(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Return of the Native

            Symbolism is used throughout the entire novel Return of the Native to create a sense of conflict and suspense. Hardy uses several symbols depicting different characters and how the feel. He also uses places as symbols and how they relate to characters in the novel. Hardy uses several symbols depicting Paris, Egdon Heath, and the bonfires. The two characters which are affected the most by symbolism are Eustacia and Clym Yeobright. These two characters seem to be most effected by the symbolism associated with the city of Paris.
             The most evident and meaningful symbol to the story would be the use of Paris as a symbol to represent change, hope, excitement, dreams and a way out of the dull life on the Heath. Paris consumes Eustacia's thoughts and actions because she really wants to leave the Heath and go to Paris where she believes her life would be so much more enjoyable. However, Paris has the completely opposite effect on Clym. Clym knows how life is in Paris and recognizes how hectic and urban his life has become in Paris. He begins to hate his job there in Paris and decides to return to the Heath in search of something he believes more meaningful and wishes to settle down in a more rural environment. So in this case the symbol of Paris has two completely opposite meanings for two different characters. In Clyms life Paris represents a sense of shame and a place of bad memories.
             Mrs. Yeobright, Clym's mother, wants Clym to return to Paris because she believes he will be happier there and has a chance to make money. In reality all Clym wants to do is stay in the Heath and work at the schoolhouse. When Mrs. Yeobright learns of his plans she becomes angry. Along with the Paris situation many other things go wrong between Clym and his mother. So when all is said and done Paris could indirectly be blamed for their separation and lack of harmony. So Paris comes to represent yet another thing, separation.


Essays Related to Return of the Native

1. The Pearl

... by John Steinback, is about a native family from La Paz, Mexico. It begins where Kino awakes, hearing the Song of the Family, and looks on to his peaceful wife, Juana. After eating breakfast Kino sees a scorpion on his son Coyotito's cradle. Just as he was going to capture the scorpion it stung the baby. Hearing all the crying, Juan Thomas, Kinos brother, and his fat wife Apalonia ... . Out of anger and frustration Kino hit the gate cutting his knuckles. The next day the go fishing for pearls and kinofinds a huge one. The news travels fast and soon the doctor arrives at their door. The b...

  • Word Count: 328
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

2. A Refelction of King Philip's War

... . That night Squanto and Samoset spent the night and Massasoit left saying that he will return to help plant corn. These peaceful acts really help build the relationship between the Native Americans and Pilgrims. When the Pilgrims first came to the new world they stole corn. When they met the Native American owner of the corn later on, they reimbursed the Native American. The Pilgrims acted responsibly and reasonably. The Pilgrims belittled Philip's power. There ... would be one less reason that started King Philip's war if the Pilgrims ... ...

  • Word Count: 2493
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Searcher

... Native American, it makes this movie one of the best westerns theme motion picture. In this movie, the main character, Ethan Edwards, returns home. Or at least what he can call home for the time being. But not after long his brothers family, who he was staying with, was horribly massacred by Comanches. Two young girls were taken from the family. Ethan vows to find and return the ... that neither could be able to learn the others language. But Ethan shows a greater level of prejudice when he believes that his niece Debbie is unfit to return home. He believes this because she has spent ma...

  • Word Count: 671
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Pocahontas: Native American stereotypes in a Disney Movie

... movie - and even more so in animated Disney productions - the story told in the movie is not necessarily true to the historical facts. When watching Disney's Pocahontas, one can immediately see that the producers have adapted the history of Pocahontas to the likes of the - American - audience. For the purpose of this paper, the storyline of Pocahontas needs to be compared to the actual facts of the Native American girl's life and her encounter with white society ... life. For the inhabitants of the Old World, the noble savage represented a return to purity, which had been lost in the ci...

  • Word Count: 5972
  • Approx Pages: 24
  • Has Bibliography

5. The Unredeemed Captive Analysis

... . He could not understand her defection to both the "savages" and the "papists", but still prayed daily for her return. Much like the Native Americans Demos gives the minister human qualities, unlike the "perfect" man that the Puritans identify him as, of pride and insecurity. Demos" main sources for the lives of the Williams" family was Reverend John Williams" narrative, as well as the 4000 typed pages transcribed from Stephen Williams" diaries. When ... reconstructing the life of Eunice in Kahnawake, he took general observations from "relations ... ...

  • Word Count: 1326
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. The Treatment of Native Americans

... moved them to reservations. They also made them be more American and less Native American. As Helen Jackson says in her book, A Century of Dishonor. "The poorer, the more significant, the more helpless the band, the more certain the cruelty and outrage to which they have been subjected." The Government and the Pioneers took everything from the Native Americans and left them with nothing. Chief Joseph say in his address ... ." The Native Americans were being defeated and being forced to give up their land and move to reservations. Chief Joseph was the leader of his people. He went to Wash...

  • Word Count: 547
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. What Caused The Pueblo Revolt Of 1680

... crops, the elements, the animals, and everyday aspects of tribal life. Referring to the Franciscans, "The novelty of their gifts had worn off and their magic had proven ineffectual in producing rain, health, prosperity, and peace." This led to a rejection of Christianity by the tribes and a return to the native rituals that produced the desired results. As the tribes began practicing their ancient rituals, the Franciscans viewed this as a return to the carnal state of which they ... were trying to save the tribal peoples from. It did not have the fathers long to discover that their chil...

  • Word Count: 2263
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography

8. Segment analysis of Smoke Signals

... Thomas were able to over come when they left the reservation and took on the adventure of venturing out in the real world. When Victor releases his father's ashes into the river he is releasing all the anger that he had inside, he's releasing the anger that the Native Americans have towards the settlers and in return accepting life through a new point of view. Victor's ability to forgive his father for abandoning ... him allows him to continue his life as a happy individual. This concept may also reflect on the lifestyle of all the Native Americans on the reservation, through Victor ......

  • Word Count: 912
  • Approx Pages: 4

9. Cultural responses of the Spanish and English towards Native

... similar cultural responses towards the Native American population. The English had a somewhat peaceful relationship with the Indians at first, but eventually started taking their land, which resulted in war. The Spanish took what they wanted, when they wanted, and never gave anything in return. The Spanish also wanted to convert all Indians to Christianity. During the 1500's, the Spanish claimed a huge majority of North America through the Treaty of Tordesillas, with Portugal ... . Gradually, conquistadors such as Balboa, Ponce de Leon, Cortes, Pizarro, de Soto, and Coronado, started arr...

  • Word Count: 695
  • Approx Pages: 3

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question