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| Thomas Hardy |
Many of the views of my 17-year-old self were formed around the novels and poetry of Thomas Hardy; views to which I still hold onto, over 40 years later. He was my favorite author then, as he is now.
Even though he wrote fiction, his novels represented stark and raw truth. It was a truth that overrode any religious dogmas ever taught to me.
Hardy never lied to me. He had analyzed life meticulously, and through pure genius, come up with certain answers. They rang so true to me, that I believed them, too.
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| Thomas Hardy |
These philosophies included:
- Nature is impersonal and a primitive force
- Chance plays a conspicuous part in the course of events
- Any person's life can easily be derailed by unexpected bad luck
- Inborn instincts and inherited traits are responsible, to a large degree, for a person's thoughts and actions
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| Far From the Madding Crowd - read at 17 |
In Hardy's novels, irony of circumstance results in human suffering. Throughout it all, nature remains unconcerned and indifferent.
But realization comes to the reader, that social laws and conventions can be changed and cause an improvement in our human lot.
Through his novels, one learns that time is a great series of moments and incidents, some fortunate but others not so much so. Even though fate does not take into account a person's aspirations and desires, a successful answer still exists, for happiness and meaning.
Turning to human kindness and empathy for our joy in life, is that answer. Becoming a person that refuses to impart cruelty to our fellow beings, including animals, defines a life well fulfilled. Another conspicuous note that resonates, is Hardy's acknowledgement of the merit of loyalty in human relations.
I love Thomas Hardy for setting me straight and telling me things that were hard to hear, but in such a beautiful way.
I am in awe of the ability of any brilliant mind, to capture nature's beauty and the depth of human experience as coherently as Hardy did. I truly admire his genius.
