In the opening chapters of Withered Arm, Thomas Hardy tends to elicit sympathy for Rhoda Brook, rather than Farmer Lodge and his wife, who come into the story later. For example, even the title of chapter one suggests that Rhoda has been miserable.

Lorn is a word that comes from forlorn, to mean sad, or lonely. So before we even begin reading the book, Hardy uses his title to imply that the milkmaid, whoever she is, should have our sympathy; she is alone and pitiful.

The first part (as I will use to distinguish between the different turning points in the story) begins at the dairy, and the milkers discuss Farmer Lodge and his recent marriage. At this point, we know nothing of the relationship between Rhoda and Farmer Lodge, the only hints we have are the occasional glances that the workers give Rhoda. Our first impression of the maid is this:

"...where a thin, fading woman of thirty milked somewhat apart from the

Hardy selects his adjectives very carefully. He uses 'thin', and 'fading' and also explains that Rhoda milks her cows away from the rest; she

" - having taken no notice of the boy whatever ... 'I think he lives with his mother.'"

Is it possible that Lodge feels a sense of regret for his treatment of Rhoda, Gertrude and his son? It is likely that Lodge feels God is paying him back for what he did to the other characters. His son and wife are both dead. This certainly elicits some sympathy for him, especially if he feels remorse too. As we discover in the last paragraph or two, Lodge eventually changes for the better, leaving all his money to a small reformatory for boys, possibly because he would not want other boys to suffer the same plight as his son.

Is this true? Could the withered arm be the only reason for Gertrude's terrible ordeal, as she calls it? The way in which Hardy presents it, with the fine line between coincidence and the supernatural, Gertrude seems to herself believe the arm is the cause of her failed marriage.

Trendle explains to Gertrude how she can cure her arm. She must cover it in the blood of someone who has just been hanged, and it will turn the blood and cure the arm.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Farmer Lodge, Farmer Lodge's, Rhoda Gertrude, Conjuror Trendle, Gertrude Despite, Rhoda Hardy, Gertrude Rhoda, Lodge Gertrude, Rhoda Rhoda, Milkmaid Lorn, farmer lodge, withered arm, sympathy elicited, elicit sympathy, sympathies lie, farmer lodge's, rhoda gertrude, rhoda farmer, cure arm, rhoda son, sympathy elicited gertrude, fine line coincidence, feel little sorry, line coincidence supernatural, losing love wife,
Approximate Word count = 2237
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)