Sympathy in The Withered Arm
HOW DOES HARDY ELICIT SYMPATHY FOR THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERS:In the opening chapters of Withered Arm, Thomas Hardy tends to elicit sympathy for Rhoda Brook, rather than Farmer Lodge and his wife, who come into the story later. For example, even the title of chapter one suggests that Rhoda has been miserable. Lorn is a word that comes from forlorn, to mean sad, or lonely. So before we even begin reading the book, Hardy uses his title to imply that the milkmaid, whoever she is, should have our sympathy; she is alone and pitiful. The first part (as I will use to distinguish between the different turning points in the story) begins at the dairy, and the milkers discuss Farmer Lodge and his recent marriage. At this point, we know nothing of the relationship between Rhoda and Farmer Lodge, the only hints we have are the occasional glances that the workers give Rhoda. Our first impression of the maid is this:"...where a thin, fading woman of thirty milked somewhat apart from theHardy selects his adjectives very carefully. He uses 'thin', and 'fading' and also explains that Rhoda milks her cows away from the rest; she
"'Ah! she said to it, 'if it had not been for you this terrible ordeal would have been saved me!'"Is this true? Could the withered arm be the only reason for Gertrude's terrible ordeal, as she calls it? The way in which Hardy presents it, with the fine line between coincidence and the supernatural, Gertrude seems to herself believe the arm is the cause of her failed marriage. So therefore our sympathies lie against him once more. As both have been lovers of Farmer Lodge, it tends to suggest that his treatment of them is somewhat to blame, and again we are unsympathetic towards him. She asks her boy to spy on the young woman, and there is perhaps a hint of sympathy elicited here in that Rhoda was not able to retain Lodge's love. Up to now, sympathy has been created for Rhoda and Gertrude because of his actions. She agreed to marry Lodge when still very young, and chapter three showed us that she was kind, and happy. Both were once handsome, but now Rhoda has faded and so has her house. Then he warns there could be a reprieve. It is at this point that our sympathies begin to lie with Rhoda and against Farmer Lodge. Similarly, Rhoda is wracked with guilt, as she believes she caused the withering. The state of Gertrude's arm worsens throughout the course of chapter four. Gertrude can also not have a child, and Lodge's son has moved away, so he cannot have the inheritance.
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Acceptance Essays
