Tony Kytes the Arch Deciver, by Thomas Hardy, Life Choices.

A detailed Summary of Tony Kytes the Arch Deciver, by Thomas Hardy, Life Choices.

Tony Kytes the Arch Deceiver is a novella which carries the traditional Hardiesque backdrop of malevolence and determination, but here his normally pessimistic approach to life is treated much more lightly . For example, when the women were put in danger by the uncontrolled cart, the situation was controlled with a farcical denouement. Had this been a different Hardy novel, the outcome would probably have been more serious. (i.e. Tess of the Durbyvilles.) On a superficial level, the novella could be seen as only a group of life choices woven into a comedy situation. I believe however, a life choice to be something which has been given deep thought or consideration. It is a path which must be chosen through informed choice, and depth of maturity. None of the above seem to apply to Tony's situation, and he does not seem to be working in accordance with any life plan or value system. I do not therefore, feel that the choices Tony is making so flippantly, can be defined in the traditional sense of a life choice.

I feel that one is only truly able to make a life choice once they have the ability to see the enormity of the future. Tony is obviously not acting from any depth maturity, and he seems to be blowing with the pr

The girls choices are limited by necessity, and they are merely responding to the circumstances. For example after the crash, although Hannah would , in reality have quite liked to marry Tony when he asked her, she refused, partly because "her father was there...because of the tantrum of the discovery...and because of the scratch on her face", this again highlights the chance nature of their decision making.

On a large scale the story is quite sad but the tragicomic nature of the ludicrous situation Tony finds himself in, through his own foolishness makes the story funny. What Tony does not realise, as he makes what I think he believes to be mature life choices, is that once something is said, a script has been written and an important moment has been sealed in memory.

The final denouement is filled with a spiral of decisions and refusals for Tony. This section of the story is not based on choice. He is immediately drawn to Hannah , as she was the last thing on his mind, and thus his one dimensional mentality has drawn a simple conclusion, and has not made a life choice. His second choice is Unity, not for any reason deeper than the fact she is not Milly, and she is not what his father advised. After the first two refusals Tony is left with Milly, no choice has been made on his part.

Hannah Jolliver, now in Tony's presence has the monopoly over his promises and emotions, as it would seem that Tony is incapable of thinking about two things all at once. Each time he is presented with a new face and thinks he has made a choice he presents, to himself a new rational for each. The lon

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Approximate Word count = 1082
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous