Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

Farmer Dunman's Funeral


"Bury me on a Sunday,"
He said; "so as to see
Poor folk there. 'Tis their one day
To spare for following me."

With forethought of that Sunday,
He wrote, while he was well,
On ten rum-bottles one day,
"Drink for my funeral."

They buried him on a Sunday,
That folk should not be balked
His wish, as 'twas their one day:
And forty couple walked.

They said: "To have it Sunday
Was always his concern;
His meaning being that one day
He'd do us a good turn.

"We must, had it been Monday,
Have got it over soon,
But now we gain, being Sunday,
A jolly afternoon."

Published in 1925 in "Human Shows, Far Phantasies, Songs and Trifles"

Related quote from "The Mayor of Casterbridge" Chapter 18

The rustics in the village discuss drinking after the death of Susan Henchard. Near the end of the chapter, Solomon Longways said:

“I say it to-day, and ’tis a Sunday morning, and I wouldn’t speak wrongfully for a zilver zixpence at such a time. I don’t see noo harm in it. To respect the dead is sound doxology; and I wouldn’t sell skellintons—leastwise respectable skellintons—to be varnished for ’natomies, except I were out o’ work. But money is scarce, and throats get dry. Why should death rob life o’ fourpence?"

The Rustics

When "The Mayor of Casterbridge" was published, Hardy was praised for his portrayal of the rustic, their way of thought, and mode of speech. These are the country poor who have their own ways of looking at a situation.

Mattissson, J. (2002). "Knowledge and Survival in the Novels of Thomas Hardy." (Lund Studies in English; Vol 101). Department of English, Lund University. (online)

The rustic characters don't have the resources to use money in a non-monetary way so they would consider it wasted by burying it in the ground. They are very practical individuals.

In an interesting short article by Jackiey Ash, Hardy's rustics are considered to have the same function as the gravediggers in "Hamlet" in providing some humor even when dealing with death and funerals:

"These characters, when they grow philosophic, are to be seen in their true colours and become the source of our laughter. The truths they propound are such as are commonplace and it is the assumption of a peculiar philosophic pose that they assume while propounding these ordinary truths that invariably excites our laughter. But this humour given at the cost of these rustic characters has no tinge of the sombreness which characterizes Hardy's humour in general. It is fundamentally jovial and genial without the touch of sarcasm. The humorous role assigned to these characters has one important purpose in the construction of Hardy's tragedies. It serves as a sort of tragic relief. His rustic characters prepare a sort of humorous background to the serious and sombre and drama of humanity. They may be compared with the gravediggers of Hamlet. Most of their fun, as also of the gravediggers, is derived from their humorous comment upon coffins and funerals."

https://www.englishliterature.info/20...

The Poem

The poem shows Farmer Dunman to be a generous man who wanted a celebration of life for his friends. He planned an afternoon of drinking and storytelling after his burial.

Over to you!

Very interesting thoughts and excerpt, and great job on poems Connie!

The rustics indeed express some calendar wisdom (Kalenderweisheit), definitely more down to earth and not wrong at all, than the philosophical and moral issues that inevitably come up when someone dies.

This poem echoes the discussion of the few people we already know in Casterbridge. They are always called by their names, which may show how Thomas Hardy wants us to notice their significance as you well said.

Unfortunately I am still Shakespeare-illiterate but I know a few famous quotes from him. This here gives me one more reason for reading Hamlet.

I appreciate your comments, Claudia. I saw the Kenneth Branagh movie of "Hamlet" after reading the play, and it was wonderful!

Ah, finally a happy funeral :-). An ironic or oxymoronic thought, I realize, but this poem is so much lighter than "By Her Aunt's Grave" or "The Lodging-House Fuchsias". There is no money for a headstone being subverted, there are no beautiful fuchsias being cut. There is just a community coming together on their one day off, drinking rum, and enjoying each other's company. I couldn't wish for a better end to my own life.

Thank you for leading these wonderful poems, Connie, and for all the research you've put into each of them, This had been great fun, and truly enhanced the reading of TMOC.

Bridget wrote: "Ah, finally a happy funeral :-). An ironic or oxymoronic thought, I realize, but this poem is so much lighter than "By Her Aunt's Grave" or "The Lodging-House Fuchsias". There is no money for a hea..."

Bridget, it felt good to end on a bittersweet note--a celebration of life where people could both mourn and share amusing stories of enjoyable times with the deceased.

Another great connected poem, Connie--thank you!

I agree with Bridget that a happy funeral feels like an oxymoron, and I cringed a bit at the "jolly afternoon." But I have to agree it's certainly what I'd want for my loved ones.

It happens I just finished reading Hamlet! So that was a particularly interesting connection for me. I do appreciate dark humor, but also--as Connie explains Hardy is doing--the relief it brings from tragedy. Just like love and hate can live closely together, so can laughter and grief.

Kathleen wrote: "Another great connected poem, Connie--thank you!

I agree with Bridget that a happy funeral feels like an oxymoron, and I cringed a bit at the "jolly afternoon." But I have to agree it's certainly..."

Kathleen, I have been to funerals where people share lots of happy memories with both tears and smiles, but the deceased was someone who lived a long life. I can't imagine that type of atmosphere at a funeral for a younger person, especially a child.

Wonderful and impactful choice, Connie. The message is so understandable and approachable. And true, this idea only works for those who have lived what we consider a "full life."

Pamela, I imagine that Farmer Dunman lived a full life if he was able to afford the ten bottles of rum and plan his funeral. The poem made him sound like a sociable man who valued his friends.

The poem has the word "Sunday" in each stanza which emphasizes that it was the only day the rustics had off from work. Hardy also rhymes "Sunday" with either "day" or "Monday" in each stanza.

I forgot to thank you Connie for all the information in the “rustics” and how Hardy used them in his novels. That’s great info to remember as we read TMOC and really for any of Hardy’s novels. I’ve only read Tess and FFMC but they both have casts of rustic characters who are very memorable.

Bridget wrote: "I forgot to thank you Connie for all the information in the “rustics” and how Hardy used them in his novels. That’s great info to remember as we read TMOC and really for any of Hardy’s novels. I’ve..."

I've read the same novels as you read, Bridget. I especially remember the humor of the rustics in Far From the Madding Crowd.