Power and Social Discipline inThomas Hardy’sThe Return of the Native

Abstract

Thomas Hardy in his widely acclaimed novel The Return of the Native has shown the theme of power and social discipline by showing the relationship between different characters set in Victorian period.The researcher claims that by presenting different events and complex relationship of characters the writer shows the relationship between power social discipline and female’s status in the society of the novel.The main victims of the novel are Eustacia and Thomasin. These female characters are forced to live in a narrow restricted world due to male domination and male hegemony in the society. These female characters are compelled to face many difficulties created by male discourses of the society.