Various Influences Leading To The Pessimist Tendency Of Hardy's Novels

In this thesis, four sources that influenced Hardy's novels are discussed. First, existentialism, which aims to explore human predicament in the universe, finds many expressions in his novels. Hardy discusses such topics as cosmic absurdity, alienation, and search for the self. Through his delineation, we gain insight into the conditions of human existence. Man is trapped in an indifferent universe and finds himself unable to control his own existence; then feels powerless, abandoned, and alienated; but finally man summons up enough courage to search for self-identity and for the meaning of life through free choice within the limited scope of his fate. Second, Hardy's novels portray the tragic fates of his protagonists. Both Greek and Shakespearean tragedies have an effect on his novels. He learns from Greek dramas such techniques as recognition and reversal; and he learns from Shakespeare how to probe into the intricate causes which lead to tragedy. And Hardy finds that not only characters bring about tragedy from within, but external factors such as nature and society may contribute to unsuccessful human life. Hardy's novels attain the desired emotional effect on readers– fear and pity. Third, Hardy is ambivalent in treating Christianity. On the one hand, he cites many allusions to enrich his creation and examines his heroes and heroines from the religious point of view. On the other hand, he is critical of what he sees to be its false doctrines and depraved clergy and other representatives. Lastly, Darwin's theory, the survival of the fittest, affects him a lot. He writes Darwinian novels to highlight the bleak struggle for survival in nature. He views human life against the background of biological evolution and worries about the future of humanity.The aforesaid four sources of influence exert a common effect– all of them make Hardy's novels pessimistic– because they made Hardy realize the human predicament of being trapped in a cold-hearted universe with no escape from tragedy. Hardy interweaves his insight into the plot development of his novels and touches his readers with the tragic fate of his protagonists, but meanwhile he does not allow them to see light at the end of the tunnel.