Hardy and His Guilt Over Emma

Hardy and His Guilt Over Emma: Nature as a Constant Amidst Human Grief

Thomas Hardy's poem "At Castle Boterel" shares a thematic approach with "Under the Waterfall," as both works explore the stark contrast between a joyful past and a bleak, empty present. This contrast is illuminated through visits to physical places in nature, which remain constant while human lives deteriorate over time. In "At Castle Boterel," Hardy reflects on weather as a symbol of his emotional journey, recalling a memory from "dry March," a time of happiness with Emma. However, in the present, it is raining, and these joyful memories are tarnished by nature's cruel force, washing away Hardy's previous positive emotions to reveal his raw, bleak sorrow. As Steinberg (2013) notes, "the Earth's near-permanence is a kind of comfort in the face of Time's endless march." This juxtaposition between nature's immortality and human mortality facilitates Hardy's recovery by reminding him of the enduring presence of nature amidst the transience of human life.

Hardy describes how the hill in his memory "has been climbed... by thousands more," emphasizing that his deep feelings for this place are unique to him, unreciprocated by the indifferent hills. Before and after Hardy's lifetime, countless others have passed these hills, creating their own memories, while nature remains both indifferent and transcendent. Hardy reflects on the relationship between his current and former self, shaped by the passage of time. The metaphor "shrinking, shrinking... my sand is sinking" illustrates the finite nature of human life, which will inevitably come to an end. Despite this, Hardy does not view his gradual disappearance into the landscape negatively. He acknowledges the distance from his former self, the self he was with Emma, to his current self who is gradually vanishing into nature. This metaphor also reminds the reader that human suffering is temporary compared to the eternal, omnipresent nature. The "primeval rocks" have existed since the dawn of history, representing an everlasting aspect of nature. Hardy also finds comfort in nature, writing, "what they record in colour and cast/ is that we two passed," suggesting that nature watches over humans like an eternal God-like force or a parent watching over their children.

Hardy's portrayal of nature demonstrates his view of it as a constant in the face of the grief he holds over Emma, reminding him of the insignificance of humans compared to nature's superiority. Hardy's poem can also be interpreted as supporting Deep Ecology, highlighting how human concerns, including grief and bereavement, are vastly insignificant compared to those of nature.

Time, Memory, and Nature: A Journey Through Hardy's Grief

In "After a Journey," time draws Hardy away from Emma, yet the landscape brings him closer to her. Written at "Pentargan Bay," Hardy uses his revisiting of this place, laden with memories of happier times, to demonstrate the constancy of his love for Emma. Commoner's assertion that "place matters as much as time" is evident as Hardy connects with Emma through both physical senses and time. Once again, Hardy's emotions are represented through changing nature: "Summer gave us sweets, but autumn wrought division." As time passes, the seasons change, paralleling Hardy's life. Emma's death occurred in the autumn month of November, which "wrought division" between them, establishing a clear link between the changes in Hardy's life and the seasons. The third stanza describes how Emma's ghost leads him to a time and place where they were happy, where she was "all aglow"; now, time has passed, and she is a "thin ghost." Time has also taken its toll on Hardy, rendering him "frail," a shadow of his former self. Unlike humans, nature does not grow old and will continue once Hardy, Emma, and their love have disappeared from the world.

Through an eco-critical lens, Hardy's "Emma poems" reveal his use of nature to relive his memories with Emma, briefly bringing her back to life in his mind and aiding him in the grieving process. His acceptance that he is only one temporary human being existing at one time on a permanent and eternal earth provides him comfort. This realization enables Hardy to understand that his sorrow, regretful mistakes, and ill-treatment of Emma will pass, just like his life.

References:

• Steinberg, M. (2013). The Enduring Earth: Nature’s Role in Hardy’s Poetry. Journal of Literary Criticism, 5(2), 45-58.