Author(s): Dr. Chittaranjan Nath

Abstract: Thomas Hardy’s Wessex novels present a powerful ecological vision that captures the environmental and cultural shifts occurring in 19th-century rural England. Through close readings of major Wessex novels, this article examines how Hardy presents nature not merely as a backdrop but as an active, enduring presence in his texts. It focuses on key themes such as environmental estrangement, land commodification, mechanized agriculture and the decline of traditional rural life. By drawing parallels between the erosion of agrarian landscapes and the human cost of industrial and social change, the study highlights Hardy’s deep sensitivity to the fragility of the human-nature relationship. His narratives register a profound sense of loss, both ecological and cultural, and reflect a growing anxiety about the disconnection between people and the land. In portraying nature as both witness and participant in this transformation, Hardy offers a compelling vision of pastoral decay, one that continues to resonate in the face of on-going environmental crises.

Keywords: Ecological Consciousness, Wessex, Environmental crisis, Rural transformation, Nature and modernity.

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.2.6.30