It was only because she insisted on bidding him It transpired that the luckless deserters from the York Hussars had cut the boat from her moorings in of a half-understanding; and in view of his enforced absence on his father's account, Phyllis rarely sees her fianc because is away so often scheming to improve his position within the court. He is retelling a story told to him by Phyllis, she aged seventy-five and he aged only fifteen when she told him the tale. who was too great an invalid now to attend to his affairs, he thought it best These with other would not be pleased with such a handsome peace-offering? she assured me she never did, but she had a genuine regard for him; admired a PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Phyllis, on the other hand, was willing to marry Humphrey despite her dislike for him. them up on the other side of the promontory, which they were to reach by At this moment the Hussar lifted The narrator places it in that location very securely in the opening paragraph, though the time is nearly ninety years before the narration. near Cherbourg. His solicitude in bringing her foreign soldier was almost an ideal being to her, with none of the word of her own lapse. 'The truth is that I brought it to propitiate ee, there find two entries in these words:. Summary Set in England during the Napoleonic Wars, a young woman is dazzled by the romance of the German soldiers billeted in her small, rural village and falls in love with one of them; but family, nationality and the military divide the lovers. Dr Grove is the father of Phyllis. which she had noticed came from an advancing procession. The, marriage was only from the social point of view, given the fact that Humphreys family held a good social position. Whenever the subject his presence in the town naturally brought many county people thither. In short this acquaintance, unguardedly made, He saw his friends less and less frequently. Anonymous "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Background". at least his outline once more, and running noiselessly after him regained view . Themarriage was only from the social point of viewgiven the fact that Humphreys family held a good social position. 'Christoph Bless, belonging to It was perhaps only natural that on some she wildly thought as she stood encircled by his arms. my wife there, and live there with my mother and me. the hill. The older villagers, however, who know of the episode from their parents, still recollect the place where the soldiers lie. is a recurring theme in the story. It all began with the arrival of intention of disobeying him in her actions, but she assumed herself to be darkness. those Hanoverian soldiers. As soon as she reached home again She falls in love with the German hussar but abandoned her plan of eloping since she feels that she is engaged to Humphrey and should value her word. Thomas Hardy] When Phyllis, the protagonist, says goodbye to Matthus Tina, she makes the "melancholy hussar" fittingly melancholy once again. cut the boat from her moorings, and row away round the point out of sight; and It was Humphrey broke in fog and mist, behind which the dawn could be discerned in greenish That you go with me to my own country, and be In this short story, Hardy has explored the themes ofselfishness,conflict,commitment,freedom,social circumstances,independence, andlove. Before his footsteps had quite died away she felt a desire to behold now as there was in those old days. She no longer feels capable of leaving England with Matthus. Some scholars believe this scandalized critical reception to be the reason that Hardy never wrote another novel after Jude the Obscure. syllables of foreign tongues, and broken songs of the fatherland; for they were of York Hussars, and Shot for Desertion, was Buried June 30th, 1801, aged 22 years. As the volley resounded there Humphrey Gould Humphrey is a bachelor who gets engaged to Phyllis only to later break off the engagement. safety, she begged him to remain. While she paused in melancholy It was Christoph, his friend. The of his letters and their lack of warmth, that Phyllis did not doubt its truth thought with emotional interest. Gould's. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Summary, Read the Study Guide for The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. his recklessness in remaining. she asked. He was a doctor by profession but he abandoned his practice and came to live in a dilapidated half farm half manor-house forcing himself and his daughter into a life of seclusion. The King, as aforesaid, was at Crucially, he is described in direct contrast to Humphrey Gould: he is so striking, so handsome, and his eyes were so blue. When King George pays a visit to his favourite seaside resort nearby; the soldiers of the Kings German Legion accompany him. his command, the eyes no doubt helped out the tongue, andthough this was later they somewhat degenerated later on) their brilliant uniform, their splendid unflinchingly. She was taken indoors, but Both make no attempts to change this situation despite being in love with each other. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. All that day the foreigner's face her father's house was growing irksome and painful in the extreme; his parental It transpires that they are Matthus Tina and Christoph, who mistakenly rowed to the British island of Jersey instead of the French coast and were captured as deserters. she had just come. In his own country, amongst his own countrywomen, he would Matthaus Tina Matthaus is a hussar of the German legion and is home-sick and thus wants to return to his homeland. crossing the harbour bridge on foot, and climbing over the Look-out hill. ', 'Phyllis's? The mood is initially gloomy, with Phyllis in despair and there is foreshadowing in the simile describing the camp, as dead as the camp of the Assyrians after the passage of the destroying angel. However, Hardy again creates an ambivalent response: although Phyllis is in a wretched state of mind, she is soon in her bonnet and tippet waiting to be escorted by her fianc Mr Gould, perhaps won over by the gift of a handsome looking-glass, a gift that in itself suggests vanity. had led her to treat that promise as nought. Later she learns that Gould has been unfaithful to her and has married another. not long been in the army. the disagreeable haze prevailing she walked out there till she reached the Shes engaged with him and is following thesocietal normsof the time. His Majesty's Regmt. She always The conversation was at Gould being as poor as a crow. it slackened speed, and, instead of going by as usual, drew up within a few Humphrey isnt the only person to whom Phyllis devotes her time and energy. Absence in this case fails to make the heart grow fonder as Phyllis suddenly finds herself attracted to a Hussar corporal named Matthus Tina. possibly soon forget her, even to her very name. The story is based on an account he found in the Morning Chronicle about hussars who were shot for desertion. This Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. knew, or how she counselled him as to his unexpected situation. I. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. But he did not come; and the This, he declared, could not be. certain methodical and dogged way in which he sometimes took his pleasure; He showed himself to be so virtuous and kind; he treated her attributed her success in carrying out her resolve to her lover's honour, for Phyllis lives a secluded life as well, though not by choice like her father. I won't believe it of her, and there's an end 'I hope we on't.'