RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CONFLICTS IN THE FATE OF SUE BRIDEHEAD IN JUDE THE OBSCURE
Abstract
This article examines the religious and moral conflicts faced by Sue Bridehead, a central character in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure (1895). Sue’s intellectual independence and emotional sensitivity place her in direct conflict with the rigid religious doctrines and moral expectations of Victorian society. By focusing on her personal relationships, internal struggles, and moral dilemmas, the article explores Hardy’s critique of religious and moral orthodoxy and its destructive impact on individual autonomy and emotional well-being. Sue’s resistance to conventional marriage, her questioning of religious authority, and her conscientious nature illustrate the broader tension between personal conscience and social conformity. Through Sue Bridehead’s experiences, Hardy exposes the psychological suffering and social marginalization imposed by Victorian moral rigidity, presenting her tragedy as a reflection of the human cost of enforcing orthodoxy over individuality.
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