Elegy Of Eustacia's Hellenic Spirit---On The Tragedy Of The Heroine In The Return Of The Native

This thesis aims to analyze Eustacia Vye the heroine. The previous critics hold quite different attitudes towards her. Some tends to exhibit more unfavorable attitudes and classify her as a character who only wishes to gratify her passions. Some think highly of her and emphasize the significance she is attached to. Drawing on the critical achievements I explore the fundamental elements that contribute to the formation and strengthening of her personality and the conflicts her personality inevitably leads to. The dilemma she is in demonstrates the anachronism of Hellenism. Chapter one focuses on the analysis of her personality. It is mainly divided into two aspects, the idealizing vision and the Promethean rebelliousness. The former sets a high ideal for her to pursue in her life, the latter grants her enough power to fight doggedly against the overpowering obstacles. Chapter two deals with the dilemma she is in. Her conflicts with the physical and social environment lead to her incompatibility with them. In her dilemma, Hardy laments the vitality embodied in her fate. Chapter three explores the revelation of her tragic ending. Throughout the novel and especially in Book fifth, Hardy applies the symbolic technique to demonstrate IEustacia tragic ending, which invites our sympathy for her. In the final part, it is concludes that Eustacia is worthy of our sympathy. Eustacia tragedy is considered to be more than a personal misfortune, but represents anachronism of Hellenism as well.