The thesis deals with a comparison of female characters in three Thomas Hardy's Wessex novels. Firstly, the life of the author is presented with an emphasis on his literary style and the themes and motifs we encounter in his work. The following chapter gives a brief overview of the social position of women in the 19th century England. The main part of the thesis is devoted to the analysis of the social position of Tess Durbeyfield, Bathsheba Everdene and Grace Melbury, the protagonists of the novels in question. The analysis is based on a comparison of their origin, education, work and, last but not least, marriage, and in connection with this, whether and how each of them managed to ascend the social hierarchy. There is also a subchapter that gives a brief overview of the female characters who represent the opposite pole to Hardy’s heroines.
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