A Rich Tapestry of Ideas

Respond to these quotes from Richard Carpenter's criticism:

"On the whole, Return of the Native, is drawn in broad strokes that indicate its closeness to folk origins. This breadth is at once its charm and its weakness, for it is rich in superstition, myth, and folk characters acting out an elemental tale of love and hate; but it is also overladen with allusion and philosophy, with complex plot, and with attempts at psychologizing."

"As in Far From the Madding Crowd the peasants (Cantle, Fairway, Nunsuch) are a chorus, with all that implies of continuity and comment...Hardy goes beyond his practice in Far by involving these characters and other folk in the action...The folk are thus always there in the novel, reminding us of their permanence (to the Heath) in contrast to the lives of the principal characters (who may desire permanence, but find nothing by tragedy.)"

Metaphorical Blindness

In viewing the relationship between Eustacia and Clym, an asute reader recognizes it is doomed to fail based solely on their view of Egdon Heath. Eustacia's desire to escape from the land which binds her is in stark contrast to Clym's, and Hardy's. Although Clym reveres the Heath as a paradise, readers side with Eustacia for Hardy presents Clym’s view as one who is blinded by nostalgic reverence.

Critics often compare this motif of blindness to the tale of Promethus. Clym is a modern man who has the capacity "to bring light, rather than fire, to men." His name also speaks to this interpretation. Yeobright, along with the word "bright," alludes to the concept of a yeoman, a medieval term for "one of high rank or office." Hardy's word play with this name could also refer to yeoman's later use as "one who farms or works the land."

What other ways does the theme of blindness present itself in the novel? How is Eustacia (metaphorically) blind? What hinders these main characters from seeing the truth of their situations?