Essay | Mrs. Yeobright's Attitude in Return of the Native

While reading Thomas Hardy, one cannot help but notice his bleak writing style. Return of the Native marks itself as no exception to this rule; the inanimate antagonist, Egdon Heath, maintains a dour persona throughout, reflecting on each character in the book in a distinct way. In Return of the Native, Mrs. Yeobright affects a bigoted attitude toward the world as a result of her relationship with nature.

For all of her life, Mrs. Yeobright has lived in the Heath. She adjusted to it long ago, learned to accept its charms and hardships. Despite her familiarity with Egdon, she manages to loathe the "lowly" occupations, inhabitants, and habits associated with it. Hardy shows how much she abhors the lower class: "Mrs. Yeobright was not demonstrative, but her eyes involuntarily glanced towards his singular though attractive form"(85). Said in regards to Diggory...
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