There are a lot of cool quotes in Return of the Native and I thought we could write our favorite ones on this page and explain why we like it. christine
There are a lot of cool quotes in Return of the Native and I thought we could write our favorite ones on this page and explain why we like it. christine
My favorite quote is a generalization on page 23:
“Persons with any weight of character carry, like planets, their atmospheres along with them in their orbits…”
It goes on to describe how Mrs. Yeobright changes the tone of the room just by entering. Eustacia also does this. When she leans out of the window to tell the men to tye a rope around Clym all the men are silent and stare at her. When she tries to be a mummer the boys still figure out who they are because her atmosphere is that prevalent. Even Clym, who has never met her or heard of her, figures out that she is a woman. I liked this quote a lot, because its true not just about his characters but about everyone.
I don’t know if this can even count as an entry, given that it’s low on the scale of socratic discussion. But what is with the sign over the Quiet Woman Inn? Did anyone else think it funny?
Since The Woman’s Quiet
Let No Man Breed A Riot.
What is that trying to say? Ideas?
~ Jeremy Thompson **
** Mr. Awesome
Another one of my favorite quotes is on page 204. Venn is talking to Thomasin and says:
“Then I saw him at Throope Corner, leading one home,” said Venn drily. “A beauty, with a white face and a mane as black as night.”
I thought this was definately one of the funniest quotes in the novel. He is talking about Wildeve leading Eustacia home, but he makes Thomasin believe he is talking about a horse. Venn is very clever. I wonder if once Wildeve told her he did not buy a horse she figured out Venn was talking about Eustacia. And I think the sign was Hardy being all ironic again.
My favorite quote doesn’t really qualify as a quote but here it goes. I love the epigraph for this book!
“To sorrow
I bade good morrow,
And thought to leave her far away behind;
but cheerly, cheerly,
She loves me dearly;
She is so constant to me, and so kind.
I would deceive her,
And so leave her,
But ah! she is so constant and so kind.”
I see 2 interpretations to this. First, the theme of isolation… Hardy is saying that each of the characters’ experiences leads them to believe it is easier to be alone and wallow in self-pity than take the risk of a relationship. They all kind of end up at this point at least once: Mrs. Yeobright after she thinks her son shut her out of his house, Eustacia on her way to Wildeve’s in an attempt to leave the heath, and many others. Another one is possibly that “sorrow” is interchangeable with “Eustacia,” and this is Clym’s thought as he is trying to move on following her death.
Oops!! #4 is (( Brooke ))
Another quote I like is in a description of Clym Yeobright in Book Second, Chapter VI: “When standing before certain men the philosopher regrets that thinkers are but perishable tissue, the artist that perishable tissue has to think” (124).
Clym’s years of deep thought and reasoning have obviously worn on his outward appearance. I like how Hardy worded this sentence for some reason… maybe because it kind of provides imagery for the way Clym looks. If you look at a philosopher, they just look wise. At the same time, they aren’t exactly the most prettiest creatures to behold, and I imagine it would be difficult for artists to capture the wisdom you see in a philosopher’s face on a canvas.
(( Brooke ))
I like quote 4, quote 1 was definitely mine (but that isn’t my post, i’m just saying how that is my favorite quote in the novel. period.)
gee. I think the sign in quote 2 is saying that the owner doesn’t want any trouble (ie Riot) but that is ironic because the owner, Wildeve, ceaselessly brings trouble upon himself through liking two completely unworthy women and pursuing both of them. What a smart guy.
seth
Okay this is my favorite quote:
“‘I almost wish you would kill me,’ said she with gloomy bitterness. ‘It is with no strong desire, I assure you, that I play the part that I have lately played on earth. You are no blessing my husband!’” (Hardy 297) -Tiffani