ABSTRACT

This chapter shows how Thomas Hardy's deep interest in empires and emperors, particularly in the Roman Empire and the emperor Napoleon, is linked in his writings with the theme of colonization. It is important here to distinguish between the terms imperialism and colonialism, for they have too often been treated as synonymous by many writers on empire. The chapter explores the themes of colonialism and imperialism through Hardy's novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, and demonstrated the link between the Roman occupation of Britain and the colonization of the countryside which was occurring at the time the novel was being written. Hardy's comments on Christianity and its connection with empire bring to mind the views of Hegel discussed in the chapter, Hardy's statements being totally out of sympathy with Hegel's view that Western, Christian civilization represented the pinnacle of historical development.