So You Say I Have a Chance?

A belief in determinism engenders a lack of chance in life. Things happen for a reason to determinists. There are no coincidences or random occurrences. We just finished reading Hardy’s poem, “Hap,” which personifies the idea of Chance. The character rails against god (line 1) and Fate (Casualty, line 11) who are making his life miserable. Find some examples of “chance” or happenstance that occur in Jude the Obscure. Post them here for all to see.

Section Theme

In Tess of the d'Urbervilles Hardy separates his novel in phases indicative of the changes that beset the main character over the course of her life. The moon as a early symbol connect the concepts of Mother Earth to seasonal discord which is a metaphor for Tess's existence.

Jude the Obscure is separated differently. Instead of phases, the sections are titled "At Marygreen," "At Melchester," "At Shaston." Knowing that Hardy intentionally created the phases to mirror Tess's pagan nature, what purpose does Hardy have for labling these sections by town or city?