Thesis abstract:

«p»«p style="text-align:justify"»As Thomas Hardy’s novels mainly focus on women’s attitude and destiny, this study analyses the images of Eve, sin, and salvation to indicate how the portrayal of Hardy’s female characters is close to the Evangelicals’ notions of good woman. That is, while the female portrayal in his novels is very powerful, the focus on women does not tend to support their rights and rather, by portraying the miserable situations of female characters, Hardy’s narrator arouses the readers’ pity. Thus, this study clarifies that, female portrayal in novels of Hardy is divided into two main parts: the modest and rational girls who go to heaven (by their happily ever after marriage) and the sentimental and ambitious girls who go nowhere (or in other words rest in peace in their tombs). Significantly, in the time that is considered as the source for many noticeable movements, works, and acts for women, the lack of a distinguished and powerful female protagonist - who can encourage the female readers of the nineteenth century and pave the way for them to be independent and prominent - is completely tangible in Hardy's novels. Further to this, the main message that is conveyed through the portrayal of female characters, appears to be that; woman is the weaker sex and even if she tries to change the rules, she fails and suffers in consequence.«/p»«/p»