Women's Struggle For Independence And Freedom

Jude the Obscure is Hardy's last novel and his most controversial one. In this novel Hardy attacks all the social conventions through the unconventional characters. Sue Bridehead is the most challenging one who tries to keep an independent personhood in the patriarchal society and boldly resists the Victorian marriage. Though the sprout of Sue's seeking for emancipation was finally snuffed out, her voice of calling for freedom and independence made a challenge to the patriarchal society, which shows her bravery to solve the women's problem. In this thesis, the writer tries to analyze Sue's rebellious ideas and actions in struggling for independence and freedom from the feminist point of view.Chapter I focuses on women's struggle for spiritual emancipation, such as their struggle for escaping the bondage of Christianity, and the struggle for escaping the bondage of patriarchal ideology. Sue bravely challenged the religious ideas which confined women's spirit. Sue did not believe women were born weak. She thought that she could compete with men as their peer. She dared to read"men's books"and mixed with them to seek friendship. She took every chance for education to acquire spiritual power and practical faculty. She tried to keep independent personality in family life ---to be herself instead of the object of men's desire and family servant.Chapter II focuses on women's struggle for independence in economy. Unlike other women who viewed marriage as a profession and sought economic protection from men, Sue hoped to be an independent woman and support herself by her own hands. For her, working was a must for keeping independent personality and dignity. Though the Victorian society provided women little chance for working, she tried to find an occupation to work as an artist designer or as a teacher. And even in the circumstance of having lost her fixed job, she still believed that she could improve the economic condition of her family by her own hands.Chapter III focuses on women's struggle for freedom in love and marriage. In Victorian era, marriage was regarded as a holy thing protected by God. Once married, the couple was not supposed to separate. But Sue, after having suffered much in her marriage, believed that a marriage without love was immoral. So she bravely asked her husband to live separately. Having been conquered by her strong will of freedom, her husband eventually agreed with her. But the reality of marriage made Sue disappointed and frightened: it was almost a place of sexual compulsion, tyrant, degrading, and material-union. She believed there was something wrong with the marriage systems and decided never to attempt it again. She continued her relationship with Jude under the protection of their love instead of the law of marriage. Her idea of love and marriage was a challenge to the patriarchal society, but her power was very little as opposed to the powerful patriarchal force. Though her failure was inevitable, her calling for social improvement was of great significance.In conclusion Sue was a new woman who dared to challenge the gender role prescribed by patriarchal society and consciously to explore women's way out, which shows her feminist consciousness. Though her struggle finally fails, her progressive ideas and actions in exploration are ahead of her time, and the successful portrayal of Sue also embodies Hardy's advancement in his feminist thought.