Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

I enjoyed this story too. It is an uncomplicated plot, with good characters and ends, not with a great tragedy, but with the feeling of melancholy and sadness typical of the stories in this book.

This version of the hidden "voice" actually being in love with the intended recipient actually predates Rostrand's Cyrano de Bergerac, written in 1897. However, I presume the falling in love with the ghost-written letter writer plot had been around for awhile. However, considering the time constraints on character development. this short version was presented in as effective a manner as possible in the short-story format,

Hardy intended all three to be tragic
But I think Raye is the most tragic, maybe because I'm male. He doesn't quite deserve his fate just because he may be a player. He's trying to be a stand-up guy about his actions. He was not judging Anne by her background and status but by what he thought was her actual personality - and was duped.
Anne is so simple, so sympathy lays with her, but she could have prevented the end, As some say, ignorance is no excuse. She may even have a better life than she ever imagined.
I'm least sorry for Edith because it was most in her power and skill to stop the tragedy as Anne is too simple. Edith has lost little except a good match she never had to begin with. Maybe she can become a writer.