The environment in which one lives plays a major role in his daily life. Weather, in literature, can sometimes take the moods and emotions felt by the characters. For example, if you were feeling down and out, the weather might just happen to be rainy and gloomy. This connection between environment and mood is a major literary element used in many plays and novels. The novel The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy provides examples of weather portraying the emotions felt by the characters.
             The Return of the Native takes place on Egdon Heath in England. The weather on the heath and the heath its self portray the emotions of the main characters in the play. One of its inhabitants, Clym and Eustacia, are prime examples of the heath portray their emotions through the weather.
             When Clym and Eustacia first get married the heath is at its most beautiful season. As time passes, along with the honeymoon, the heath returns to the desolate and rather barren look it is known for. This seasonal change happens to coincide with the down fall of their marriage. The heath is a reflection of their marriage. The baron and desolate land represents the lost intimacy between the couple.
             Another time when the heath portrays its inhabitants' emotions is the night Eustacia tries to escape the heath with Wildeve. The night is dark and stormy. The water levels are rising along with Eustacia's emotions. She is becoming overwhelmed with despair and desolation while the heath is being overcome by the storm. The unforgiving and relentless storm on the heath represents Eustacia's mental distress.
             Hardy uses the weather on the heath to represent certain character's emotions. When there upset, the heath is disturbed and when the times are good, the heath is beautiful and forgiving. The physical environment the heath embodies plays and is a significant role in deriving of the action and mental emotions experienced by the characters ...