How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Perhaps if he prayed, the wish to see Christminster might be forwarded. (1.3.14)
Two major themes rolled into one here: in order to achieve his dreams, Jude turns to prayer and religion for hope. Nice work, Hardy.
Quote #2
Suddenly there came a message along this wind—a message from the place—from some soul residing there, it seemed. (1.2.26)
Christminster is a living thing to Jude. More than that, it's almost a magical place. That is why it is so hard for him to let the Christminster dream die.
Quote #3
He thought again of Christminster, and wished […] that he could have seen for once this attractive city of which he had been told. (1.3.39)
It can't be stated enough: the dream of going to Christminster dominates the early portion of the novel and sets in motion everything that will take place.
Quote #4
'It is a city of light […] The tree of knowledge grows there." (1.3.42-3)
Have you ever wanted something so badly, or have you ever liked a girl or a boy so much that you totally convince yourself that the thing or the person you're after is just perfect? You get so excited that you may end up describing them like they're not even from this world. Well, big dreams can do that, and that's what his Christminster hopes and plans do to Jude.
Quote #5
He ran about and smiled […] smiled with that singularly beautiful irradiation which is seen to spread on young faces at the inception of a glorious idea" (1.4.26)
The hatching of the plan often turns out to be the best part of the plan. Unfortunately for Jude (and many others), the plan doesn't always work out like it does in your mind when you first come up with it.
Quote #6
'Well, it's only a bit of fun' (1.6.60)
O, Jude. You poor, poor boy. This quote is what Jude says to himself about pursuing Arabella. Of course, this 'bit of fun' is the first thing that throws him off track in pursuing his dream, and it turns out to be a bit of fun that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Quote #7
Onward he still went, under the influence of a childlike yearning for the one being in the world to whom it seemed possible to fly. (2.7.34)
For Jude, Sue slowly takes on many of the same qualities as Christminster. Early on, she becomes this unattainable thing of perfection, and his dream of having her competes with (and, at times, surpasses) his dream of finding success in Christminster.
Quote #8
'You are Joseph the dreamer of dreams, dear Jude. And a tragic Don Quixote.' (4.1.68-9)
Double dream reference! Not quite as exciting as Double Dream Hands, but still pretty exciting. While Joseph can see the future in his dreams, Don Quixote is impractical and idealistic. He dreams only impossible dreams, which is is where the hit song from the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha comes from.
Quote #9
'I should like to go back to live there—perhaps to die there!' (5.8.67)
Once again, the Christminster dream rears its ugly head. This is the decision that will lead to Jude's demise.
Quote #10
'I had a neat stock of fixed opinions, but they dropped away one by one' (6.1.37)
These "fixed options" are Jude's plans for the future, the plans that "dropped away one by one" as Life (in the shape of Arabella Donn and Sue Bridehead) got in the way. Still, if he hadn't had the dream of pursuing his education at Christminster, he never would have met Sue, the love of his life. Maybe it balances out?