English author Thomas Hardy published his final novel, Jude the Obscure, in 1895. Critics deemed it “immoral” and “indecent,” and it became a target of book burnings because of its critique of marriage, religion, education, and class structure. The narrative follows the tragic journey of Jude Fawley, a working-class man striving for education and love, whose aspirations are consistently thwarted by societal barriers, personal setbacks, and internal struggles.

This guide refers to the e-book version of the Norton Critical Edition, third edition (2016), edited by Ralph Pite and based on the 1912 edition that contains Hardy’s final revisions.

Content Warning: This guide and the source material depicts and references, though not extensively or in great detail, the murder of a child, suicide by a child, suicide attempts and contemplation of suicide, miscarriage, and instances of sexual coercion.

Plot Summary

In Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, set in Victorian England, Jude Fawley dreams of studying at the prestigious university in Christminster. He is inspired by the example of his former teacher, Richard Phillotson, who departs for Christminster himself at the beginning of the novel. Jude resides with his great-aunt, Drusilla Fawley, who has reluctantly cared for him since the death of his parents. Jude toils in Drusilla’s bakery while dedicating all his spare moments to studying and preparing for his eventual move to Christminster, even apprenticing as a stonemason to fund his aspirations.

Jude’s dreams are shattered when he becomes entangled with Arabella Donn, who claims to be pregnant in order to convince him to marry her. Despite their incompatibility, Jude strives to maintain the marriage, but Arabella abandons him to join her family in Australia. 

Jude renews his academic aspirations and sets his sights on Christminster. He is driven partly by his desire to meet his cousin, Sue Bridehead, who lives there. However, Jude’s immediate and profound love for Sue is complicated by his existing marriage to Arabella, leading to overwhelming guilt. When Sue secures a teaching position under Phillotson, Jude is dismayed as her and his former teacher’s professional relationship evolves into a romantic relationship.

As Jude faces rejection from the university because of his humble background, Sue becomes engaged to Phillotson. Jude relocates to Melchester to attend a theological college, while Sue pursues her education at a nearby teacher training college. However, Sue is expelled after a platonic night out with Jude, prompting Jude to finally disclose his marital status. Despite her affection for Jude, Sue marries Phillotson and asks Jude to give her away at the wedding. 

Jude’s despair escalates, leading him to turn to alcohol and briefly rekindle his relationship with Arabella, who has remarried in Australia. In their subsequent encounter, Sue expresses remorse over her marriage, leading Jude to vow to continue seeing her.

After Drusilla’s death, Sue joins Jude at her funeral in Marygreen. She describes to him the unhappiness of her marriage, particularly her struggle with physical intimacy. During a moment of emotional vulnerability, she and Jude kiss. The moment prompts Jude to renounce his aspirations to the church and burn his theology books. Sue confronts Phillotson about her discomfort with physical intimacy and requests permission to move in with Jude, but Phillotson refuses, offering a compromise of separate living arrangements within their shared home. One night, an accidental physical encounter between Phillotson and Sue prompts her to jump out of the window. Moved by Sue’s evident repulsion, Phillotson permits her to reunite with Jude. However, Sue refrains from physical intimacy with Jude as well. Phillotson faces repercussions for his actions towards Sue, eventually losing his schoolteacher job; they finally divorce.

Jude and Sue spend a year in Aldbrickham, continuing to avoid physical intimacy while their respective divorces are negotiated. Arabella resurfaces seeking assistance and announces to Jude that she bore his child in Australia. She leaves again to marry her second husband, Cartlett. Jude and Sue’s emotional turmoil prevents them from following through with their own marriage. Arabella sends their child, nicknamed “Little Father Time,” into Jude and Sue’s care. Despite facing frequent job losses because of their unmarried, but co-habiting, status, Jude and Sue persist in their relationship, traveling and seeking employment together. Over time, they have two children of their own, and Sue is pregnant with a third.

As Jude’s health declines, he becomes determined to return to Christminster. However, the family faces difficulties in finding accommodation and employment. Tragedy strikes when Little Father Time, overwhelmed by the family’s hardships, takes his own life along with those of his siblings.

Consumed by guilt and religious fervor, Sue returns to Phillotson, leaving Jude heartbroken and alone. Arabella once again convinces him to marry her. Jude falls gravely ill and seeks solace in a final encounter with Sue. Despite their enduring affection, Sue chooses to stay with Phillotson as a form of penance.

A year later, Jude dies in solitude, while Arabella participates in holiday festivities, indifferent to his suffering. Arabella promptly seeks a new husband. At Jude’s funeral, only Arabella and Mrs. Edlin, a widowed friend who had cared for Drusilla, are present. Arabella vows Sue will never find peace or forgiveness.