Diggory Venn

Paper Summary:

Thomas Hardy's "The Return of the Native" presents wildly contrasting characters, whose long-term goals, passions and dreams are in conflict. This paper examines how Diggory Venn is a secondary character, whose presence remains close to unnoticed to the other characters of the novel even though the outcome of the novel is clearly shaped by some of his actions. It looks at the ways in which Diggory Venn is a model of good values and how he is also depicted as an ambiguous character in the novel.

From the Paper:

"From the beginning of the novel, Diggory is indeed depicted as a caring man, by the help he is offering the distressed Thomasin. He is shown to be obedient as he accepts immediately to bring her back to Mrs Yeabright's. This is reflected through the whole novel, for example before Eustacia's death, when Thomasin asks him for help, i.e. "Yes, answered Venn, swerving round in obedience". However, in the episode of his meeting with the old man, he comes across as bitter and impolite. Nevertheless, his attitude is explained and rightly justified later in the novel when we learn what has happened to Thomasin. Diggory is not only obedient, simple and caring, but also good-looking, i.e. "His figure was perfect, his face young and well-outlined, his eyes bright, his intelligence keen"(p.147), and logical. "

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