The Return of the Native Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"I wish he had never seen you."

"Very well; then I will be the miserablest woman in the world, and not let him see me again. No, I won't have him!" (1.5.8-9)

This passage shows us a unique side to Thomasin – she's usually pretty calm and practical, and even wise beyond her years. But here she really flies off the handle with Damon (who is admittedly annoying) and acts like the upset, lovesick teenager that she is.

Quote #2

"I used to think [a marriage proposal] would be pretty and sweet like that; but how different!"

"Yes, real life is never at all like that." (1.5.43-4)

We see a definite role reversal in this scene as the usually practical Thomasin confesses to harboring idealistic fantasies and the often irrational Damon displays.

Quote #3

"Ay, when I think what she'll say to me now without a mossel of red in her face, it do seem strange that a' wouldn't say such a little thing then." (1.5.91)

First up, this is a great example of the Egdon dialect that Hardy uses for the speech of the "locals." Here, Timothy Fairway sums up marriage as an evolution, in which two people grow more comfortable together over time. Kind of sweet, really.