A Sound in the Night by Thomas Hardy

Name: A Sound in the Night
Author: Thomas Hardy

The narrative unfolds in a remote castle where a newlywed couple experiences an unsettling night. The bride hears a mysterious sound resembling a woman's voice, which disturbs her on what should be a joyous occasion. Her husband dismisses her concerns, attributing the noise to natural elements like the wind and rain. Despite his reassurances, the bride remains troubled, sensing a deeper sorrow connected to the sound. In an attempt to calm her, the husband ventures into the night with a lantern to investigate. Upon his return, he insists that the noise was merely the wind and other environmental sounds. However, the bride's intuition tells her otherwise, as she notices his agitation and the state of his clothing, suggesting he has encountered something unsettling outside. The husband reveals that the cry was indeed from a woman he once loved, who has come to him in spirit, expressing her sorrow. This revelation shatters their marital bond, leading him to abandon her and flee the castle, believing it to be cursed. The bride is left alone, heartbroken and haunted by the memory of the night and the cries she heard. In the aftermath, a woman's body is discovered nearby, confirming the tragic connection to the husband's past. The bride departs the castle, forever marked by the experience, and relocates to a distant county. Despite her efforts to move on, she continues to hear echoes of the woman's cries and the sounds of an infant, symbolizing her unresolved grief and the haunting legacy of that fateful night. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the inescapable nature of the past, leaving the bride in a state of perpetual mourning.

By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Poetry, Romanticism · 866 words

First lines

(WOODSFORD CASTLE: 17–)

"WHAT do I catch upon the night-wind, husband? - / What is it sounds in this house so eerily? / It seems to be a woman's voice: each little while I hear it, / And it much troubles me!"

"Tis but the eaves dripping down upon the plinth-slopes: / Letting fancies worry thee! -sure 'tis a foolish thing, / When we were on'y coupled half-an-hour before the noontide, / And now it's but evening."

"Yet seems it still a woman's voice outside the castle, husband, / And 'tis cold to-night, and rain beats, and this is a lonely place. / Didst thou fathom much of womankind in travel or adventure / Ere ever thou sawest my face?"

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A Sound in the Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Thomas Hardy
Date: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Gothic Fiction, Poetry, Romanticism, Drama, Mystery
Length: 866 words
Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Gothic Fiction — The story features eerie sounds, a haunted atmosphere, and themes of loss and sorrow, typical of Gothic literature.
Poetry — The work is written in a lyrical style with rhythmic and rhyming elements, resembling poetry.
Romanticism — The exploration of deep emotions, nature, and the supernatural aligns with Romantic themes.
Drama — The dialogue-driven narrative and emotional conflict between characters suggest dramatic elements.