a literary wok, based on the importance, character is divided into two, namely the major and minor character. Major character is a character that becomes the central attention and focus in the story. Minor character is a character that supports the main character (Abrams, 1981: 56)
Based on the complexity, characters can be classified into two: they are round character and flat character. Round character often appears as the center of the story and looks like real human being. With his or her complexity in temperament and motivation, sometimes the character grows and changes during the story. Flat character is captured by the author’s view in a single idea. The author usually does not develop them as fully characters and does not present them in details. They are static and do not grow in the story (Abrams, 1981: 58)
According to Murphy, in his book titled Understanding Unseens, there are nine ways of characterizing the characters (1972: 161 – 163)
a. Personal Description
The personal description is the description given by the author directly about the physical appearance and performance of the characters. From the description, the readers can imagine the looks and the appearances of the characters.
b. Character as Seen by Another
c. Speech
Sometimes, the author explains about the characteristics of the characters through what they say. From the way of their speech in conversation with others, it can be understood what the characters will be described.
d. Past life
The past has a relation with the present world. What happened with the characters in the past can shape a person’s character and the character’s past life is always closely connected to his or her present life.
e.Conversation of Others
The author also gives information about his characters through the conversation of one character to others. The conversation, which discusses the other characters, will explain about what the characteristics of the person. From that conversation, the reader can get the description about the characters.
f. Reaction
The description of the characters can be seen through their action to various situations and events. The actions of the characters show his or her personality and the actions are related to his or her motives and thought.
g. Direct Comment
The author himself gives information about the description of his characters. By that kind of way, it can make the reader easily understand the characters or to get the author’s idea.
h. Thought
i. Mannerism
The author gives the description about how the character behaves and talks, we can know the personality of character through his or her mannerism.
2. Theory of Conflict
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literaturestate that conflict is the struggle that grows out of the interplay of two opposing focus in a plot. They also state that there are three kinds of conflict; they are the struggle against nature, against another person, and against society (1986: 107). A struggle against nature represents man versus of the nature. A struggle against another person represents a struggle between a people to another. A struggle against society means a struggle between man and values in his society
Redman also states that conflict is the struggle between two opposing forces, ideas or interest, which is the basis of the plot. Conflict is resolved when one force usually the protagonist succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force (1964: 363).
In psychology, conflict occurs when the person is faced or motivated by two or more needs and valued goals. The condition where we have to choose one of the two alternatives can lead to frustration. Conflicts are important sources of stress or depression and frequently lead to such tension and inner turmoil that the individuals’ adjuctive capacities are seriously impaired. The key element in conflict is often the frustration that arises when we must choose one alternative and give up the other (Coleman, 1976: 83 – 84, 111).
According to Bergman and Daniel, conflict can occur when a problem blocks a character’s pursuit of goal or when the goals of two characters are opposed (1987: 572). Rita L. Atkinson also states that the major source of frustration is conflict between two motives. When the two motives conflict, the satisfaction of one leads to the frustration of the other (1983: 424).
There are three categories of conflict: approach-avoidant conflicts, double-approach conflicts, and double-avoidant conflicts (Coleman, 1976: 84)
a. Approach-avoidant conflicts happen when one alternative involves both pleasant and unpleasant features. There are strong tendencies both to approach and to avoid the same goal or purpose.
b. Double-approach conflicts occur when there is competition between two or more desirable goals or purposes.
3. The Relationship between Literature and Psychology
A novel is one of the forms of literary work that may deal with the psychological aspects of human needs and problems related to human through some representations of the characters. Rene Wellek and Austin Waren state that psychology of literature means the psychological study of the writer, as type, and as an individual, or the study of the creative process, or the study of the psychological types and laws present within work of literature or finally the effect of literature upon its reader or audience psychology (1956: 93). There is another theory that states literature and psychology, Richard A. Kalish states that literature also “holds the mirror up to the man”. A good novelist can communicate the feeling of the characters and can make them more like the real people whose behavior the psychologist attempts to describe (1973: 8)
From the above explanation, there is a close relationship between literature and psychology because both of them emphasize on the study of interpretative process of human behavior through characters in the novel. Since the study of this thesis dealing with a character and her conflicts, the analysis of this novel involves also the study of psychology.
4. Theory of Suicide
Suicide has a close relationship with psychological factor because this factor involves in the emotional condition of an individual that is closely related to suicide. In Abnormal Psychology and Abnormal Behavior, Coleman states that the stress situation associated with suicide. The causes of stress are frustration, conflict, and pressure. Frustration occurs when one’s goals are blocked toward progress by obstacles toward a desired goal or by absence of an appropriate goal so that he cannot get his goal. Conflict arises when someone have to choose between two needs or goals. Usually this condition makes frustration because he must choose one and give up the other. Stress may stem not only from frustration and conflicts, but also from pressure. In general pressure, pressure forces someone to intensify or change the direction of his goal or to behave in particular ways (1976: 111).
associated with suicide, hopelessness is the most dominant feeling in suicide. If people see a chance, it means there is improvement and hope they will continue their struggle to get their goals. If people feel that life is futile, without hope or meaning of life, as a result people may give up trying and taking his own life (Coleman, 1976: 606 – 608).
Suicide is the common result to the depression experiences. Depression can cause the feeling of hopelessness, despair, and the negative view of oneself and others. Those feelings happen when an individual has to face difficult problem and conflicts in life but he cannot overcome or find solutions to the problems so that he is depressed. Then an individual feels that life is useless because they have negative thoughts in their mind. The negative thoughts can influence the development of the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness in his life. An individual will lose sense of meaning in life and sees suicide as the only way out (Baron, 1995: 557-558).
C. Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The type of literary work that is analyzed in this study is a novel, and the title isThe Return of the Native. It was first published as a serial in Volume 37 of the magazine Belgravia in 12 monthly installments, running from January to December 1878 inclusive, and then published as six books and contains 46 chapters in three volumes. The writer usesThe Return of the Nativenovel edited by Cyril Aldred printed in 1957 by Macmillan & Co Ltd. This novel consists of six books contains 46 chapters. The structures of the novel are: first book: The Three Women, second book: The Arrival, third book: The Fascination, fourth book:The Closed Door, fifth book:The Discovery, and sixth book:After Courses.
It tells the tale of Eustacia Vye, a young woman who yearns for passionate love and freedom from the Egdon Heath. With only her grandfather for company, she finds herself bored with her life and looks for the cure to this in finding the ideal man to spend the rest of her life with, hopefully away from Egdon. However, when Damon Wildeve, the only other person who fits Eustacia's ideals, decides upon marrying Thomasin Yeobright, Eustacia sets her sights on Thomasin's cousin, Clym, who is returning to Egdon Heath from living a lavish lifestyle in Paris as a jeweler. The temptation of rich luxury and escape cause Eustacia to fall hopelessly in love with a man she is yet to see, or know. Finally, they get married but Clym Yeobright decides to abandon the Parisian life for
teaching, and later, becoming a Heath worker alienates himself from the entire community of Egdon Heath. His decision makes Eustacia feel disappointed and the condition becomes worse when Clym blames her for his mother’s death. That condition makes her depressed and wants to commit suicide, but she fails. Then she plans to escape from the heath with Wildeve. In a stormy night, they plan to go but in her way, she drowns in a poll and dies.
B. Approach of the Study
The approach applied in this study is the psychological approach. Rohrberger sand Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature, state that the psychological approach is an approach that is used to explain human motivation, personality, and behavior pattern written in literary object (1971: 12). A psychological approach outlines a psychological theory in order to help readers in understanding the literary works.
In analyzing the character of Eustacia the writer uses the psychological approach through the interpretation of her thought, feeling, attitude and behavior in the novel. Those interpretations are needed in order to get deep understandings the psychological condition of the character.
C. Method of the study
In order to reach the objectives of this thesis, the writer used library research as the method of the study. The writer collected the data from the library and this research used two kinds of data; they are primary data and secondary data. The writer used Thomas Hardy’s novel entitledThe Return of the Nativeas the primary data. The secondary sources were taken from some sources on the related topic, for example: books, internet, and criticisms to support the primary data. From the library research, the books that were used, such as A Glossary of Literature Terms by Abrams, Understanding Unseens by Murphy, An Introduction to Fiction by Stanton, A Handbook to Literature by Halmon and Harmon, Hardy the Novelist by David Cecil, Psychology by Baron, Abnormal Psychology and Modern Lifeby James C. Coleman.
In analyzing the topic, the writer did several steps. The first step was reading the novel for several times so that the writer could get a deeper knowledge about the details of the text and understand the subjects that were going to be analyzed.
The second step was collecting some data from books and internet that related to the topic as the sources to examine the topic. The data were very important because it gives information to support the analysis.
second question, the writer used theory of conflicts. This theory was used to investigate the conflicts that faced by the character. In answering the third questions, the writer used theory of suicide.
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer analyzes the novel in order to find out the answers to the problem formulation in the first chapter. First, the writer tries to analyze the characteristics of Eustacia in order to answer the first question. Second, the writer analyzes the internal and external conflicts that Eustacia has in her life. Third, the writer analyzes how the conflicts influence Eustacia in her decision to commit suicide.
A. The Characteristics of Eustacia
Referring to the theory of character proposed by Abrams (1981), Eustacia can be classified as the major character in the story because she becomes the focus of the story. Eustacia is described by the author through such complexity in terms of her characteristics.
Based on the complexity, Eustacia is a round character because she is a fully developed character in the story. Besides, the author also describes her in details and it is not enough to describe Eustacia by using a simple phrase. Here, the writer uses Murphy’s theory to identify Eustacia’s characteristics in the story. 1. Beautiful
Eustacia Vye was born at Budmouth. She is an orphan who lives in the care of her grandfather, Captain Vye in Budmouth. Budmouth is located near the sea and it is an interesting place to live. Unfortunately, they cannot stay there any longer. They have to move to Egdon Heath.
Physically Eustacia is a beautiful girl. She has a ladylike manner and a good body shape.
That she was tall and straight in build, that she was ladylike in her movements, was all that could be learnt of her just now,…. (p. 59).
Eustacia also has beautiful eyes and tantalizing mouth. Her lips are full and beautiful, yet the corners of her mouth are spear – like, showing the power of her words and kisses. Eustacia has the eye-catching beauty that can make men fall in love with her.
She was in person full-limbed and somewhat heavy; without ruddiness, as without pallor; and soft to the touch of a cloud (p. 75).
She had Pagan eyes, full of nocturnal mysteries, and their light, as it came and went, and came again, was partially hampered by their oppressive lids and lashes; and of these the under lid was much fuller than it usually with English women (p. 76).
The mouth seemed formed less to speak than to quiver, less to quiver than to kiss. So fine were the lines of her lips, though full, each corner of her mouth was as clearly cut as the point of a spear (p. 76).
The native of Egdon, Sam in his statement shows Eustacia’s beauty. In his conversation with Clym, he says to him that Eustacia is the beauty of the hill and she is a handsome girl so that Clym must see her.
“I suppose you have heard what’s been happening to the beauty of on the hill?”
