In this article we will review A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy.
Book Plot
Elfride Swancourt is the daughter of the Rector of Endelstow, a remote sea-swept parish in Corwall based on St Juliot, where Hardy began A Pair of Blue Eyes during the beginning of his courtship of his first wife, Emma. Blue-eyed and high-spirited, Elfride has little experience of the world beyond, and becomes entangled with two men: the boyish architect, Stephen Smith, and the older literary man, Henry Knight. The former friends become rivals, and Elfride faces an agonizing choice.
Written at a crucial time in Hardy’s life, A Pair of Blue Eyes expresses more directly than any of his novels the events and social forces that made him the writer he was. Elfride’s dilemma mirrors the difficult decision Hardy himself had to make with this novel: to pursue the profession of architecture, where he was established, or literature, where he had yet to make his name.
A Pair of Blue Eyes Rating : 3,78
Also book has 336 pages
A Pair of Blue Eyes Review
“While men may feel love intensely for a short period of time, women tend to love for a longer duration.” This is the tale of Elfride Swancourt, a young woman with striking blue eyes. Elfride finds herself in a dilemma between two suitors: the kind and humble architect Stephen Smith, who is younger and of a lower social status; and the older and more morally upright literary man Henry Knight, who also happens to be Stephen’s mentor. In addition to navigating her romantic entanglements, Elfride must also contend with the expectations placed upon her by her father, the Rector of Endelstow. A Pair of Blue Eyes delves into themes of love, societal norms, the challenges faced by women in the 19th century, honor, sacrifice, and heartbreak. Thomas Hardy’s portrayal of women, their emotions, and inner struggles is both powerful and poignant. He emerges as a true advocate for women’s rights, capable of evoking strong emotions and stirring the soul with his masterful prose.
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