Summary
Jude lies dying in his room while Arabella primps herself and abandons him to attend the town's festive celebrations. As college festivities fill the air with music and cheers, Jude gasps alone for water, calling desperately for Sue and Arabella, but no one comes. In his final moments, he quotes from the Book of Job, cursing the day he was born as celebration sounds mock his suffering from outside. Meanwhile, Arabella enjoys the boat races and flirts with Vilbert, only returning home to find Jude has died alone. Her first reaction isn't grief but annoyance at the timing—'Why did he die just now!' She quickly arranges for his body to be prepared, then lies to his concerned coworkers, telling them he's sleeping peacefully so she can return to the festivities. The chapter ends two days later at Jude's funeral, where Arabella and Mrs. Edlin discuss Sue, who has sworn never to see Jude again. As honorary degrees are conferred at the university in the distance—the very academic world that rejected Jude—his worn books seem to pale at the sounds of celebration. Hardy's final chapter creates a devastating contrast between Jude's lonely death and the indifferent world that continues its pleasures around him, while revealing Arabella's true nature through her callous self-interest even in the face of her husband's death.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
The last pages to which the chronicler of these lives would ask the reader’s attention are concerned with the scene in and out of Jude’s bedroom when leafy summer came round again. His face was now so thin that his old friends would hardly have known him. It was afternoon, and Arabella was at the looking-glass curling her hair, which operation she performed by heating an umbrella-stay in the flame of a candle she had lighted, and using it upon the flowing lock. When she had finished this, practised a dimple, and put on her things, she cast her eyes round upon Jude. He seemed to be sleeping, though his position was an elevated one, his malady preventing him lying down. Arabella, hatted, gloved, and ready, sat down and waited, as if expecting some one to come and take her place as nurse. Certain sounds from without revealed that the town was in festivity, though little of the festival, whatever it might have been, could be seen here. Bells began to ring, and the notes came into the room through the open window, and travelled round Jude’s head in a hum. They made her restless, and at last she said to herself: “Why ever doesn’t Father come?” She looked again at Jude, critically gauged his ebbing life, as she had done so many times during the late months, and glancing at his watch, which was hung up by way of timepiece, rose impatiently. Still he slept, and coming to a resolution she slipped from the room, closed the door noiselessly, and descended the stairs. The house was empty. The attraction which moved Arabella to go abroad had evidently drawn away the other inmates long before. It was a warm, cloudless, enticing day. She shut the front door, and hastened round into Chief Street, and when near the theatre could hear the notes of the organ, a rehearsal for a coming concert being in progress. She entered under the archway of Oldgate College, where men were putting up awnings round the quadrangle for a ball in the hall that evening. People who had come up from the country for the day were picnicking on the grass, and Arabella walked along the gravel paths and under the aged limes. But finding this place rather dull she returned to the streets, and watched the carriages drawing up for the concert, numerous Dons and their wives, and undergraduates with gay female companions, crowding up likewise. When the doors were closed, and the concert began, she moved on. The powerful notes of that concert rolled forth through the swinging yellow blinds of the open windows, over the housetops, and into the still air of the lanes. They reached so far as to the room in which Jude lay; and it was about this time that his cough began again and awakened him. As soon as he could speak he murmured, his eyes still closed: “A little water, please.” Nothing but the deserted room received his...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Invisible Deaths
People abandon others during their greatest suffering because presence requires sacrifice while distractions offer immediate pleasure.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between people who stick around for good times versus those who stay during genuine crisis.
Practice This Today
This week, notice who asks follow-up questions when you mention struggling, versus who quickly changes the subject or offers shallow comfort before moving on to lighter topics.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Consumption
The Victorian term for tuberculosis, a wasting disease that slowly killed by destroying the lungs. It was often romanticized in literature but was actually a brutal, prolonged death that claimed many working-class lives due to poor living conditions.
Modern Usage:
Today we see similar patterns with diseases that disproportionately affect the poor, like diabetes complications or untreated chronic conditions that worsen due to lack of healthcare access.
Honorary degrees
Academic honors given to distinguished people without requiring them to complete coursework. In Hardy's time, these were often awarded to wealthy donors or socially prominent figures while genuine scholars like Jude were excluded.
Modern Usage:
We still see this in how elite institutions give honorary doctorates to celebrities and donors while ordinary students struggle with debt and gatekeeping.
Town and gown
The traditional divide between university people ('gown') and local residents ('town'). The celebrations Jude hears represent the academic world that rejected him, happening literally over his deathbed.
Modern Usage:
Today this shows up as the gap between college-educated professionals and working-class communities, often in the same geographic area but living completely different lives.
Deathbed vigil
The Victorian expectation that family members would stay with a dying person, providing comfort and witnessing their final moments. Abandoning someone to die alone was considered deeply shameful.
Modern Usage:
We still value being present for loved ones' final moments, though modern hospice care has changed how death happens in our culture.
Book of Job
A biblical text about a man who suffers despite being righteous, questioning why good people endure pain. Jude quotes Job's curse upon his birth, connecting his suffering to ancient questions about unfair fate.
Modern Usage:
People still reference Job when facing seemingly senseless hardship, asking 'Why me?' when life feels particularly unfair or cruel.
