Mrs. Richard Phillotson Analysis

"The social moulds civilization fits us into have no more relation to our actual shapes than the conventional shapes of the constellations have to the real star-patterns. I am called Mrs. Richard Phillotson, living a calm wedded life with my counterpart of that name. But I am not really Mrs. Richard Phillotson, but a woman tossed about, all alone, with aberrant passions, and unaccountable antipathies" - (Hardy, 1895)
Sue represents the new woman, a woman who was not submissive to the stereotypical women roles of her society. She may seem to have already gone through a successful process of self-formation, however Jude, gets impressed by her liberal ideas.
Sue is not similar to Hardy’s other heroines. Her view on marriage also differs from
She has to behave according to the orders of her husband or the man who owns her whether he's her brother, father or husband, this quote of hers connects to this: “He (husband) can spend until midnight balancing the school registers, and then muttering on about school committees and draughty ventilators he can ascend to the nuptial chambers quite as if sexual intercourse with his wife were just part of the day’s functions." (Hardy, 1895) She even comments on the people’s attitude about marriage, she thinks that the views of the people about the relations of man and woman are based on animal desire. "the social moulds, civilization fits us into, and have no more relations to our actual shapes than the conventional shapes of the constellations have to the real star patterns. I am called Mrs. Richard Phillotson living a calm wedded life with my counterpart of that name. But I am not really Mrs. Richard Phillotson, but a woman tossed about, all alone with, aberrant passions, and uncountable antipathies." (Hardy,
The system of marriage demands that men get to choose who to marry while women have no choice in choosing a husband. In this connection Sue remarks that “My bridegroom chooses me of his own will and pleasure, but I don’t’ choose him, somebody gives me to him, like a she –ass or she –goat, or any other domestic animal" (Hardy, 1895) She is far from the typical conventional women seeking for their identity. She tries to seeks something that no woman in her age would even think of, which became very popular in modern societies which is 'live-in’ relationship. Sue is aware of herself as a woman. Her ideas contradicts other women's point of view. Hardy questions the rules and laws of the society which are purely man made from stereotypical, sexist and patriarchal ideologies in the name of religion and tradition. He suggests that these ideologies should be changed. He uses Sue to speak for him by saying to Phillotson “Domestic laws should be made according to temperament, which should be classified. If people are at all peculiar in character they have to suffer from the very rules that produce comforts in others!" (Hardy,