Victorians! discussion

The previous chapters were slow in showing the characters´ developments, but this one is quick and dramatic.

Clym falls into depression after the death of his mother, until he finds out the truth by Christian, Diggory and Johnny Nonsuch. Eustacia explains the confusion, but doesn´t want to mention which man was in the house at the time when Mrs. Yeobright visited. After the fight between the spouses Eustacia leaves the house to move in with her grandfather.
There Charley, after having put away the pistols which Eustacia had wanted to use to commit suicide, builds a bonfire again for Guy Fawkes Night, which attracts Damon who thinks it´s a sign for him. Eustacia and he plan her escape to Paris. In the meantime Susan Nonsuch builds a countercharm against Eustacia´s witchcraft, a foreboding.

Though Clym writes a reconciliation letter to Eustacia, she doesn´t get it in time, and leaves the next night to take Damon with her to provide for her. Thomasin in the meantime visits her cousin to tell him about her husband wanting to flee with Eustacia. They and Vye go on search for her and Damon, Thomasin later also meeting Diggory on the heath. When Clym and Damon meet, they hear a fall and dive into the weir to save Eustacia. When all three are pulled out of the water, it turns out that Damon and Eustacia have died, while Clym has survived and blames himself for the deaths.

I wonder what you thought about Eustacia´s death? Was it suicide (which seems so, considering her looking long at the pistols) or was it an accident? I can hardly imagine her being suicidal, as she imo is very selfish, always tending towards the men who provide her with most money, travel to Paris etc, a fulfilment of her wishes.

I was so surprised when Wildeve and Eustacia were found dead. But then again not so surprised. How could Hardy otherwise finish his story? The last half of the book I was thinking hard: How will this end? Hardy couldn’t just send Eustacia off with Wildeve to tour the world with his money and leave the baby behind.

I am not exactlh thrilled with this ending. (Not finished yet, though.) It just seems so easy and/or too melodramatic.

The theme of the book (the title) lead me to another place than where I thought I would go.

I was anticipating more insight into how Clym underwent the process of moving back to the Heath and what he felt by moving back and changing his career (as I myself did in my life).

Hardy did play a trick on me. The book was not so much about him and his return. The “Return” was the tool around which Miss “Vye” (thank you, Brian :)) was sort of bewitched - for her part.

Did you think it was significant that some people thought Eustacia was a witch? I just think that it seemed like a sprinkle of gothic entertainment.

We´re not quite finished yet, but I was also disappointed about Clym´s return to his home, and I also thought that not he but Eustacia seemed to be the main character.

Regarding Eustacia as a witch might show her unique stand in the community and perhaps her attraction to men.

Agree that this chapter seemed rather melodramatic, especially in comparison to the quieter and more inward chapters before.

I do not why Clym did not just walk to Mistover especially after he moved into Blooms-End and try to reconcile with Eustacia. Perhaps his ego would not allow it.

Once again a key plot twist occurs because some local did not do the job right. Would one think something so important one would do it yourself.

Michaela wrote: "I wonder what you thought about Eustacia´s death? Was it suicide (which seems so, considering her looking long at the pistols) or was it an accident? I can hardly imagine her being suicidal, as she..."

I think it was not clear whether it was the one or the other. My impression is that it was an accident. The way she turned suicidal (when with the pistols) also seemed exaggerated to me. She was more defensive earlier on.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "Once again a key plot twist occurs because some local did not do the job right. Would one think something so important one would do it yourself."

OK, yeah, at that point I was also laughing at just how unlucky Hardy had the events turning out. :)

The troubles of Clym and Eustacia began to come to a head back in Book 4, when Mrs. Yeobright was overcome, both physically, from her journey, and emotionally, when she was stonewalled at their house. In Book 5, the repercussions of that act, and the bare truth of it, gradually emerge, resulting in a schism between Clym and Eustacia. The plot continues its sad spiral.
However, when we look back to that critical moment to lay blame, again it seems that fate is pulling the strings more than any one character. Did Eustacia plan to bar Mrs. Yeobright from the house? No. Circumstances converged to cause her course of action. Was her behavior in those circumstances understandable? I would say it was. Did she have an affair with Wildeve? No. Circumstances doomed her behavior's appearance in Clym's eyes.
Fate loomed large again when Clym's letter of reconciliation is misdirected. Hardy used that plot device in Tess of the D'Urbervilles also.
The heath comes alive in all its dark glory with a rainstorm to deliver the climax.

Good description Brian! Yes, Fate plays a big part here, and the heath is rather gloomy at this point.