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Part 1: Chapter III
Synopsis: Jude on the top of an old barn - has a faint glimpse of Christminster back again after a few days - gets a view of the halo over-arching the place thrilled and inspired - the old carter's account of the city - under the spell of this heavenly Jerusalem It would just suit me."
Summary
Jude's first attempt to have a glimpse of Christminster. Jude reached the highway. He had never come so far north, away from his hamlet. Soon he saw an old weather-beaten barn-house not far from the road. People called it the Brown House. A ladder attached to it attracted his attention Thinking that he might have a better view of the surroundings, he drew towards the barn. Two men were engaged in repair work on the roof. Jude took courage, went up and stood beside the labourers. One of them asked what brought him there. Jude's reply was that he wanted to know the exact location of the city of Christminster from them. He was shown the direction but also told that it was not possible to have a glimpse of it from there unless it was a clear day. The other man informed him that if the weather was clear the best time to discern that distant city was just before sun set. The boy strained his eyes but failed to discern the far off city. To him that city was like the heavenly Jerusalem. He left the place and walked ahead along the ridge-track for some time. On his way back he found the ladder still there but the labourers had left. It was near sun-down and the mist had cleared a little. Once more he went up and strained his eyes to have a little bit of a glimpse of his new Jerusalem. Straining utmost he could discern some gleaming points of light that showed themselves to be the vanes, windows, shining spots upon the domes and spires of that attractive city. Then, after getting down Jude started homeward at a run trying not to think of giants and ghosts and other frightful supernatural beings. But the city acquired a hold on his life. And whenever he could spare some time he used to go to Brown House to have some little glimpse of the city of his dreams.
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| Jude The Obscure: Part 1, Chapter 3 |
Jude thrilled and inspired - a message from the golden city. After some time it occurred to Jude that if he went further from the Brown House and ascended to some other higher spot after dusk, he could have a view of the night lights of the city. So the project was duly executed and he went to the particular place after a few days. But the night was windy and dark and he could not see much. But he could view "a halo or glow-fog over-arching the place against the black heavens behind it." He felt thrilled and inspired. In his mind's eye he saw Mr. Phillotson moving there like a Biblical hero. It was thrilling for him to breathe the air that was flowing from that great city. It seemed that the wind brought him a message, calling to him, "we are happy here!"
The elderly carter's exaggerated information makes the city more fascinating. Jude was deeply absorbed in his dreams. But suddenly the sound of carts and horses roused him up from his reverie. One of the elderly persons began to give him a highly exaggerated account of the university town, although he had gathered his information from his friends and acquaintances. "Tis all learning there - nothing but learning, except religion. And that's learning too, for I can never understand it... As we be here in our bodies on this high ground so be they in their minds.." To Jude it became a city of light. "It is what you may call a castle, manned by scholarship, and religion." Finally he came to the sure conclusion: "It would just suit me".
Critical Analysis
Christminster and its spell over Jude. In this chapter we find how the growing mind of Jude is tremendously fascinated by Christminster. After hearing the truths and half-truths about the city from that unknown carter Jude's remarks such as - 'It is a city of light', or "The ree of knowledge grows there", - show he is completely under the spell of the 'heavenly Jerusalem'. Finally he concludes that the city would just suit him, thereby expressing his longing for going there to gather fruits from the tree of knowledge. This also reveals what a sentimental, thoughtful, dreamy and ambitious boy Jude was.