Strangely, the title of this novel has always transported me back to a peculiar moment from my childhood. I remember vividly the time I implored my mother to procure a mannequin’s hand for me. This odd request came shortly after I had watched the horror classic, The Beast with Five Fingers, a chilling tale about a severed hand that embarks on a spree of murderous mischief. The eerie imagery of that disembodied hand haunted my young imagination, linking itself indelibly to the novel’s title in my memory. Of course, the novel and my mannequins hand have absolutely nothing in common. Strange how our brain’s are triggered by certain words or phrases. Anyway.
Thomas Hardy’s The Hand of Ethelberta is an intriguing novel that dances on the fine line between comedy and social critique, presenting a masterful orchestration of humour and irony. Let’s unravel this often overlooked piece in Hardy’s repertoire
First, the title, The Hand of Ethelberta alone is a minefield of interpretations, worthy of a chuckle. Is it a metaphorical hand representing control and influence, or simply a nod to Victorian melodrama where everything, including hands, held deep symbolic meaning? One might even joke that Hardy was trying to capture the audience with a pun on “hand” – a gripping story, if you will.
Ethelberta, the protagonist, is nothing short of a Victorian Wonder Woman. She is a poet, a storyteller, and a social climber extraordinaire, juggling a plethora of roles with the dexterity of a circus performer. Hardy’s decision to centre the narrative on a resourceful, ambitious woman was daring for his time, and the myriad of Ethelberta’s schemes can’t help but elicit a wry smile. Imagine her juggling potential suitors and managing her family’s secrets with the same ease, not unlike a Victorian era multitasking marvel.
Ethelberta’s adventures often resemble an elaborate game of social Snakes and Ladders. She climbs arduously through her wit and charm, only to encounter societal snakes – prejudices, class barriers, and sometimes her own family’s antics – threatening to slide her back to square one. Hardy presents these struggles with a light touch, allowing readers to laugh at the absurdity of social pretensions while still empathising with Ethelberta’s plight.
The Petherwin family is a delightful ensemble cast that could be straight out of a sitcom. Ethelberta’s attempts to elevate her working-class family into high society are both touching and comically fraught with challenges. Her brothers, masquerading as her servants, provide a steady stream of humorous situations that highlight the absurdities of class distinctions. One can almost hear the laugh track as her brother blunders through an upper-class task he has no clue how to perform.
Hardy populates the novel with a cadre of suitors, each more amusingly inept than the last. Mr. Neigh, Mr. Ladywell, and Mr. Christopher Julian – they sound like characters from a Jane Austen fan fiction gone awry. Each one brings a unique blend of charm and comic relief, vying for Ethelberta’s hand with varying degrees of success and self-awareness. The romantic entanglements are as intricate as they are humorous, providing a fertile ground for Hardy’s satirical pen.
A particularly amusing aspect of the novel is Ethelberta’s career as a public storyteller. The Victorian equivalent of a YouTube star, she captivates audiences with tales that echo her own life’s blend of drama and comedy. Her success in this unconventional career adds another layer to the novel’s humour – a subtle dig at the society that simultaneously craves and scorns such entertainment.
Without giving too much away, the ending of The Hand of Ethelberta is both a resolution and a question mark. Hardy leaves us with a conclusion that feels more like a temporary pause in Ethelberta’s life rather than a full stop. It’s as if he’s winking at the reader, suggesting that life’s farcical drama continues beyond the pages.
The Hand of Ethelberta is a delightful blend of humour, satire, and social commentary. Hardy’s deft hand (pun intended) in crafting a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking makes it a unique gem in his literary collection. So, let’s tip our hats to Ethelberta – the resourceful, resilient, and ever-so-slightly ridiculous heroine who shows us that sometimes, navigating life’s absurdities with a smile (and a good deal of wit) is the best hand we can play.
Wording 