The Role of the Heath in Hardys Return of the Native Essay -- Return

The Role of the Heath in Hardys fleet of the NativeNature is the virtually thrifty thing in the world she never wastes anything she undergoes change, but on that point is no annihilation, the substance remains - matter is eternal, philosophizes Horace Binney. Egdon Heath, in Thomas Hardys Return of the Native, behaves as Nature does in this quotation -- it undergoes normalizeal shifts, but its congenital quality remains. The heath takes on the role of a static sour on the characters relationships and circumstances, demonstrating the unchanging constitution of pitying experience through its possess seasonal shifts, but still unaltered essence of tragedy.As the stage opens, it is November fifth, in the early winter. The beginning of winter is also the beginning of a troubled time for Thomasin. She goes with Wildeve to Anglebury to marry him in the morning of November fifth, but returns that evening, unmarried, in the back of the reddlemans wagon. Mrs. Yeobright, Thomasins a unt and guardian, expresses her grief -- When it gets known there will be a very unpleasant time for us (49). Though it was non Thomasins fault that she did not marry Wildeve, as there was a occupation with the marriage license, people still consider it a scandal and a great disgrace to her and her family. This time of depression, in which Thomasin does not even leave behind the house out of shame, lasts until Thomasin finally does marry Wildeve, after an extended decimal point of waiting. It is not until after Christmas that they finally wed. The depressing quality of the winter season reflects this dreary and disheartening time. Nature and seasonal changes reflect human disposition and situations on the heath.As spring, the green or young fern period, begins, so does a relationshi... ...r, this time the night is darker, and the despair is greater. The heath ends Eustacia and Wildeves life in Shadwater Weir as darkness closes in on the heath for the winter. The characters cann ot control nature it instead reflects their own relationships and situations.The seasons have come full circle and so has tragedy. The heath is back to its original state, as are Clym and Thomasin -- merely a bit older and a bit sadder, just as the heath itself. While the seasons change things for a time, the situation eventually reverts to its original state. The essence of the heath is tragic, and will always recover to that condition, just as human experience is unchanging. Indeed, the untamable...thing that Egdon now was it always had been and will always continue to be (14). Works CitedHardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. New York Signet Classic, 1987.