The Inscription by Thomas Hardy
A widowed lady mourns her deceased husband, Sir John, and commissions a brass inscription to honor his memory, binding her name to his. She vows to remain faithful, omitting her death date from the inscription, and implores others to pray for their souls. Over time, she encounters a younger suitor who desires to marry her, but she refuses, torn between her past love and the possibility of a new life. Despite her beauty and the suitor's persistence, she clings to her vow, leading to her emotional decline. The suitor ultimately gives her a deadline to accept his proposal, prompting her to seek counsel from a priest. The priest informs her that her inscription binds her to her vow, and erasing it would imply she no longer values her late husband, risking her eternal peace. As the deadline approaches, she becomes increasingly consumed by her grief and the inscription, neglecting her health and social life. On the eve of Midsummer, she disappears from her home, last seen in the church, fixated on the brass. Her mental state deteriorates, and she is found tracing the inscription with her finger, unable to recognize it. Ultimately, she vanishes, becoming a ghostly figure associated with the brass, her fate unknown. The inscription remains, with her death date unrecorded, serving as a testament to her unresolved conflict between love and loyalty, and the societal expectations of marriage and fidelity. The tale concludes with the brass still visible in the church, where people continue to pray, unaware of the tragic story behind it.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Gothic Fiction · 1,216 words
First lines
(A TALE)
SIR JOHN was entombed, and the crypt was closed, and she, Like a soul that could meet no more the sight of the sun, Inclined her in weepings and prayings continually, As his widowed one.
What this Textopian page supports
The Inscription is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Gothic Fiction, Tragedy, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,216 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetic form.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love, loss, and the emotional conflict between past commitments and new affections.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting includes elements of death, mourning, and a haunting presence, typical of Gothic literature.
- Tragedy — The narrative explores themes of sorrow, sacrifice, and the consequences of choices, leading to a tragic outcome.
Tags
literature · poetry · inscription · nature · identity · memory · loss · time · human experience · reflection · existentialism · romanticism