Plot of The Return of The Native

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A reddleman is traveling with a young woman, across Egdon Heath on a November day, when he crosses the path of a stranger on the road and keeps the woman’s identity a secret. The two talk and eventually depart when they split paths to rest at night. From there the reddleman notices many figures on a hilltop and later finds out that these people are the heath folk who have come to start a fifth of November bonfire.

The Reddleman safely returns Thomasin Yeobright, to her aunt, Mrs. Yeobright. Thomasin Yeobright was to be married to Damon Wildeve that day. Mrs. Yeobright takes Thomasin with her to see Wildeve at the inn he owns, to ask for an explanation of why the two did not get married yet. The heath folk, after the bonfire, come to congratulate the supposed newlyweds. After a while, Wildeve gets rid of them and then goes off to see Eustacia Vye. Eustacia Vye watches for Wildeve and sets up a signal fire near her grandfather’s house. Wildeve, who was once her lover, finally arrives.

The Reddleman accidentally learns of the meeting between Eustacia and Wildeve. The Reddleman then purposely overhears the conversation of Wildeve and Eustacia the next time they meet. Then he tries to get Eustacia to help Thomasin, and finally tells her that he knows about the meeting between her and Wildeve. He also tells Mrs. Yeobright that he wants to marry Thomasin. Though he is rejected, Mrs. Yeobright uses him to put pressure on Wildeve. Wildeve goes immediately to Eustacia to convince her to leave with him, but she will not answer right away.

The news of Clym Yeobright’s arriving during the Christmas holidays is widely talked about on the heath, even in Captain Vye’s house (Eustacia’s grandfather). Eustacia hears a lot about Clym, while Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin make preparations for his arrival. After getting a glimpse of him, Eustacia is very interested in Clym because she wants to get away from Egdon Heath and live in Paris. At a party in Mrs. Yeobright’s house, she is successful in meeting Clym, but she is wearing a costume. Because she becomes interested in Clym, she tells the Reddleman that she would like to see Wildeve married to Thomasin. They do marry and Eustacia serves as witness. Mrs. Yeobright, who had once opposed the marriage, does not attend, and Clym finds out about it after it has been done.

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