Summary
Jude and Sue attempt to marry for the second time, but their plans unravel before they even reach the altar. The arrival of Jude's strange son, nicknamed 'Little Father Time,' sets an ominous tone. The boy's eerie maturity and dark pronouncements about marriage create an atmosphere of foreboding. When elderly Mrs. Edlin visits for the wedding, she shares a disturbing family legend about an ancestor who was hanged for stealing his dead child's coffin, adding to their sense of being cursed. At the registry office, Sue becomes overwhelmed by the clinical, business-like atmosphere and the sight of other troubled couples—including a bride with a black eye and an ex-convict groom. She and Jude flee to a church wedding instead, but watching another ceremony only reinforces their fears about the institution of marriage. Both realize they're too sensitive and self-aware to commit to something that destroyed their previous relationships. They return home unmarried, disappointing Mrs. Edlin but relieving their own anxieties. The chapter reveals how past wounds, family baggage, and overthinking can sabotage even genuine love. Sue and Jude's paralysis reflects their tragic awareness that they might be repeating destructive patterns, yet their very consciousness of this trap becomes another trap itself.
Coming Up in Chapter 39
Despite their failed wedding attempt, Jude and Sue discover that their unconventional arrangement might actually bring them more happiness than marriage ever could. But their domestic peace faces a test when Little Father Time's presence begins to reveal unexpected truths about their relationship.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Their next and second attempt thereat was more deliberately made, though it was begun on the morning following the singular child’s arrival at their home. Him they found to be in the habit of sitting silent, his quaint and weird face set, and his eyes resting on things they did not see in the substantial world. “His face is like the tragic mask of Melpomene,” said Sue. “What is your name, dear? Did you tell us?” “Little Father Time is what they always called me. It is a nickname; because I look so aged, they say.” “And you talk so, too,” said Sue tenderly. “It is strange, Jude, that these preternaturally old boys almost always come from new countries. But what were you christened?” “I never was.” “Why was that?” “Because, if I died in damnation, ’twould save the expense of a Christian funeral.” “Oh—your name is not Jude, then?” said his father with some disappointment. The boy shook his head. “Never heerd on it.” “Of course not,” said Sue quickly; “since she was hating you all the time!” “We’ll have him christened,” said Jude; and privately to Sue: “The day we are married.” Yet the advent of the child disturbed him. Their position lent them shyness, and having an impression that a marriage at a superintendent registrar’s office was more private than an ecclesiastical one, they decided to avoid a church this time. Both Sue and Jude together went to the office of the district to give notice: they had become such companions that they could hardly do anything of importance except in each other’s company. Jude Fawley signed the form of notice, Sue looking over his shoulder and watching his hand as it traced the words. As she read the four-square undertaking, never before seen by her, into which her own and Jude’s names were inserted, and by which that very volatile essence, their love for each other, was supposed to be made permanent, her face seemed to grow painfully apprehensive. “Names and Surnames of the Parties”—(they were to be parties now, not lovers, she thought). “Condition”—(a horrid idea)—“Rank or Occupation”—“Age”—“Dwelling at”—“Length of Residence”—“Church or Building in which the Marriage is to be solemnized”—“District and County in which the Parties respectively dwell.” “It spoils the sentiment, doesn’t it!” she said on their way home. “It seems making a more sordid business of it even than signing the contract in a vestry. There is a little poetry in a church. But we’ll try to get through with it, dearest, now.” “We will. ‘For what man is he that hath betrothed a wife and hath not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.’ So said the Jewish law-giver.” “How you know the Scriptures, Jude! You really ought to have been a parson. I can only quote profane writers!” During the interval before the issuing of the certificate, Sue, in her housekeeping errands, sometimes walked past the...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Overthinking Paralysis
When deep awareness of potential problems becomes so overwhelming that it prevents any action at all.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between healthy caution and self-sabotaging overthinking that prevents necessary life decisions.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're still researching or discussing a decision after you have enough information to act—that's usually analysis becoming avoidance.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Superintendent Registrar's Office
A government office where civil marriages were performed, as opposed to church weddings. In Victorian England, this was seen as less prestigious and more business-like than a religious ceremony.
Modern Usage:
Like choosing to get married at city hall instead of having a big church wedding - practical but lacking the emotional ceremony some people crave.
Christening
The Christian baptism ceremony for infants, believed necessary for salvation. Not being christened meant the child was considered damned if they died young.
Modern Usage:
Similar to how some families today feel pressure about religious rituals for children, even if they're not particularly religious themselves.
Preternaturally old
Unnaturally mature or aged beyond one's years. Little Father Time appears wise and world-weary despite being a child.
Modern Usage:
Like kids who've been through trauma or hardship and seem older than their age - they've lost that innocent, carefree quality.
Melpomene
The Greek muse of tragedy, often depicted wearing a tragic mask. Sue compares the child's face to this symbol of sorrow and doom.
Modern Usage:
When someone always looks serious or sad, like they're carrying the weight of the world - that 'old soul' expression.
