The Pedestrian. an Incident of 1883
The narrative unfolds in a desolate, nighttime setting where a speaker encounters a young man on a heath. The young man, despite his refined demeanor and intellectual aspirations, is burdened by his physical condition, which is hinted to be terminal. He expresses a sense of urgency and despair regarding his mortality, revealing that he has been given a limited time to live by his doctors. The young man reflects on his past as a student of philosophy, mentioning influential thinkers such as Schopenhauer, Kant, and Hegel, indicating a deep engagement with existential questions. He laments his corporeal existence, wishing to transcend his physical form and become an ethereal being, free from the constraints of his failing body. As the conversation progresses, the speaker is struck by the young man's vitality of thought juxtaposed with his frail physical state. The encounter is poignant, highlighting themes of mortality, the struggle between the mind and body, and the fleeting nature of life. The young man's fate is sealed as he disappears into the night, leaving the speaker with a lasting impression of his tragic potential and unfulfilled aspirations. The work encapsulates a moment of profound human connection, underscoring the tension between intellectual ambition and the inevitability of death. The speaker's recollection of the encounter serves as a meditation on the fragility of life and the relentless passage of time, ultimately evoking a sense of melancholy and reflection on the human condition.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 423 words
First lines
"SIR, will you let me give you a ride? / _Nox Venit_, and the heath is wide. " / -My phaeton-lantern shone on one / Young, fair, even fresh, / But burdened with flesh: / A leathern satchel at his side, / His breathings short, his coat undone.
'Twas as if his corpulent figure slopped / With the shake of his walking when he stopped, / And, though the night's pinch grew acute, / He wore but a thin / Wind-thridded suit, / Yet well-shaped shoes for walking in, / Artistic beaver, cane gold-topped.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pedestrian. an Incident of 1883 is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Hardy, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Tragedy, Romanticism
- Length: 423 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pedestrian. an Incident of 1883 by Thomas Hardy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of mortality, philosophy, and the human condition, typical of literary fiction.
- Philosophical Fiction — The character references philosophical figures and contemplates existence, aligning with philosophical themes.
- Tragedy — The poem conveys a sense of loss and the inevitability of death, embodying tragic elements.
Tags
urban life · loneliness · society · technology · industrialization · alienation · nature · human experience · 19th century · social commentary · walking · cityscape