“Yes, Sam : half a dozen have been telling us.” “Beauty?” said Clym
“Yes, tolerably well – favored,” Sam replied
2. Aloof
Eustacia hates her moving to Egdon. Egdon is her new settlement and it is a lonely heath. Egdon for Eustacia is not an interesting place to live compared to Budmouth, which is fashionable. Egdon is a monotonous heath indicating a boring situation.
The sea changed, the fields changed, the rivers, the villages, and the people changed, yet Egdon remained (p. 7).
Eustacia always feels lonely in Egdon and she has no parents and friends. She can only enjoy the situation in special occasion in the heath. She is not interested in activities in Egdon and she always spends her time only for playing the bonfires.
“I cannot endure the Heath, except in the purple season. The Heath is a cruel taskmaster to me.” (Hardy, p. 220)
“When are you coming indoors, Eustacia?” he [Captain Vye] asked.
“Surely ‘tis somewhat childish of you to stay out playing at bonfires so long, and wasting such fuel.” (p. 66)
Eustacia hates the change from Budmouth to Egdon, and she feels like one banished. Egdon is not suitable for her to live. She hated the changed: she felt like one banished; but here she was forced to abide (p. 78).
Thus, she was a girl of some forwardness of mind, indeed, weighed in relation to her situation among the very rereward of thinkers, very original. Her instincts towards social nonconformity were at the root of this (p. 80).
“I don’t feel quite anxious to. I have not much love for my fellow creatures. Sometimes I quite hate them.” (p. 219)
For Susan Nunsuch, Eustacia is an indifferent creature who lives on the hill, which is far from villagers. She likes to please herself. She lives a lonely life; she has no parents and friends moreover the people call her a witch.
“She is very strange in her ways, living up there by herself, and such things please her,” said Susan. (p. 31)
“A proud girl from Budmouth,” said Mrs. Yeobright.
“One not much to my liking. People say she’s a witch but of course that’s absurd.” (p. 192)
Mrs. Yeobrights says that Eustacia is a girl who mopes about herself and she does not mix in with other people.
“Darker than Thamsin,” murmured Mrs Yeobright.
“A woman who seems to care for nothing at all, as you may say.” “She is melancholy, then?” inquired Clym
“She mopes about by herself, and don’t mix in with the people.” (p. 210)
Eustacia wants to leave Egdon, she feels lonely there and she wants to get something that can give her happiness and love outside from Egdon. Therefore, she always repeats her prayers.
Her prayer was always spontaneous, and often ran thus, “O deliver my heart from this fearful gloom and loneliness: send me great love from somewhere, else I shall die.” (p. 79)
3. Unrealistic
Eustacia lacks love. Lack in love since her childhood makes Eustacia oppressed and wants to release herself from boredom in Egdon. She prefers to please herself and likes to have fantasies about her idea of love and her ideal place of the world outside Egdon. Eustacia hates Egdon and she feels isolated there. She thinks that Egdon cannot give happiness for her life because she finds nothing there. She believes that she can find happiness outside Egdon, such as London, Budmouth and even America and she wants to get away from Egdon.
“If it could be London, or even Budmouth, instead of America,” she murmured languidly. “Well, I will think. It is too great a thing for me to decide offhand.”
“I want to get away from here at almost any cost, she said with weariness.” (p. 117)
She likes to imagine an ideal place for her to live like what she has seen in Budmouth. Her dreamland is a place that promises her a rich life and can give happiness for her life.
Thus it happened that in Eustacia’s brain were just juxtaposed the strangest assortment of ideas, from old time and from new. There was no middle distance in her perspective: romantic recollections of sunny afternoons on an esplanade, with military bands, officer, and gallants around, stood like gilded letters upon the dark tablet of surrounding Egdon. Seeing nothing of human now, she imagined all the more of what she had seen (p. 78).
“But do I desire unreasonably much in wanting what is called life – music, poetry, passion, war, and all the beating and pulsing that is going on in the great arteries of the world? That was the shape of my youthful dream.” (p. 334)
The subject of their discourse had been keenly interesting to her. A young and clever man was coming into that lonely heath from, of all contrasting place in the world, Paris. It was like a man coming from heaven. More singular still, the heath men had instinctively coupled her and this man together in their minds as a pair of a couple (p. 127).
The coming of Clym influences Eustacia to have a fantasy about him. She convinces herself that she loves him even though she never sees him before. She always dreams about him and she imagines Clym as the perfect man for her.
That night was an eventful one to Eustacia’s brain, and one which she hardly ever forgot. She dreamt a dream:
She cried aloud, “O that I had seen his face!”
“O that I had seen his face!” she said again. “It was meant for Mr. Yeobright!” (p. 139)
During the greater part of the afternoon she had been entrancing herself by imagining the fascination which must attend a man come direct from beautiful Paris – laden with its atmosphere, familiar with its charms. And this man had greeted her (p. 136).
When Eustacia first observes Clym at the murmur’s play, she believes she loves him already and she believes that he is the man who will fulfill her desire. In Eustacia’s mind, she thinks that she gets the one who will take her to Paris after she lets Wildeve go from her.
4. Selfish
Being lonely and lack of love, Eustacia becomes too self-interested and selfish. She lives by her own way of living and she is not interested in the people and activities in Egdon. She likes to please herself and ignores her society. Even she confesses her feeling to Clym that she has not much love even hates the people in Egdon. Because of that, Eustacia becomes selfish; she wants everything to please herself. She uses other people in order to get her personal happiness but she does not care about others. It is shown when Eustacia has a bonfire with Johnny. She wants him to follow her order and do what she says.
“Ungrateful little boy, how can you contradict me? Never shall you have a bonfire again unless you keep it up now. Come tell me you like to do things for me, and don’t deny it.”