Festive irony
Hardy's technique of contrasting celebration with tragedy, showing how the world continues its pleasures while individuals suffer. The boat races and degree ceremonies mock Jude's lonely death.
Modern Usage:
We see this when personal tragedies happen during holidays or celebrations, highlighting how our private pain exists alongside public joy.
Characters in This Chapter
Jude
Dying protagonist
Dies alone and abandoned, calling desperately for water and for Sue. His final words curse his birth, echoing Job's despair. His death coincides with university celebrations, emphasizing the cruel irony of his exclusion.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who dies in a hospital with no visitors while their family is too busy or indifferent to care
Arabella
Callous wife
Primps herself while Jude dies, abandons him for boat races and flirtation. Her first reaction to his death is annoyance at the timing, then lies to his friends so she can return to partying.
Modern Equivalent:
The spouse who's already mentally moved on and sees their partner's illness as an inconvenience to their social life
Vilbert
Arabella's flirtation
The quack doctor who entertains Arabella at the boat races while Jude dies. Represents the shallow pleasures Arabella chooses over her dying husband's needs.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy sliding into DMs while someone's dealing with family crisis
Mrs. Edlin
Loyal friend
Attends Jude's funeral and discusses Sue's absence with genuine concern. Provides contrast to Arabella's callousness through her authentic grief and loyalty.
Modern Equivalent:
The longtime neighbor who actually shows up for the funeral and remembers what the person was really like
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Why ever doesn't Father come?"
Context: While Jude lies dying and she's dressed up waiting to go to the festivities
Reveals Arabella's priorities - she's focused on her social plans, not her dying husband. She sees his death as an inconvenience that's disrupting her fun.
In Today's Words:
Where's my backup so I can get out of here and have some fun?
"Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived."
Context: His dying words, quoting from the Book of Job
Jude's final statement connects his suffering to Job's, cursing his very existence. It's the ultimate expression of despair - wishing he'd never been born rather than endure such pain and rejection.
In Today's Words:
I wish I'd never been born - my life has been nothing but suffering.
"Why did he die just now!"
Context: Her first reaction upon finding Jude dead
Not grief, not shock, but annoyance at the timing. This reveals her complete lack of genuine feeling for Jude - his death is just an inconvenience to her social calendar.
In Today's Words:
Seriously? He couldn't have picked a worse time to die!
"He's sleeping quite peaceful"
Context: Lying to Jude's concerned coworkers so she can return to the festivities
Shows Arabella's willingness to lie about something as sacred as death for her own convenience. She denies his friends the chance to pay respects so she can party.
In Today's Words:
Oh, he's fine, just resting (so I can get back to my plans).
Thematic Threads
Abandonment
In This Chapter
Arabella literally abandons dying Jude to attend festivities, prioritizing her pleasure over his basic needs
Development
Culmination of the abandonment theme—Sue abandoned him for duty, now Arabella abandons him for fun
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when family members disappear during a health crisis or friends stop calling during your divorce
Class
In This Chapter
University celebrations mock Jude's death—the institution that rejected him thrives while he dies forgotten
Development
Final statement on class barriers—even in death, the academic world remains indifferent to working-class suffering
In Your Life:
You see this when corporate leadership celebrates record profits while laying off workers who built the company
Deception
In This Chapter
Arabella lies to Jude's concerned coworkers, telling them he's sleeping peacefully so she can return to parties
Development
Arabella's deception reaches new lows—now lying about death itself for personal convenience
In Your Life:
You might do this when lying to family about a loved one's condition to avoid difficult conversations
Isolation
In This Chapter
Jude dies completely alone, calling for water and human presence while celebration sounds mock his suffering
Development
Ultimate isolation—surrounded by a celebrating world but utterly alone in his final moments
In Your Life:
You experience this when going through major life crises while social media shows everyone else's happy moments
Indifference
In This Chapter
The world continues its pleasures around Jude's death—boat races, academic ceremonies, social gatherings proceed without pause
Development
Society's complete indifference to individual suffering reaches its peak as Jude becomes invisible even in death
In Your Life:
You see this when the workplace continues normally after a colleague's suicide or when the community ignores homeless deaths
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Arabella do while Jude is dying, and how does she react when she finds his body?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Arabella lie to Jude's coworkers about his condition, and what does this reveal about her priorities?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of abandoning people during their worst moments in today's world - at work, in families, or in communities?
application • medium - 4
If you knew someone was 'dying' - literally or metaphorically going through their worst crisis - how would you choose to respond differently than Arabella?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter teach us about the difference between people who stay during suffering and those who disappear when things get uncomfortable?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Support Network
Think of a time when you were struggling - sick, depressed, facing a crisis, or going through major life changes. Make two lists: people who showed up for you during that difficult time, and people who disappeared or made excuses. Now flip it: identify someone in your life who might be 'dying' in some way right now - struggling with health, job loss, relationship problems, or mental health issues.
Consider:
- •Notice the difference between people who offered help versus those who actually followed through
- •Consider how your own discomfort with others' pain might make you pull away
- •Think about small, practical ways to 'bring water' to someone who's suffering
Journaling Prompt
Write about what it felt like to be abandoned during your difficult time, and describe one specific action you can take this week to avoid abandoning someone else who needs support.