FREE ESSAY ON DREAMS AND REALITIES IN JUDE THE OBSCURE AND A KIND OF LOVING

DREAMS AND REALITIES IN JUDE THE OBSCURE AND A KIND OF LOVING

Dreams and Realities in 
'Jude the Obscure' and 'A Kind of Loving'
'Dreams and realities' are both part of life in both different and similar ways. Dreams
are what you want whereas reality is what you have. Many dreams can become reality. 
In the case of these two books, 'Jude the Obscure' and 'A Kind of Loving', dreams and
reality overlap and conflict with each other to result in unhappiness, in the case of Vic
and Ingrid and Jude and Arabella but also happiness and fulfilment like Jude and Sue.
Jude Fawley, lives a life of poverty in the village of Marygreen, as a stone-mason, but
as a young boy he is effected by his schoolmaster Mr Phillotson, who leaves the village
to find a better life as a university student in Christminster, Oxford. This provokes
Jude to strive for more, 'his dream'. However, due to circumstances Jude's dream is put
aside when he marrys Arabella, (a loveless marriage). Soon, this ends and Jude is free
and travels to Christminster where he meets Sue, his cousin who also has dreams.
Vic Brown, lives in Cressley. His life, it seems, resolves around Ingrid Rothwell, a
pretty girl but not entirely Vic's idea of his ideal match for life. Throughout the book
Vic refers or visits hid sister, Chris who we perceive as his ideal woman. Each has his
own dream, Jude's is to become educated at Christminster, Oxford and to win the heart of
his cousin, Sue. Jude's dream of Oxford, although Jude himself is Scholar material has
not the finance or the background. University was for the privileged, which unfortunately
did not include Jude Fawley. Vic's dream is to be with his ideal woman and live a happy
and peaceful life. He sees this woman as Ingrid Rothwell. However, their realities are
somewhat different.
Jude as a nineteen-year-old becomes trapped in a loveless marriage to Arabella.
"But, of course, If that is the case, we must marry!" Page 65
'Jude the Obscure' was set in the 1890's when 'bastard' children, like Jude were
considered outsiders. Thus Jude feels he should do 'the right thing' and must as he says
marry her, although there is no love and then he dream has no chance of becoming a
reality. Vic also becomes trapped in a loveless marriage for the same reason. Although
set some years later than Jude in the 1950's it was still considered improper to have
Sexual relations before marriage. Vic soon outgrows Ingrid and finds there is no love and
he is left unhappy and disappointed. Both Jude Fawley and Vic Brown fall in love with how
Arabella and Ingrid look rather than them as an overall person. Jude even after saying he
will marry Arabella, he still dreams,
"Dreams about books, and degrees", Page 66
Jude does however find love with Sue for awhile, whereas Vic tries to be contented with
Ingrid. Her mother stops Vic visiting the house and Ingrid's father arranges for them to
meet, Vic although happy with the compromise still talks of a divorce,
"And I could apply for a divorce", Page 259
Apart from this, Ingrid agrees to meet Vic and they discuss a flat. Ingrid is keen and
Vic agrees to do 'the right thing' for the marriage and 'makes the best of it'.
'A Kind of Loving' was set in the 1950's, when life was easier than in the 1890's when
'Jude the Obscure' was set. With an education there were more job opportunities for Vic
than for Jude. Jude was expected to work his families' trade, as a stonemason for the
rest of his life whereas Vic had more choice and freedom. Jude wishes to learn, it is
dream, to be a scholar, Vic however is not as keen to learn but is still interested in
learning about music.
"My scheme, or dream is to be a university graduate", Page 5 
Both Jude Fawley and Vic Brown have dreams; the difference is Vic ignores his dream and
Jude follows his. Jude becomes the better man, through experience of life, having
struggled but not in vain. Vic however, is still where he started, still struggling and
not having learnt anything.