Abstract
Abstract: This thesis explores Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, focusing on the way Hardy critiqued not only religious institutions and their influence on the institution of marriage to further remain in control in society, but also how these contributed to the maintenance of the patriarchal structure controlling individuals based on their sex. Both gender studies and religion are topics that are continuously relevant within the very real world of contemporary politics, as well as within the fictitious worlds of most literary works. This thesis will explore and try to answer the following question: How does Thomas Hardy's portrayal of marriage and religion in Jude the Obscure reveal his criticism of patriarchal and religious institutions, as well as societal norms that oppress women and what is the impact of these have on the main characters and their gender performance? It goes into the representation of gender, gender performance and female sexual desire, as well as exploring the effect religion and the institution of marriage had on the gender performance of these characters. It concludes by discussing how these institutions for religion and marriage are part of the bigger issue of gender oppression in contemporary Victorian society.