SILENCE AS STRENGTH: EXAMINING SUSAN’S SILENCE IN THOMAS HARDY’S THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE

Abstract

There are varied means by which people communicate and silence is one such way. While enforced silence has as its objective disempowerment and marginalising, deliberate silence works in opposition to one that is imposed. It can be considered as a means of resisting or refusing hegemonic power. Considering this function of silence, an attempt is made in this paper to analyse hoe silence has been deliberate by Susan in Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. Widely presented as a stereotypical character, Susan is considered as timid, passive and unassuming who takes the humiliation of being sold as a feat of fate. Such an interpretation is partial as her introspection during the silence period is not paid attention to. The paper looks at Susan’s silence a fresh thereby presenting Susan as a woman who has a desire for better future and exhibits her ability to take decisions.