The repressed child said, “Yes, I do, miss,” and continued to stir the fire perfunctorily. (p. 66)
Eustacia’s selfishness is shown in her relationship with Wildeve and Clym. In her relationship with Wildeve she treats him badly until she begins to feel threatened by his relationship with Thomasin. When Eustacia hears the marriage news between Wildeve and Thomasin, she signals Wildeve by the bonfire. Wildeve responds to Eustacia’s signal fire, and at his arrival, she mocks him:
“I merely lit that fire because I was dull, and thought I would get a little excitement by calling you up and triumphing over you as the Witch of Endor called up Samuel. I determined you should come; and you have come! I have shown my power. A mile and half hither, and a mile and half back again to your home—three miles in the dark for me. Have I not shown my power?” (p. 70)
to continue her relationship with Wildeve. She does not care about Thomasin and she still keeps their love affair.
“Not even on the shoulders of Thomasin?” “Thomasin is a pleasing and innocent woman.”
“That’s nothing to do with it,” she cried with quick passionate ness. “We will leave her out; there are only you and me now to think of.” (p. 71) Eustacia enjoys keeping her affair with Wildeve but she still searches a better man than Wildeve. Eustacia knows that Wildeve cannot fulfill her desire of love and an escape from Egdon. When she knows about the coming of Clym from Paris, she directly loves him and let Wildeve go. After she thinks she can get a better man than Wildeve, she decides to break her relationship with him.
“She had loved him partly because he was exceptional in this sense, partly because she had determined to love him, chiefly because she was in desperate need of loving somebody after wearying of Wildeve.” (p. 166) For her, Clym is her opportunity to leave Egdon to Paris. She loves Clym before she meets him. However, her love is not directly for Clym, but for what Clym stands for, Paris. Clym represents the luxuries life in Paris for Eustacia. She loves Clym as a means for her to leave Egdon to Paris. Her selfish behavior is also seen in her marriage, she marries Clym to get her personal goal that is to leave Egdon and go to Paris.
5. Arrogant
“When are you coming indoors, Eustacia?” he [Captain Vye] asked.
“Surely ‘tis somewhat childish of you to stay out playing at bonfires so long, and wasting such fuel.”
“I promised Johnny a bonfire, and it pleases him not to let it go out yet,” said Eustacia, in a way which told at once that she was absolute queen here. “Grandfather, you go in to bed. I shall follow you soon. You like the fire, don’t you, Johnny?” (p. 66)
Eustacia has a vision of city life. She hates Egdon so it makes her rejection to be apart of the society in Egdon. Eustacia ranks herself above the natives of Egdon Heath and it makes her to be superior. Her superiority is shown to Johnny. She uses Johnny to tend a bonfire as a signal for Wildeve. She makes a fool of him and considers him as a little slave to help her in making a bonfire to have a meeting with Wildeve.
“Stay a little longer and I will give you a crooked sixpence,” said Eustacia more gently. “Put I one piece of wood every two or three minutes, but not too much at once. And if you hear a frog jump into the pond with a flounce like a stone thrown in, be sure you run and tell me, because it is a sign of rain.”
The little slave went on feeding the fire as before. He seemed a mere automaton, galvanized into moving and speaking by the wayward Eustacia’s will (p. 66 - 67).
Eustacia has a physical beauty and she enjoys using her physical charms for her advantages. She uses Charley to get a role as a Turkish Knight in order to meet Clym. She allows him to hold her hand for fifteen minutes as a form of payment for her role.
“Would you let me play you part (Turkish Knight) for one night?” “O, miss! But your moman’s gown – you couldn’t.”
“I can get boy’s clothes – at least all that would be wanted besides the mumming dress. Now, what must I give you to agree to this? Half a crown?”
“Money won’t do it,” he said
“What will then, Charley?” said Eustacia in a disappointed tone.
“You wanted to join hands with me in the ring, if I recollect?” “Half an hour of that, and I’ll agree, miss.”
“Half an hour what?”
“Holding your hand in mine.” She said, though she guessed what. She was silent. “Make it a quarter of an hour,” she said. (p.147 – 148) Eustacia is fully aware of her physical beauty and it makes Eustacia to be arrogant. Mrs. Yeobright says that Eustacia has a great pride of herself to Clym.
“Who’s Miss Vye?” said Clym
“Captain Vye’s granddaughter, of Mistover Knap.”
“A proud girl from Budmouth,” said Mrs. Yeobright. (p. 192)
Eustacia’s arrogance is shown to the reddleman. She refuses the job as a maid that is offered by him. She is too proud to accept the job.
“My uncle has been for five and twenty years the trusty man of a rich widow – lady who has a beautiful house facing the sea. This lady has become old and lame, and she wants a young company – keeper to read and sing to her.”
“I should have to work, perhaps?”
“It is to wear myself out to please her! And I won’t go. O, if I could live in a gay town as a lady should, and go my own ways, and do my own doings, I’d give the wrinkled half of my life! Yes reddleman, that would I.”
(p. 107 – 108)
She shows her arrogance when she says that she loses her–respects in speaking with the reddleman. Eustacia also says that the reddeleman is only a poor man who cannot give happiness and chance for her life.
“But I lose all self – respects in talking to you. What am I giving way to!” (p. 106)
“Help me to get Thomasin happy, miss, and the chance shall be yours,” urged her companion.
Her superiority and pride are shown in the way she treats her lovers. She sends a signal of bonfire for Wildeve to meet him after he fails to marry Thomasin.
