The author/narrator of Jude the Obscure presents Jude through omniscient point of view, while he portrays Sue from the perspective of Jude, limiting access to her consciousness. Author/narrator often echoes Jude’s perspective on Sue, viewing her as “phantasmal, bodiless creature” and a spirit. On the other hand, author/narrator distances himself from Jude and shows Jude’s misunderstanding of Sue and implies his biases. Author/narrator reveals Sue’s reality by conveying her inner thought through free indirect discourse along with her dialogue and action as well. Because of the juxtaposition of two mutually inconsistent narrations, the novel seems contradictory. This incongruity, however, is not the result of Hardy’s personal contradiction and division but the outcome of a well-planned narrative strategy. Hardy doesn’t leave the apparent narrative contradiction unresolved, but induces readers to understand Sue as he intends, preventing readers from misinterpreting Sue. Furthermore, Hardy situates Sue within the historical context, linking her personal history to larger history of Victorian society. So Sue becomes a site for the expression of social change and its attendant social unrest.

The author/narrator of Jude the Obscure presents Jude through omniscient point of view, while he portrays Sue from the perspective of Jude, limiting access to her consciousness. Author/narrator often echoes Jude’s perspective on Sue, viewing her as “phantasmal, bodiless creature” and a spirit. On the other hand, author/narrator distances himself from Jude and shows Jude’s misunderstanding of Sue and implies his biases. Author/narrator reveals Sue’s reality by conveying her inner thought through free indirect discourse along with her dialogue and action as well. Because of the juxtaposition of two mutually inconsistent narrations, the novel seems contradictory. This incongruity, however, is not the result of Hardy’s personal contradiction and division but the outcome of a well-planned narrative strategy. Hardy doesn’t leave the apparent narrative contradiction unresolved, but induces readers to understand Sue as he intends, preventing readers from misinterpreting Sue. Furthermore, Hardy situates Sue within the historical context, linking her personal history to larger history of Victorian society. So Sue becomes a site for the expression of social change and its attendant social unrest.

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