Ecclesiastical
Related to the church or clergy. An ecclesiastical wedding meant a religious ceremony performed by a priest in a church.
Modern Usage:
Any formal religious ceremony, like the difference between a courthouse wedding and a full church service with all the traditions.
Family curse
The belief that certain families are doomed to repeat tragic patterns across generations, often involving crime, madness, or misfortune.
Modern Usage:
Like when families seem to have patterns of addiction, divorce, or other problems that repeat through generations - what we now call generational trauma.
Characters in This Chapter
Little Father Time
Ominous child presence
Jude's strange son arrives with an eerie maturity and dark worldview that unsettles the household. His very presence seems to curse their marriage plans.
Modern Equivalent:
The kid who's been through too much and makes adults uncomfortable with their blunt observations about life
Sue
Reluctant bride
She wants to marry Jude but becomes overwhelmed by the institutional nature of marriage and flees from both the registry office and church ceremony.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who gets cold feet at their own wedding because they're overthinking everything
Jude
Persistent but conflicted groom
He keeps trying to make their relationship official but is also disturbed by his son's arrival and Sue's fears about marriage.
Modern Equivalent:
The partner who really wants to get married but starts doubting when their significant other keeps hesitating
Mrs. Edlin
Well-meaning but unhelpful elder
She comes to witness their wedding but instead shares dark family history about ancestors being hanged, adding to their sense of doom.
Modern Equivalent:
The relative who shows up to help but accidentally makes everything worse by bringing up family drama
Key Quotes & Analysis
"His face is like the tragic mask of Melpomene"
Context: Sue describes Little Father Time's unnaturally serious expression
This comparison to the Greek muse of tragedy immediately establishes the child as a harbinger of doom. His very appearance suggests their happiness is doomed.
In Today's Words:
This kid looks like he's seen too much - like he's carrying all the world's sadness in his face.
"If I died in damnation, 'twould save the expense of a Christian funeral"
Context: The child explains why he was never christened
This shockingly practical and dark statement from a child reveals the poverty and cynicism he's grown up with. It's both heartbreaking and disturbing.
In Today's Words:
My mom figured if I was going to hell anyway, why waste money on a fancy funeral?
"We are too sensitive and self-aware to commit ourselves to something that destroyed our previous relationships"
Context: Explaining why Jude and Sue flee from their wedding attempts
This captures their tragic paradox - they're too thoughtful and aware of marriage's dangers to commit, but this very awareness becomes another trap.
In Today's Words:
We know too much about how badly marriage can go wrong to actually go through with it ourselves.
Thematic Threads
Self-Awareness
In This Chapter
Jude and Sue's painful consciousness of their patterns becomes their biggest obstacle to happiness
Development
Evolved from earlier chapters where their intelligence seemed like an asset
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when your ability to see problems clearly prevents you from taking any risks.
Class Anxiety
In This Chapter
The registry office's clinical atmosphere and other couples' obvious struggles reinforce their sense of not belonging
Development
Continues the thread of feeling caught between social worlds
In Your Life:
You might feel this when formal institutions make you hyper-aware of your background or status.
Family Curses
In This Chapter
Mrs. Edlin's story about the hanged ancestor adds to their sense of inherited doom
Development
Builds on earlier themes of family reputation and social inheritance
In Your Life:
You might feel this weight when family history seems to predict your own failures.
Commitment Fear
In This Chapter
Both flee marriage despite genuine love, terrified of repeating past mistakes
Development
Deepens from their earlier failed marriages and current cohabitation struggles
In Your Life:
You might experience this when past relationship trauma makes new commitment feel impossible.
Social Performance
In This Chapter
The wedding ceremony feels like theater they can't authentically perform
Development
Continues their struggle with social expectations versus personal truth
In Your Life:
You might feel this when life milestones feel like performances rather than genuine choices.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific things make Jude and Sue flee from both the registry office and the church ceremony?
analysis • surface - 2
How does their deep understanding of why marriages fail actually prevent them from getting married themselves?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today becoming paralyzed by overthinking decisions they know are important?
application • medium - 4
When you're stuck analyzing a decision to death, what practical steps could break you out of that cycle?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the relationship between intelligence and action - can you be too smart for your own good?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Break the Analysis Paralysis Loop
Think of a decision you've been putting off - maybe a job change, relationship choice, or major purchase. Write down everything you're still 'researching' or 'thinking about.' Then identify which items are actually necessary information versus endless what-if scenarios. Set a deadline for when you'll decide based on what you actually need to know.
Consider:
- •Distinguish between reasonable caution and fear-based delay
- •Notice if you're using research as a way to avoid risk
- •Consider what you're missing by not deciding
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when overthinking cost you an opportunity. What would you tell your past self about when enough analysis is enough?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 39: Shadows at the Agricultural Show
Moving forward, we'll examine past relationships can cast shadows over present happiness, and understand the way genuine love appears to outside observers versus those living it. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.