The Dear by Thomas Hardy (1917)
The narrative unfolds with a speaker reflecting on a maiden encountered on Fairmile Hill-top. The speaker expresses a desire to protect her from life's dangers and uncertainties, contemplating the future and the paths she may take. The maiden, however, asserts her independence and connection to someone else, indicating that she belongs to another who is far away. This interaction highlights themes of longing, unrequited affection, and the complexities of human relationships. As the speaker observes the maiden, he is struck by her beauty and the vitality of the moment, yet he is also aware of the emotional distance between them. The maiden's proud demeanor and her declaration of belonging to another create a poignant contrast to the speaker's feelings. This moment encapsulates the tension between desire and reality, as the speaker grapples with his feelings of admiration and the recognition that the maiden's heart is already claimed. The work explores the nuances of love, identity, and the impact of distance on relationships. The speaker's internal conflict is evident as he navigates his emotions, caught between admiration and the acceptance of unreciprocated feelings. The maiden's assertion of her connection to someone else serves as a reminder of the complexities of love and the often unbridgeable gaps that exist between individuals. Throughout the piece, the natural setting mirrors the emotional landscape, with the breeze and the hilltop symbolizing both freedom and the constraints of societal expectations. The speaker's wish for a protective power over the maiden reflects a deeper yearning for connection and understanding, yet it is ultimately met with the reality of her independence. The narrative concludes with an unresolved tension, leaving the speaker in a state of contemplation. The encounter serves as a catalyst for reflection on the nature of love, belonging, and the bittersweet experience of unfulfilled desire. The work encapsulates the essence of human connection, the longing for intimacy, and the inevitable separations that define relationships.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 195 words
First lines
I PLODDED to Fairmile Hill-top, where A maiden one fain would guard From every hazard and every care Advanced on the roadside sward.
I wondered how succeeding suns Would shape her wayfarings, And wished some Power might take such ones Under Its warding wings.
The busy breeze came up the hill And smartened her cheek to red, And frizzled her hair to a haze. With a will "Good-morning, my Dear! " I said.
She glanced from me to the far-off gray, And, with proud severity, "Good-morning to you-though I may say I am not _your_ Dear," quoth she:
What this Textopian page supports
The Dear is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Narrative, Nature Writing
- Length: 195 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, longing, and nature are prevalent, characteristic of Romantic literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story through the speaker's encounter with the maiden.
Tags
love · loss · nature · rural · relationships · tragedy · human emotion · nostalgia · conflict · society · fate · identity