Women in The Withered Arm and Stench of Kerosene

Show how the cultural and historical background affects the lives of

the women in the stories you have read. What is your reaction to their

experiences?

I have chosen to write about 'The Withered Arm', written by Thomas

Hardy, and 'Stench of Kerosene', written by Amrita Pritam.

Thomas Hardy, born in 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, (a village near

Dorchester) had written a series of text. At first, he has started

with writing full-length novels between 1871 and 1896. Later, his

poems, a collection of 'Wessex Poems' had appeared in 1898, after

having written them throughout his life. Then Thomas Hardy had

progressed to 'Wessex Tales'; a collection of short stories, including

'The Withered Arm'.

The Withered Arm was set in 1812, but written in 1888. The story was

set in the rural area of England, in Wessex. The story is about 3 main

characters, which include Rhoda Brooks, Farmer Lodge and Gertrude

Lodge. Other characters of importance are also used through the story.

Rhoda Brooks is a milkmaid on Farmer Lodge's farm. Together, they had

previously had an affair in earlier years, which had resulted in them

having a son. However, the two had not stayed together because of the

class differentiation between them. I think that Rhoda strikes people

as a very bitter woman. Farmer lodge, on the other hand, may appear as

being very ignorant. He had not spoken to Rhoda or his son for 12

years, possibly due to him being ashamed of them because he is of a

higher class. Their relation may have ended so many years ago because

the farmer could have been using Rhoda purely for sex. Therefore,

after having a baby, he disregarded them both totally.

Farmer Lodge had found a new bride, Gertrude. She is a very young and

good-looking woman. Also, she seems to be very sweet, helpful, shy and

occasionally embarrassed. Farmer Lodge is very proud of her, plus, she

is of a higher class.

When Rhoda found out about this new bride, she began to feel very

bitter towards her and was obsessed with finding out more about

Gertrude.

One night, Rhoda had a vision of Gertrude. She had appeared in Rhoda's

dream with a ring on her left hand. The dream was set out as a

nightmare, so when Rhoda saw the ring, she grabbed Gertrude by the

arm, and swung her to the floor while cursing her. She had had this

vision because she hated Gertrude so much and this was her view of

her.

However, when Rhoda did meet Gertrude, she thought that she was a very

kind and generous person. Gertrude had given Rhoda's son a pair of