Jude the Obscure- Part 1st-At Marygreen-Chapters 1-4

[Angela]

This discussion is for: Jude the Obscure- Part 1st-At Marygreen-Chapters 1-4

[Trudy]

Jude shows unusual promise in his serious intent and self-discipline in studying ancient languages on his own. He is not content to dwell in the labour-intensive world of his upbringing, but longs to be a scholar or something requiring intellectual skills. This is exactly the type of determination and desire that should lead to some kind of success in attaining his goals.
Since this is Hardy, however, and the title of the book somewhat declares his failure to create the life he longs for, I see great foreshadowing in Jude's experience with the quack traveling doctor who fails to give Jude the grammar books he glibly promised to the scholarly-minded boy. Jude's bitter disappointment feels like the first of many he will have to endure in his life journey.