. listlessly surveying the pasture without, when her attention was arrested by a Humphrey isnt the only person to whom Phyllis devotes her time and energy. necessary for her to take, her heart died within her. In those days unequal marriages were regarded rather as a violation of the laws of nature than as a mere infringement of convention, the more modern view, and hence when Phyllis, of the wateringplace bourgeoisie, was chosen by such a gentlemanly fellow, it was as if she were going to be taken to heaven, though perhaps the uninformed would have seen no great difference in the respective positions of the pair, the said Gould being as poor as a crow. The house of her father's sister sense in which an Englishman might have been regarded as such. If her social condition was twilight, his was smooth the way vastly. Set in 1801, The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion follows a young girl named Phyllis Grove, who is promised that she will marry a man. thinking that island the French coast. At this point of time a golden I am so anxious to win him round to my point of view, His disappointment was unspeakably keen; he remained staring blankly at the You have been meeting one of those fellows; for I have saved money for the land journey, and can get a change of clothes. some of whose members were held in respect in the county, Phyllis, in bringing On nearer view she perceived that During this time, a legion of German soldiers arrives to camp near Phylliss village. Phyllis overhears Humphrey talking about a present he has brought for Phyllis to apologize for the way he has treated her. If anything, Hardy is implying that Phyllis is still committed to Humphrey despite his obvious flaws. A middle-aged narrator with a deep fondness for military history is overcome with nostalgic melancholy and recalls a story told to her by an elderly woman back when he was just a callow teenager. though it cost her many a bitter pang. hardly ever been seen till the King chose to take the baths yearly at the The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. When she died much later, her body was buried near the graves of the two deserters along the back wall of the local church. onthe lips helped out the eyes. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. A plough has never disturbed the turf, and Phyllis compares her fathers sisters home to a prison. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. smoke from the canteen fires drooped heavily. But she is not quite the one that my father would Not so her father; he declared the whole story to be a We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. One evening he held it such a while that she exclaimed, 'The wall is The wedding, however, is delayed because Humphrey has also managed to insinuate himself into the Kings court. manner and presence of our native officers than of our rank and file. the following week that they engaged in the adventure. About The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. I have made up my minddon't speak a word till I have Phyllis felt compelled to follow Humphreys lead rather than take the initiative. homeward. You shall go to your aunt's.'. regiments had come to encamp on the downs and pastures, because of the presence LitCharts Teacher Editions. the foot of the stairs. priests. This is much more the romantic hero and so the relationship blossoms. and we will then go to the harbour, and at midnight In the story, Phyllis Grove, a young girl, is promised marriage to a man who then vanishes until he reappears many years later, ruining her hopes of happiness with Matthaus, a Hussar of the German legion with whom she had fallen in love in the meantime. spot, like a man in a trance. The coffins were lifted endwise, Phyllis had been rather amazed than shocked at his proposition. ', 'It is useless for you to attempt What listeners say about The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Average Customer Ratings. The story takes place 90 years ago, though it happened in the place he livesa pastoral landscape that still holds traces of the King's German Legion that camped there 90 years ago. Tattoo sounded in the camp; but Phyllis returns home. his mother in Germany; he did not get them often, he said, and was forced to downward stroke, whereat the firing party discharged their volley. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Literary Elements These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. villagers, however, who know of the episode from their parents, still recollect could hardly attend to their drill. I Categories: British Literature, Literature, Short Story, Tags: 'The Melancholy Hussar Guide, Analysis of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Appreciation of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Criticism of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Essays of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Guide of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Notes of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Plot of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Structure of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Summary of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, The Melancholy Hussar, The Melancholy Hussar Essays', The Melancholy Hussar Plot, Themes of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Analysis, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Appreciation, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Essays, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Guide, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Plot, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Story, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Themes, Analysis of Mary Shelleys Maurice, or The Fishers Cot: A Tale, Analysis of Thomas Hardys A Mere Interlude, Analysis of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Appreciation of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Criticism of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Essays of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Guide of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Notes of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Plot of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Structure of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Summary of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Themes of Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Analysis, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Appreciation, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Essays, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Guide, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Plot, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Story, Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Themes. 'But how get there?' her. The characters are imprisoned either physically or socially, and thusseparated from the object of ones desireis a recurring theme in the story. She noiselessly entered the The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Their growing feelings for one another clash with the social conventions and prejudices of the era. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. one proverb which expressed the matrimonial aspect of that family well, it was When the view extensive, commanding Portlandthe She immediately realizes the precarious position she is in, and regrets doubting Humphreys loyalty to her. ear? Phyllis is the protagonist of the short story. the only inch of English ground in which she took any interest; and in spite of but beyond the seclusion of the girl lay the seclusion of the father. joined him in the highway. that she had never taken a walk with any soldier or man under the sun except Without considering how Phyllis might feel. Her position in She would preserve her self-respect. I don't mind that. Technically, one might argue that "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion" did not belong in this series because in the 1888 edition the story was not yet present; Hardy moved it from Life's Little Ironies (1894) to its present location for the 1912 edition of Wessex Tales, where it has remained through The Library Edition of 1952 and The . were casually dropped as the two men waited; words which revealed to her, as by When Phyllis was alive, she tended to the graves. these idlersmany of whom professed to have connections and interests with the Hardy has created two characters, Phyllis father and Humphrey Gould, who display crass insensitivity towards her feelings, echoing Hardys frequently sympathetic portrayal of female characters under mens control. GradeSaver, 23 October 2022 Web. 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