“I merely lit that fire because I was dull, and thought I would get a little excitement by calling you up and triumphing over you as the Witch of Endor called up Samuel. I determined you should come; and you have come! I have shown my power. A mile and half hither, and a mile and half back again to your home—three miles in the dark for me. Have I not shown my power?” (p. 73)
She tells Wildeve that she sends the signal for him in order to test her power over him. She thinks that she is the one whom Wildeve loves and there is no one who can take her lover away from her. She is very confident with her beauty when she asks Wildeve whether he finds a better girl than her or not.
“She seized the moment, and throwing back the shawl so that the firelight shone full upon her face and throat, said with a smile, “Have you seen anything better than that in your travels?” (p. 71)
Love for Eustacia is a means to show her superiority and pride. She wants to be the one to be loved to madness. It is shown in her dialogue with the reddleman when he wants Eustacia not to disturb the relation between Thomasin and Wildeve. She believes that Wildeve comes back to her because he loves her best and Wildeve is hers before he has a relation with Thomasin. She does not want to be defeated by Thomasin because she thinks Thomasin is an inferior woman.
“Then I ask you – not because her right is best, but because her situation is worst – to give him up to her.”
“I have not injured her: he was mine before he was her! He came back – because - because he liked me best!” said wildly. “But I lose all self – respects in talking to you. What am I giving way to!” (p. 106)
Eustacia’s arrogance is shown in Clym. When she knows that Clym wants to be a furze and turf cutter and he will not go back to Paris, she is very disappointed. She does not agree with his decision because she thinks that the job is not appropriate for Clym who is an educated man.
“I am going to be a furze and turf cutter.”
“But it is so dreadful – a furze – cutter! And you a man who have lived about the world, and speak French, and German, and who are fit for what is so much better than this.” (p. 294 - 301)
On one of these warm afternoons Eustacia walked out alone in the direction of Yeobright’s place work. He did not observe her approach, and she stood close to him, and heard his undercurrent of song. It shocked her. To see him there, a poor afflicted man, earning money by the seat of his brow, had at first moved to her to tears; but to hear sing and not at all rebel against an occupation which, however satisfactory to himself, was degrading to her, as an educated lady – wife, wounded her through (p. 297).
One day Eustacia hears Clym sing a song about his job, it shocks her and makes her disappointed. She feels humiliated because a furze cutter is a lower job that can degrade herself as an educated woman. She does not want to be a wife of a furze cutter.
6. Ambitious
Eustacia has goals in her life; she wants someone who can take her out from the boring situation in Egdon. She always prays for the coming of the man who can bring her out from Egdon. Eustacia is ambitious in achieving her goals.
Someday she hears the news about the coming of Clym Yeobright from Paris. He is a manager of a diamond merchant in Paris. She is immediately infatuated with him. She sees Clym is a good opportunity for her to get her goal to leave from Egdon to Paris. She loves him though she never meets him before. She is ambitious and she will arrange everything so that she can meet Clym. Eustacia tries to get closer with Clym by visiting Mrs. Yeobrigt’s party. She uses Charley to gain a role in mummer’s play in order to meet Clym.
After the play, they continue to meet and their relationship is getting better. When Eustacia meets Clym, she always talks about Paris though Clym does not like to talk about it. Clym also says that Eustacia is ambitious. “You are ambitious, Eustacia – no, not exactly ambitious, luxurious.” (p.235)
“At present speak of Paris to me. Is there any place like it on the earth?” “It is very beautiful. But will you be mine?”
“Now tell me of the Tuileries, and the Louvre,” she continued evasively. “I hate talking of Paris!” (p. 234)
Clym loves Eustacia and he wants her to be his wife. They continue their relationship though Clym’s mother does not agree with the relationship. Eustacia still keeps the relation and tries to seduce Clym by giving her reasons and promises.
“Dear Clym, you’ll back again?”
Clym shook his head, and looked at the eclipse.
“If you’ll go back again I’ll be something,” she said tenderly, putting her head near his breast. If you’ll agree I’ll give my promise, without making you wait a minute longer.” (p. 234)
Egdon. She chooses to accept Clym’s proposal is not because the reason of love but her ambition to go away from Egdon to Paris.
“You will never adhere to your education plan, I am quite sure; and then it will be all right for me; and so I promise to be yours for ever and ever.” (p. 234)
Now, Eustacia’s dream had always been that, once married to Clym, she would have the power inducing him to return to Paris. She was hoping for the time when, as the mistress of some pretty establishment, however small, near a Parisian Boulevard, she would be passing her days on the skirts at least of the gay world, and catching stray wafts from those town pleasures she well fitted to joy (p. 282).
For Eustacia, Paris can give her happiness and excitements for her life. Even though she knows that Clym does not want to go back to Paris, she accepts his proposal. She convinces herself that she can influence Clym to go back to Paris after they have got married.
7. Unfaithful
Eustacia’s feeling to her lovers easily changes. She belongs to anyone who can give her happiness and fulfill her desire. It is shown in her relationship with Wildeve and Clym. In her relationship with Wildeve, one time she is interested to him but the other time she treats him badly. She hears that Wildeve will marry Thomasin, she feels threatened by his relationship. She does not want it happen because she believes that she has a power to Wildeve. She believes that Wildeve loves her best.
”I determined you should come; and you have come! I have shown my power.” (p. 73)
When she knows the coming of Clym Yeobright from Paris, she begins to be interested in him. Forgetting Wildeve and she sees Clym as a key for her to go to Paris. Nevertheless, when Clym decides to be a furze cutter and stays in Egdon, she feels disappointed. Clym’s decision makes her unhappy because she cannot go to Paris and she leaves him.
“I am going to be a furze and turf cutter.”
