Female characterization in Thomas Hardy's early fiction

This thesis examines female characterization in Thomas Hardy's first nine novels and several short stories, rather than the six so-called major novels, because the former accurately reflect the development of his female characterization, which has never been sufficiently examined. The supposed flaws that prevented his lesser-known works from attaining the status of the major novels are primarily the result of his experimentation with narrative techniques, particularly with respect to female characterization.; My approach is narratological, that is, focussed primarily on narrative, and feminist in its philosophical and theoretical stance. I explore characterization from four different angles: through narrative form and cultural/literary stereotypes; through the angle of focalization; through the descriptive techniques used to depict appearance; and through the stance of the narrators. My examination of each of these angles reveals the ways such factors as ideology or perspective (fictional and historical) profoundly influence a reader's interpretation of the female characters.; I demonstrate that much criticism of Hardy's female characters is based on critics' personal feelings, rather than detached judgements of his narrative technique. For example, the character of Bathsheba Everdene has frequently been censured by critics because of her behaviour towards Oak, not for any flaws in the language and techniques employed to portray her. Many critics have been overly harsh towards Bathsheba because they sympathize with Oak (the focus of perception) and have allowed this bias to colour their judgement of her character and characterization.; In addition to exposing such biases, I explore alternate readings of these characters, which leads to a much broader approach to Hardy's female characterization. Centered around the belief that only one correct interpretation of a character exists, much discussion of female characterization has been limited to the ongoing debate over this single correct reading of Hardy's female figures. But multiple readings of a character, even those which contradict each other, can co-exist. I concur with those recent critics who argue that the contradictions and complexities of Hardy's female characterization do not need to be resolved in order to interpret his female characters.