Title, Author, Historical Context, Themes
This is the author of The Son’s Veto.
Who is Thomas Hardy?
Hardy shows Sophy is insecure when she says:
“‘I have been unhappy,’ she murmured.”
What is characterization?
What quote shows Randolph’s coldness toward his mother?
“His face was firm and stern.”
What quote establishes the lower-class rural setting Sophy came from?
“She was the village parson’s servant.”
This historical era influenced the strict class system in the story.
What is the Victorian Era?
Sophy is described as “pretty and pleasing,” showing this about her role.
What is she is valued for appearance, not intelligence?
What quote reveals the tragic outcome of Sophy’s life?
“Her life was lonely.”
What quote shows how the upper-class setting isolates Sophy?
“In London she felt herself a stranger.”
This theme is shown through Sophy’s embarrassment about her grammar.
What is social class and class prejudice?
Sophy’s "physical disability," symbolizes this.
What is her lack of freedom?
What quote shows the narrator revealing Sophy’s inner thoughts?
“She dreaded lest he should notice her mistakes.”
What quote uses negative diction to create a fearful tone?
“She dreaded lest he should notice her mistakes.”
This theme is shown when Randolph controls Sophy’s life decisions.
What is power and control/parental sacrifice?
London symbolizes this.
What is upper-class society?
What quote shows the narrator revealing the tragic outcome?
“Her life was lonely.”
What quote uses harsh diction to characterize Randolph as cold?
“His face was firm and stern.”
This theme is shown through Sophy giving up her happiness for her son.
What is sacrifice?
The purpose and meaning behind Hardy's writing and how it effects the audience.
What is In The Son’s Veto, Thomas Hardy shows that society’s strict class system forces individuals to sacrifice their happiness to maintain social status, which forces the audience to question the fairness of social hierarchy.