Jude the Obscure | Thomas Hardy

Could Jude's decision to meet with Arabella instead of studying Greek foreshadow his ultimate fate?

Despite Andy's disclaimer that Jude's situation progressively gets worse throughout the novel, Jude seems to already place himself in an unhappy situation from Part I: At Marygreen. From the beginning, readers learn that Jude is a very motivated and ambitious. He sets his sights on Christminster as a young boy, at first in search of reuniting with Mr. Phillotson, but then later for his own enlightenment. He seems to find Christminster as this other world that is worth attaining; it almost has a very spiritual meaning to it as well. So it seems odd, then, that after meeting Arabella, Jude sacrifices what he believes will assist him in achieving his dreams to be with her. It seems almost superficial of Jude to react the way he does when he meets Arabella, as he is more of the intellectual type that doesn't seem too concerned about something like love. Hardy even writes in Chapter 6, "...there was something in the nature of this girl who had drawn him to her, which made it necessary that he should assert mere sportiveness on his part as his reason in seeking her..." Jude feels torn between doing what his mind wants versus what his heart wants. I think it is interesting to see this flaw in Jude mostly because he does not really allude to strong emotional flaws, like he does toward Arabella, in the beginning of the novel. It also is disappointing that he stays with Arabella despite her lie to marry. This seems like the beginning of an awful and strained relationship, seeing as how Jude marries out of pressure and obligation. Again, this situation seems to foreshadow what lies ahead in Jude's life, more specifically, in his relationship with crazy Arabella.

Persuasion | Jane Austen

What is the significance of the "mental change" in Anne, as seen by Lady Russell?

Throughout the beginning of the novel, Lady Russell always seemed rather fond of Anne, acknowledging her more than her sisters. Anne's opinion mattered to Lady Russell, especially when it came to leaving Kellynch-hall for Bath. However, in Chapter 13, there is an obvious shift in Lady Russell's opinion of Anne, indicating she looks more lovely than before and that Anne experiences a "mental change."

I think this "change" is symbolic of Anne's maturity. She not only transforms from her younger physique to an "improved plumpness," but more specifically from a girl to a woman. Earlier in the novel, Anne was described to once be a pretty girl, but she grew in a way that made her very plain, at least in Sir Walter's view. That seems to indicate one step up on the maturity scale, veering away from her father's superficiality.

Similarly, this new change as seen by Lady Russell is again another step up in maturity. Anne no longer laments on leaving Kellynch-hall for Bath, like she did when she first learned about their move to Bath; it seems her interests are in more substantial subjects, for example, the Musgroves and how much she admires their family dynamic. Even her thoughts about Bath and her own family seem to be of a lower priority than before. This seems to create a little bit of tension in the conversation between Anne and Lady Russell because their conversations in the past always revolved around what the "young" Anne would've spoke so confidently and concerned about, which always sparked Lady Russell's interest before. Austen even mentions that Anne now strains to make a connection about the trivial topics Lady Russell speaks about.