A Pair of Blue Eyes
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4.3 • 12 Ratings
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Publisher Description
The book describes the love triangle of a young woman, Elfride Swancourt, and her two suitors from very different backgrounds. Stephen Smith is a socially inferior but ambitious young man who adores her and with whom she shares a country background. Henry Knight is the respectable, established, older man who represents London society. Elfride finds herself caught in a battle between her heart, her mind and the expectations of those around her – her parents and society.
Customer Reviews
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“A Pair of Blue Eyes” by Thomas Hardy set up in a village named Endelstow is a romance novel following life three people stuck in a love triangle. The girl with blue eyes is seen trembling between her heart and her mind, between societal norms and her desires.
This beautiful tale by Hardy follows up life of a young girl, Elfride Swanscourt and two men from very different backgrounds. The main protagonists firstly falls in love with Stephen Smith, a young boy of her age for his innocence and passion towards her and later circumstances changes her attitude making her love another named Henry Knight, who is more respectable, established and an older man representing London society.
During the story, one can easily conclude how fickle minded Elfride is. She is proves that a woman is unstoppable when she knows she deserves better. This novel is quite offensive to womanhood. Dark complexion has been used a synonym for ugly. Women being criticised, men without any reason have been considered superior to them.
The novel in general is full of romance however some adventures, for example, the one where Elfride saves her lover’s life changes the reader’s mood for the better. As it proceeds towards it end, it gets more and more interesting building up one’s excitement in flipping through the pages.
The book has been beautifully and aptly titled as this pair of blue eyes brings significant changes in lives of many people. The end was as usual unexpected and also a sad one thus adding deeper meanings to it. One should definitely read this very well written book by Thomas Hardy.