Summary
The Return of the Native, first published in 1878, stands as one of Thomas Hardy's most beloved and critically acclaimed works. Set on the fictional Egdon Heath in Wessex, Hardy's imagined yet typical rural English county, the novel weaves a tale of passion, ambition, and the clash between tradition and progress. The story centers on Eustacia Vye, a restless young woman who dreams of escaping her stifling life. Her desires set in motion a chain of events involving multiple characters, including Clym Yeobright, the “native” who returns from Paris, and Damon Wildeve, a former engineer turned innkeeper. Hardy’s nuanced exploration of their intertwining fates against the backdrop of the untamed, unchanging moorland continues to resonate with readers.
Plot
Set on the fictional Egdon Heath in Wessex, The Return of the Native follows the tumultuous lives of several characters over the course of a year and a day. The story begins as Diggory Venn, a reddleman, transports Thomasin Yeobright home after her failed attempt to marry Damon Wildeve. Meanwhile, Eustacia Vye, a beautiful and restless young woman, sets her sights on Clym Yeobright, Thomasin's cousin who has returned from Paris.
Clym and Eustacia marry, much to the disapproval of Clym's mother. Their relationship soon sours, however, as Clym's ambitions to become a schoolmaster clash with Eustacia's dreams of escaping the heath. Tensions rise further when Mrs. Yeobright attempts to visit the couple but is turned away, leading to a tragic misunderstanding. She dies shortly after, causing a rift between Clym and Eustacia.
As Clym grapples with guilt and grief, Eustacia finds herself drawn back to her former lover, Wildeve, who has recently inherited a fortune. On a stormy night, Eustacia plans to flee with Wildeve but ends up falling into a weir. Wildeve attempts to rescue her, and Clym tries to save them both. Diggory Venn arrives in time to rescue Clym, but Eustacia and Wildeve drown. In the aftermath, Thomasin, a widow, marries Diggory Venn. Clym, having lost both his mother and wife, becomes a traveling preacher.
Themes
The tension between nature and civilization
Unfulfilled desires and ambitions
Isolation and alienation
Social constraints and expectations
Love and passion
Fate versus free will
The struggle between tradition and progress
Setting
Set in the late 19th century, The Return of the Native takes place entirely within the confines of Egdon Heath, a wild and untamed landscape in the fictional county of Wessex. This rugged expanse of moorland shapes the lives and fates of the human inhabitants who struggle against its harsh beauty.
The heath represents an ancient, unchanging world that stands in stark contrast to the modernizing forces beyond its borders. Its barren hills, gorse-covered slopes, and mysterious prehistoric barrows evoke a sense of timelessness. For some characters, including Clym Yeobright, the heath's rugged charms hold a deep appeal. For others, including Eustacia Vye, it represents a prison from which she longs to escape for the excitement of Paris or anywhere cosmopolitan.
Within this isolated microcosm, Hardy vividly brings to life the small rural community that calls Egdon Heath home. The novel's action centers around a handful of key locations scattered across the heath—Bloom's End, where Mrs. Yeobright lives; Mistover Knap, where Eustacia resides with her grandfather; and The Quiet Woman Inn, which Damon Wildeve runs. Through his evocative descriptions of these places and the stark wilderness that surrounds them, Hardy creates a richly atmospheric setting that profoundly influences the characters' hopes, choices, and ultimate fates.
Characters
Clym Yeobright: The “native” who returns to Egdon Heath. A former diamond merchant in Paris, Clym gives up his career to become a schoolteacher. Idealistic but flawed, he struggles between his ambitions and his relationships. His choices lead to tragedy for those around him.
Eustacia Vye: A beautiful, passionate young woman who feels trapped on Egdon Heath. She dreams of escaping to a more exciting life and sees Clym as her ticket out. Her desires and actions drive much of the plot's conflict and tragedy.
Thomasin Yeobright: Clym's cousin. A sweet-natured young woman who represents the traditional values of rural life. She faces heartbreak but ultimately finds happiness.
Damon Wildeve: The owner of the local inn. A fickle and unreliable man torn between Eustacia and Thomasin. His actions contribute to the novel's tragic events.
Mrs. Yeobright: Clym's mother. A proud, stubborn woman whose conflict with Eustacia leads to dire consequences. Her death is a pivotal moment in the story.
Diggory Venn: A reddleman who travels the heath. Loyal and resourceful, he acts as a protector for Thomasin. He represents the positive aspects of rural life.
Captain Vye: Eustacia's grandfather. A former naval officer who lives with her on the heath.
Susan Nunsuch: A local woman who believes Eustacia is a witch. Her superstitions reflect the beliefs of the heath community.
Quick facts
The Return of the Native was originally serialized in the magazine Belgravia from January to December 1878—largely because Thomas Hardy had trouble finding a publisher for the novel due to its controversial themes.
The story takes place entirely in and around Egdon Heath, a fictional moorland based on Hardy's native Dorset.
The Return of the Native is considered one of the first ecological novels, with the heath itself treated almost as a character.
The story unfolds over the span of one year and one day, from November 5th to November 6th of the following year.
The character of Diggory Venn, the reddleman, was inspired by real reddlemen Hardy had encountered in rural Dorset.
Hardy intended for Thomasin to remain a widow, but changed the ending due to the demands of serial publication.
Eustacia Vye's name was inspired by that of Justicia, the Roman goddess of justice.
Hardy structured the novel in five books to mirror the classical five-act structure of Greek tragedy.
A 1994 film adaptation of The Return of the Native starred Catherine Zeta-Jones, in one of her earliest roles, as Eustacia Vye.
About the Author
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was a renowned English novelist and poet. His work was sharply critical of many aspects of Victorian society, particularly the declining status of rural people and the rigid view of morality. Often featuring tragic characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances, his novels include Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), The Woodlanders (1887), Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891), The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved (1892) and Jude the Obscure (1895).
Born in Dorset, a hamlet near Dorchester, Hardy was homeschooled by his well-read mother until the age of eight and later attended a local academy, where he excelled in Latin. His formal education ended at age 16, because his family lacked the means for a university education. He was apprenticed to a local architect, and in 1862, moved to London to study architecture. While working for a noted architect, he began to write poetry. Despite his professional success, he never felt at home in London due to his keen awareness of class divisions and his social inferiority. After five years, he returned to Dorset, settling in Weymouth, and decided to dedicate himself to writing.
Hardy's writing style combined elements of Romanticism with a stark realism that examined the harsh realities of 19th-century society. Many of his stories are set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex and feature characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. Controversial for their time, Hardy's later novels like Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure faced criticism for their frank treatment of sexuality and critiques of Victorian morality. This backlash led Hardy to abandon prose and focus solely on poetry after 1895. He published more than 900 poems and an epic drama in verse, The Dynasts.
In 1910, Hardy was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit and nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was nominated again for the prize 11 years later and received a total of 25 nominations, the last in 1927, a year before his death. Hardy died on January 11, 1928. His ashes were placed in Westminster Abbey, but his heart, at his request, was buried in Stinsford, near his birthplace.
