The Ruined Maid - add anything from anthology

What kind of ideas do some critics argue Hardy exhibited?

Proto-feminist ideas are typically exhibited in some of his works

What was Hardy’s attitude to Victorian society like?

Other than marriage, he expressed a dislike for the rigid social constraints of the Victorian period, particularly the class system. He suggested that one should marry for love only.

How is Hardy’s disapproving attitude towards Victorian societal constraints evidenced in his work? (could link this to typicality of TRM if talking about this)

His characters often seem powerless and at the mercy of fate (lack of control due to societal constraints), proto-feminist attitude

What kind of poet was Hardy?

Victorian realist

Significance of name ‘Melia

Short of Amelia, but sounds similar to the Latin “meliora”, which means “better” - suggests the woman has been able to better herself by “ruining” herself

Significance of Melia’s speech - voice

Hardy uses the passive voice when describing Melia’s ruin - “I’d been ruined” - suggests a level of powerlessness, lack of autonomy. Suggests despite having progressed in society, she lacks any autonomy (feminist reading)

Context of prostitution in Victorian society (upper classes)

Despite Victorian society exhibiting strict morals on the surface, the use of prostitutes was relatively commonplace among upper class men.

Context of prostitution in Victorian society (women)

Women who became prostitutes were seen as “fallen women” and “ruined” but for many poor, young women, it was one of the few ways of socially advancing other than securing an advantageous marriage.

Form of poem

Regular form in each line of an iamb then three anapests. Anapests creates a sing-song rhythm, almost like telling a story, but the iamb disrupts these lighthearted rhythm to draw the reader’s attention to the woman’s struggles

Renner critical view

Hardy exploits the great well of moral and sexual feeling bound up in the idealisation of female purity

Crowder critical view

A girl like Amelia can do much better for herself in life by becoming a whore than by choosing respectability.