Being Sarcastic

“The Ruined Maid” by Thomas Hardy is about a woman who becomes ruined and learns to enjoy the new life that comes with being a ruined maid.

Amelia is a woman who embraces behavior that is unacceptable in the society she lives in, causing her ruin, and requiring her to leave her old life behind. Becoming ruined changes her life forever, and opens a whole new world for her. When Amelia runs into an old friend in town who has no idea that Amelia is ruined, Amelia becomes sarcastic in the way she talks to her friend about her new found life as a ruined maid.

Thomas Hardy writes: “And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty!” (3), Amelia’s friend [who is un-named] is surprised by the nice clothes Amelia is wearing and how rich she dresses. Amelia confronts her old friend and tells her she is ruined “O didn’t you know I’d been ruined?” (Hardy 4), Amelia says she is ruined in such satire. The way Hardy writes Amelia’s response in line 4, gives the reader the impression that Hardy is making Amelia be sarcastic about the whole situation.

Amelia’s friend is still unbelieving at this sight of Amelia in such good fortune: “You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,” (Hardy 5). Last time Amelia’s friend saw her she was still a farm girl. Now Amelia is healthier and has fine accessories. “And now you’ve gay bracelets and bright feathers three!” (Hardy 7), the reader can tell that Amelia’s friend is excited about how well Amelia is doing now. All Amelia has to say to her friend is: “Yes that’s how we dress when we’re ruined,” (Hardy 8). The reader can see how Amelia says this so smoothly. Almost being sarcastic but at the same time not. Hardy writes this to show the reader how Amelia actually likes the new life. Making Amelia talk a bit satire throughout the whole poem.

As the reader continues they see that Amelia does enjoy this life she now has. “Your talking quite fits ‘ee for high compa-ny! / Some polish is gained with one’s ruin,” (Hardy 10-11). This shows the reader the same thing over again as before; Amelia is enjoying this new life. Amelia is enjoying being looked up too by her old friend. This friend can’t get enough of Amelia for she goes on further:

            Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak

            But now I’m bewitched by your delicate cheek,

            And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!—

            We never do work when we’re ruined, said she. (Hardy 12-15)

By now the reader can start to see that Amelia’s friend is envious of Amelia’s new life style. Just by the way Hardy writes lines 12-15, the reader begins to realize the truth behind this. The fact still remains that Amelia thoroughly enjoys her choice as a ruined maid. Amelia actually likes being ruined. If Amelia had never been ruined, she would not be dining so eloquently, and she would not have so many fine clothes like she has now. Amelia’s friend points out how Amelia hated her old life. “You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,” (Hardy 16). Now the reader knows for sure that Amelia did not like the life she left behind, and that she is thankful for being able to leave that life for a better one. Amelia tells the reader that she is glad to have this new life: “True. One’s pretty lively when ruined,” (Hardy 19), confirming that Amelia truly enjoys what she does now. Amelia shows the reader her true colors in the last paragraph of the poem, when Amelia’s friend tells her how she wishes to be in her shoes. “I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown, / And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!” (Hardy 20-21). Amelia tells her friend the hard truth, by telling her friend that she cannot have a life such as Amelia’s life right now. “My dear—a raw country girl, such as you be, / Cannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,” (Hardy 22-23). Amelia is talking in a satire way when she gives the news to her friend. The reader can tell Amelia likes her new life and that even though her friend wishes for the same life, Amelia knows it is not a life to choose for some. Amelia is letting her friend down easy by trying to be sarcastic in the way she talks to her friend. When Amelia tells her friend: “You ain’t ruined,” (Hardy 23), Amelia says this out of respect for her friend. Letting her friend know she is a good person and to not wish this life as her own.

Now that the reader knows why Amelia has found a new world compared to her old life, the reader may ask why Thomas Hardy does not write why Amelia is ruined. Hardy is writing about an era that looks down on sexual favors outside of marriage or for a woman to be openly opinionated in public. The reader learns that Amelia has been ruined but leaves the how she became ruined a mystery. Hardy is telling the reader about the life of two women in his poem. Hardy writes about both the women, giving both speaking parts in his poem. The reader can tell that Hardy is writing about a ruined maid and a farm girl who know each other. Hardy knows these two women that he puts in his poem, which is why Hardy gives no information on why Amelia is ruined, or what her friends name is in order to protect their identities.

Works Cited:

- Hardy, Thomas. “The Ruined Maid.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing, Part 2. 12th Ed. Kennedy, X.J and Gioia, Dana. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 2013. 727. Print.