ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Thomas Hardy's interpretation of the relational terms 'primitive' and 'civilized' and considers the extent to which these terms may be used when discussing the relationship between the colonized and the colonizer. The attitude towards the rural labouring class shown by the visitor from London, as described by Hardy in 'The Dorsetshire Labourer', exposes the connection between class and race which was used by the social Darwinists to add weight to their theories. Hardy associates Eustacia with 'tropical midnights' and 'lotus-eaters' and imagines her standing on the barrow with the new moon behind her head and an old helmet upon it, giving her the appearance of an ancient Greek goddess. The use of isolated geographical areas such as heath and woodland as a means of exploring the relationship between primitive communities and outsiders from beyond their boundaries is a device used by Hardy on several occasions.