“No Clym!” she said, the slight hopefulness previously apparent in her face going off again, and leaving her.” (p. 294)
“I cannot listen to this, Clyn – it will end bitterly,” she said in a broken voice. “I will go home.” (p. 300)
Being disappointed with Clym, she decides to go back to her old lover, Wildeve. She feels that only Wildeve who knows her feelings. She wants to go back to Wildeve because Wildeve promise her to take her away from Egdon.
“If I wish to go and decide to accept your company I will signal to you some evening at eight o’clock punctually, and this will mean that you are to be ready with a horse and trap at twelve o’clock. The same night to drive me to Budmouth harbour in time for the morning boat.”
(p. 404)
Eustacia is unfaithful in her love and marriage. Her attitudes toward her lovers show that she is not loyal. Eustacia quickly changes her feeling to her lovers. She belongs to somebody who can give what she wants. She is still looking for someone who can fulfill her desire, even when she has got married.
B. Eustacia’s Conflicts
consists of characters that have their own characteristics and their characteristics can create conflicts in the story. Therefore, the characters have important roles in revealing the conflicts in the story.
Referring to the theory of conflicts proposed by Stanton, conflicts can be classified in two kinds: internal conflicts and external conflicts. Internal conflict is the conflict between two desires within a character. This conflict involves a character’s mind and feeling where a character has the opposing desires and he has to choose one for him. External conflict is the conflict between characters or between a character and his environment. This conflict involves a character and other things outside the character himself (1965: 16). In the story, Eustacia experiences some conflicts with Cylm Yeobright and herself.
1. Eustacia’s Conflicts with herself
a. Telling the truth about Mrs. Yeobright’s coming or not
The internal conflict that comes to Eustacia is related to Mrs. Yeobright’s death. She is confused; whether she has to tell the truth or not about Mrs. Yeobright’s coming. Actually she feels sorry for Mrs. Yeobright’s death and she wants to tell the truth. On the other hand, she does not want to tell the truth. She does not want to tell the truth because she is afraid, if she tells the truth it means Clym will know about her adultery and he will kill her. Clym will know the day she hides a man inside their house.
When Eustacia and Clym have a quarrel about his mother’s death, Clym accuses Eustacia for killing his mother. Clym is very angry and he says that Eustacia does not open the door when her mother comes to their house. Clym also accuses Eustacia has an affair and that day she hides a man inside the house. Eustacia focuses on her so that her adultery is not revealed and she does not want Clym know the truth. Eustacia only leaves Clym without giving him a clear explanation to clear the problem.
“The day I mean,” said Yeobright, his voice growing lauder and harsher, “was the day you shut the door against my mother and killed her. “Tell me, tell me! Tell me – do you hear? he cried
“You shut the door – you looked out of the window upon her – you had a man in the house with you – you sent him away to die. The inhumanity – the treachery – I will not touch you – stand away from me – and confess every word!”
“Never! I’ll hold my tongue like the very death that I don’t mind meeting,,,,,, I have other cares”
“Now, then, madam, tell me his name!” “Never! I am resolved” (p. 385 - 386)
“I cannot tell,” she said desperately through her sobbing. “Don’t insist further – I cannot tell. I am going from this house. We cannot both stay here.” (p. 390)
b. Going with Wildeve to leave Egdon or not
Eustacia also has inner conflict when Wildeve offers a help for her to go out from Egdon. She is confused whether she has to go with Wildeve or not. Here Eustacia faces approach – avoidance conflict. In one side she wants to go with Wildeve because she does not have money to leave Egdon. She thinks that she cannot borrow money from Wildeve without his accompany to Paris.
Eustacia at length reached Rainbarrow, and stood still there to think. A sudden recollection had flashed on her this moment: she had not money enough for undertaking a long journey. Money: she had never felt it value before. Even to escape herself from country means were required. To ask Wildeve for pecuniary aid without allowing him to accompany her was impossible to a woman with a shadow of pride left her in: to fly as his mistress-and she knew he loved her-was of the nature of humiliation (p.419).
“Can I go, can I go?” she moaned. “He’s not great enough for me to give myself to-he does not suffice for my desire!... If he had been a Saul or Bonaparte-ah! But to break my marriage for him-it is too poor a luxury!.... And I have no money to go alone!
On the other side, if Eustacia goes with Wildeve it means she will be his mistress. She does not want to be his mistress because Wildeve is not worthy for her. Eustacia has two choices that she has to decide, to go with Wildeve or not. However, because of her egoism she decides to accept Wildeve’s offer for her.
2. Eustacia’s Conflict with Clym Yeobright
obsessed with Clym though she knows that she has a different idea of Egdon with Clym. Because of her egoism to seek her own happiness, she ignores the difference but later it will lead to conflicts in her marriage with Clym.
a. The idea of living in Egdon
The first conflict between Eustacia and Clym is about their different view of Egdon. Eustacia views of Egdon are only boredom and loneliness. She is really obsessed with the glamorous life in Paris. Egdon cannot give happiness for her life. However, Clym finds that in Egdon he gets happiness that he cannot find in Paris. Clym sees his success business and Paris cannot give happiness for his life. It just makes him feel depressed so he decides to give up his business in Paris and prefers to stay in Egdon.
“But you mistake me,” pleaded Clym. “All this was very depressing. But not so depressing as something I next perceived … That decided me: I would give it up and try to follow some rational occupation among the people I knew best, and to whom I could be of most use.” (p. 201 - 202) “I am not going back to Paris again, mother,” he said. “At least in my old capacity, I have given up the business.” (p. 206)
The different view of Egdon leads the debate about Egdon between Eustacia and Clym. Eustacia always talks about Paris though she knows that Clym hates it. Her egoism leads her conflict with Clym in seeing Egdon. She just wants to get her dream comes true and she has already a plan to influence Clym to give up his education plan in Egdon and go back to Paris again. The clash between them cannot be avoided when they talk about Paris.
