ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Hardy himself denied that he was a pessimist, calling himself a “meliorist, ” i.e., one who believes that the world may be made better by human effort. But there is little sign of “meliorism” in either his most important novels or his lyric poetry.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hardy expressed his deep pessimism when he wrote about the universal order. He held both a deterministic and tragic view of human existence, accepting the inevitability of suffering and evil.

Detailed explanation-3: -The lack of divine command was the primary cause of Hardy’s dissatisfaction or pessimism. Tess of the D’Urbervilles lacks this harmonious order as well. Tess of the D’Urbervilles depicts a hostile universe devoid of a loving God, as does the whole universe. Human pain seems pointless in the absence of a benevolent God.

Detailed explanation-4: -An extensive study of most of the novels shows Hardy’s outlook as a pessimistic one.

Detailed explanation-5: -He was endowed with optimism as he always hoped for advancement and betterment in every sphere of life. He valued certain outstanding basic values like hope, love, affection, sympathy, kindness, gentility, and selflessness.