The Return of the Native Book 3, Chapter 1 Summary

"My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is"

• Hardy gives us a detailed description of Clym Yeobright, similar to the one we got of Eustacia back in Book 1, Chapter 7.
• In a nutshell, Clym is handsome and looks like he belongs to the future.
• Clym was the local golden boy of whom great things were expected.
• He went to Paris and was successful, but now he's returned home and doesn't plan to leave.
• The Egdon residents are confused and concerned about their golden boy.
• Clym comes upon a group of them getting their weekly haircut from the local amateur barber.
• Maybe Clym plans to open up a salon?
• Nope, he plans to open up a school. The townsfolk are less-than-impressed with his crazy ideas and think he should go back to Paris.