[Hardy-l] Wessex Heights-Terror and Delight in Thomas Hardy

[Roy Buckle]

Yes Betty, one knows what Florence Hardy was supposed to have written to
Lady somebody or other
but it doesn't amount to much more than a mistaken opinion.   You can't get
away from the fact that
Hardy refers to different beings in the two successive stanzas.  And what he
heard in the train could very well be Henniker's rebuke.   It is possible
that Hardy was using
the description 'fair' descriptively, even perhaps to identify which woman
he meant.
I stick to my guns but thanks for your opinion.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: hardy-l-bounces at coyote.csusm.edu
[mailto:hardy-l-bounces at coyote.csusm.edu]On Behalf Of Betty Cortus
  Sent: 13 August 2007 17:12
  To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
  Subject: Re: [Hardy-l] Wessex Heights-Terror and Delight in Thomas Hardy


  Thanks for telling us about this Roy--an interesting setting for the poem.
But I am not convinced that the "rare fair woman" of "Wessex Heights" is
more likely to be Agnes Grove (a blonde) than Florence Henniker (a
brunette). For one thing, the word "fair" has multiple meanings, the primary
one being simply "beautiful" or "of attractive appearance."


  Florence Hardy, for one, believed that Florence Henniker was the one
referred to in the poem.


  I am not aware that Florence Hardy ever considered Agnes Grove among her
close friends.


  Betty


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