“At present speak of Paris to me. Is there any place like it on the earth?” “It is very beautiful. But will you be mine?”
“If you’ll go back again I’ll be something,” she said tenderly, putting her head near his breast. If you’ll agree I’ll give my promise, without making you wait a minute longer.”
“I have vowed not to go back, Eustacia. It is not the place I dislike; it is the occupation.”
“You will never adhere to your education plan, I am quite sure; and then it will be all right for me; and so I promise to be yours for ever and ever.” “You are ambitious, Eustacia – no, not exactly ambitious, luxurious.,, And yet, far from that, I culd live and die in hermitage here, with proper work to do. ” (p. 234 - 235)
b. The purpose of their marriage
The next conflict between Eustacia and Clym is related to the reason of their marriage. Eustasia wants to get a better life outside Egdon. Eustacia is ambitious in achieving her goal in her life. Eustacia automatically assumes that if she gets married with Clym she can leave Egdon and live in Paris. She also convinces herself that she can influence Clym to give up his education plan in Egdon.
Now, Eustacia’s dream had always been that, once married to Clym, she would have the power inducing him to return to Paris. She was hoping for the time when, as the mistress of some pretty establishment, however small, near a Parisian Boulevard, she would be passing her days on the skirts at least of the gay world, and catching stray wafts from those town pleasures she well fitted to joy. (p. 282)
“If I take a school an educated woman would be invaluable as a help to me”
“What! You really mean to marry her?”
“She is excellently educated and would make a good matron in a boarding school I candidly own that I have modified my views a little, in difference to you; and it should satisfy you. I no longer adhere .… I can establish a good private for farmers’ sons and without stopping the school I can manage to pass examinations. By this means and by the assistance of a wife like her”. (p. 227)
There is a clash between Eustacia and Clym. The clash is about the purpose of their marriage. Eustacia’s selfishness influences her to get married with Clym.
“Yes, take me to Paris, and go on with your old occupation, Clym! I don’t mind how humbly we live there at first, if it can only be Paris, and not Egdon Heath.”
“But I have quite given up that idea,” said Yeobright, with surprise. “Surely I never led you to expect such a thing?”
“I own it. Yet there are thoughts which cannot be kept out of mind, and that one was mine. Must I not have a voice in the matter, now I am your wife and the sharer of your doom?”
This indication of an unexpected mine of hope in Eustacia’s bosom disconcerted her husband. It was the first time that he confronted the fact of the indirectness of a woman’s movement toward her desire. But his intention was unshaken, though he loved Eustacia well (p. 290 - 291). Eustacia’s desire to marry Clym is based on her dream to live in Paris. She just wants to marry him in order to go out from Egdon to Paris though she knows that Clym has a mission in Egdon. She does not want Clym living in Egdon with his education mission. But her hope actually is in conflict with Clym’s purpose in marrying her. He refuses to go back to Paris again.
c. Clym’s proffesion as a furze cutter
inflammation and he decides to be a furze cutter. She cannot accept Clym’s decision. The clash between Eustacia and Clym is about Clym’s profession as a furze cutter. Her contradiction with Clym is influenced by her arrogance and her egoism. For Eustacia, being a wife of furze cutter can degrade her dignity as an educated woman.
It shocked her. To see him there, a poor afflicted man, earning money by the seat of his brow, had at first moved to her to tears; but to hear sing and not at all rebel against an occupation which, however satisfactory to himself, was degrading to her, as an educated lady – wife, wounded her through.
“I would starve than do it!” she exclaimed vehemently. “And you can sing! I will go and live with my grand father again!”
“Well, you follow out your own ideas, and won’t give in to mine when I wish you to leave off this shameful la labour, is there anything you dislike in me that you act so contrarily to my wishes? I am your wife, and why will you not listen? Yes, I am your wife indeed!” (p. 297-298)
“But it is so dreadful – a furze – cutter! And you a man who have lived about the world, and speak French, and German, and who are fit for what is so much better than this.” (p. 301)
Eustacia argues with her husband about his decision to be a furze cutter. Eustacia thinks that a furze cutter is not good for Clym because it is a lower job and it is not appropriate to an educated man like him. On the other hand, Clym thinks that be a furze cutter can be good for him to fulfill his time. Eustacia totally disagrees with Clym’s decision. Clym ignores his wife’s objection about his decision.
d. Eustacia’s adultery and her rejection to Mrs. Yeobright’s coming
visit Clym and Eustacia. From the information, Clym knows that when his mother comes to his house Eustacia knows her coming but she does not open the door for her. That condition makes Mrs. Yeobright is so disappointed then she decides to go home. On the way she is exhausted because she walks to reach Clym’s home and then she takes a rest. When she takes a rest, a poisonous adder bites her and she dies.
Clym is very angry with Eustacia when he knows that she involves in his mother’s death. He accuses her killing her mother. Actually, Eustacia does not open the door when Mrs. Yeobright comes to her home. She does it because she is afraid if her affair with Willdeve is known by Mrs. Yeobright. Clym asks Eustacia’s responsibility by giving him explanation about the truth of his mother death. Clym cannot control her anger and accuses his wife harshly.
“…. Tell me, now, where is he who was with you on the afternoon of the thirty – first of August? Under the bed? Up the chimney?”
“The day I mean,” said Yeobright, his voice growing lauder and harsher, ‘was the day you shut the door against my mother and killed her. O, it is too much – too bad!’ ‘Tell me, tell me! Tell me – do you hear?” he cried (p. 384)
Clym knows from Johny that Eustacia hides a man inside the house on the day Mrs. Yeobright died. Besides Clym also says she has adultery with a man. But Eustacia does not give clear explanation about the problem.
