Her Death and After by Thomas Hardy
The narrative unfolds through the perspective of a man reflecting on his past love, who is now on her deathbed. He recalls the emotional turmoil of their relationship, marked by unfulfilled desires and the consequences of choices made. The woman, now married and a mother, expresses regret for not choosing him, revealing that her husband has been unkind and that their child is lame. In her final moments, she wishes for the child to have the care and love he could have provided. After her death, the man mourns her loss and visits her grave, contemplating the injustices faced by her child, who is now neglected by her husband. The man encounters the husband, who confronts him about his visits to the grave, asserting his claim over the deceased. In a moment of desperation, the man fabricates a story, claiming paternity of the child to assert his connection and desire to care for her. The husband, seeing the child as a product of an illicit affair, reluctantly agrees to let the man take her. The man adopts the child, forming a bond with her, yet he grapples with guilt over the lie he told, feeling he has wronged the memory of the woman he loved. He hopes that she would forgive him for his actions, believing that his intentions were ultimately for the child's benefit. The story explores themes of love, regret, and the complexities of human relationships, highlighting the impact of choices on lives intertwined by fate. The man's internal conflict reflects the struggle between his desires and the moral implications of his actions, ultimately leading to a bittersweet resolution where love transcends the circumstances of their past.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1912 · Genre: Poetry, Tragedy, Romance · 1,445 words
First lines
'TWAS a death-bed summons, and forth I went By the way of the Western Wall, so drear On that winter night, and sought a gate- The home, by Fate, Of one I had long held dear.
And there, as I paused by her tenement, And the trees shed on me their rime and hoar, I thought of the man who had left her lone- Him who made her his own When I loved her, long before.
What this Textopian page supports
Her Death and After is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Tragedy, Romance, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,445 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
- The Mother Mourns by Thomas Hardy
- The Souls Of The Slain by Thomas Hardy
- Before Marching And After by Thomas Hardy
- The Death Of Regret by Thomas Hardy
- The Pity Of It by Thomas Hardy
- Over The Coffin by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing a lyrical style that emphasizes emotional depth and reflection.
- Tragedy — The themes of loss, regret, and the consequences of choices highlight tragic elements in the narrative.
- Romance — The complex relationships and unfulfilled love between the characters are central to the plot.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores profound themes and character development, characteristic of literary fiction.
Tags
tragedy · loss · grief · love · death · mourning · relationships · human emotion · existentialism · fate · society · nature