“You shut the door – you looked out of the window upon her – you had a man in the house with you – you sent him away to die…”
“Never!,,,,,”
“Now, then, madam, tell me his name!” “Never! I am resolved”
“Then I’ll find it myself. “ his eyes had fallen upon a small desk that stood near, on which she accustomed to write her letters.”
“Why did not you kick him out, and let her in say, and say, I’ll be an honest wife and a noble woman from this our?” (p. 387 - 389)
“I cannot tell,” she said desperately through her sobbing. “Don’t insist further – I cannot tell. I am going from this house. We cannot both stay here.” (p. 390)
Eustacia just lets Clym with his accusations to her. She does want to tell the truth because if she tells the truth it means he will know that she hides a man inside their house. She just refuses to answer Clym’s question honestly and leaves Clym with all the accusations.
C. The Contribution of Conflicts toward Eustacia’s Decision to Commit Suicide
influence the development of the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness in his life. An individual will lose the sense of meaning in life and sees suicide as the only way out (Baron, 1995: 557-558).
Eustacia is a girl who has obsessions in her life. Eustacia wants to live in Paris where she can get happiness. To achieve her goal Eustacia decides to marry Clym Yeobright. In her marriage, she experiences some conflicts. Eustacia experiences inner and external conflicts. All the conflicts are related to each other. Those conflicts bring several emotions that influence Eustacia to commit suicide. The conflicts in Eustacia’s marriage with Clym makes Eustacia feel disappointed.
Eustacia always has a dream to be married. She already has an expectation of her marriage. She has a dream to get married with a man who will bring her out of Egdon and live in Paris. Her being a dreamer takes a role in her decision to get married with Clym. She thinks that if she gets married with Clym, her possibilities to leave Egdon will come true. The fact that Clym prefers to stay in Egdon makes her disappointed.
“And if I had known then what I know now, that I should be living in this wild heath a month after my marriage, I – I should have thought twice before agreeing.” (p. 286)
“I am going to be a furze and turf cutter.”
“No Clym!” she said, the slight hopefulness previously apparent in her face going off again, and leaving her.” (p. 294)
“I cannot listen to this, Clyn – it will end bitterly,” she said in a broken voice. “I will go home.” (p. 300)
The quotation above shows that Eustacia regrets her marriage with Clym. Clym’s decision makes her disappointed and she is unhappy since Paris is the main thought in her mind, she cannot feel happy of other things that happen in her life. Her disappointment about her marriage makes Eustacia feel that her marriage is an accident that causes her ruin.
“The marriage is no misfortune in itself,’ she retorted with some little petulance. “It is simply the accident which has happened since that has been the cause of my ruin.” (p. 333)
The conflict between Eustacia and Clym about Egdon makes Eustacia have a negative view of her future life. If Clym stays in Egdon and gives up his business in Paris, it means that she cannot achieve her desire to live in Paris. This condition makes Eustacia depressed. The negative view of her future grows in Eustacia’s mind. She sees her future is painful with Clym’s education mission in in Egdon. She thinks that the future she has with Clym is antagonistic to what she expects before.
she will never go to Paris with Clym. Her negative view of her future makes Eustacia think that she will not get a happy life in her future. Eustacia is worried about her future life with Clym. She imagines her loneliness with her blind husband in Egdon.
One week and another week were wore on, and nothing seemed to lighten the gloom of the young couple. Dreadful imaginings occurred to Eustacia. Suppose he should become blind, or, at all events…. As day after passed by, and he got no better, her mind ran more and more in this mournful groove, and she would go away from him into the garden and weep despairing tears (p. 293).
Eustacia has a negative view of her future life. She thinks that her future is painful with Clym in Egdon. She is so sure that her future is suffering if she lives in Egdon. Her dream is not coming true and she starts to think badly about her future life.
She was almost weeping. Images of a future never to be enjoyed, the revived sense of her bitter disappointment, the picture of the neighbours’ suspended ridicule which has raised by Wildeve’s words, had been too much for proud Eustacia’s equanimity (p.310).
Misgiving, regret, fear, resolution, ran their swift course of expression in Eustacia’s dark eyes. She was face to face with a monstrous difficulty, and she resolved to get free of it by postponement (p. 342 – 343).
To sit by him hour after hour, and hear him reproach himself as being the cause of her death, and to know that I am the sinner if any human being is at, drives me into cold despair. I don’t know what to do (p. 370).
In the meantime Eustacia, left alone in her cottage at Alderworth, had become considerably depressed by the posture of affairs. The consequences which might result from Clym’s discovery that his mother had been turned from his door that day were likely to be disagreeable, and this was a quality in events which she hated as much as dreadful ( p. 351).
Because of the clash, Eustacia is so depressed because she sees that her marriage is over. She sees that she can do nothing to have an improvement in her marriage. Eustacia is depressed when she separated from Clym. She feels hopeless because there is no chance for her to make her marriage becomes better. She does not know what to do after the separation with Clym. She is upset with her condition then she leaves Clym and goes to her grandfather’s house.
Eustacia’s journey was at first as vague in direction as that of thistledown on the wind. She did not what to do. She wished it had been night instead of morning, that she might at least have borne her misery without the possibility of being seen (p. 392).
Eustacia has a view that her life is futile. She is depressed with her condition and she thinks about committing suicide. She thinks if she kills herself she can get free from all the problems she has. She wants to commit suicide with his grandfather pistols however Charley can prevent her from her attempt to commit suicide.
“If I could only do it!” she said. “It would be doing much good to myself and al
