# The Serious Discourse of Clym with His Cousin explained — The Return of the Native

> Chapter companion for The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy.

## What happens

Clym Yeobright, still grieving his mother and Eustacia, contemplates his duty to his cousin Thomasin. He considers proposing marriage to her out of respect for his mother's wishes, but before he can, Thomasin reveals she wishes to marry Diggory Venn. Clym initially hesitates due to his mother's disapproval of Venn's former profession, but eventually gives his blessing. Thomasin confirms her engagement to Venn, and Clym resolves to become an itinerant preacher and night-school teacher.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Thomasin's choice to marry Diggory Venn despite family objections, and Clym's renunciation of romantic love for a life of preaching.

### Social Class and Ambition

Clym's concern about Venn's social standing as a reddleman, and Thomasin's feeling that she is 'not fit for town life.'

### Isolation and Loneliness

Clym's sense of being a 'mere corpse of a lover' and his withdrawal into grief and preaching.

## Character check-ins

### Clym Yeobright

Struggles with guilt over his mother's and Eustacia's deaths, considers marrying Thomasin out of duty, but ultimately supports her marriage to Venn and commits to preaching.

### Thomasin Yeobright

Seeks Clym's advice about marrying Diggory Venn, feels torn between family loyalty and her own feelings, and eventually decides to marry Venn.

### Diggory Venn

Persistent in his courtship of Thomasin; his reformed character and kindness win her over despite initial objections.

### Mrs. Yeobright

Her memory and past wishes influence Clym's and Thomasin's decisions regarding marriage.

### Humphrey

Comments on Thomasin and Venn's renewed relationship and suggests Clym could have married Thomasin himself.

## Key lines

> He had but three activities alive in him. One was his almost daily walk to the little graveyard wherein his mother lay; another, his just as frequent visits by night to the more distant enclosure which numbered his Eustacia among its dead; the third was self-preparation for a vocation which alone seemed likely to satisfy his cravings—that of an itinerant preacher of the eleventh commandment.

Clym's life now consists of visiting his mother's grave, visiting Eustacia's grave, and preparing to become an itinerant preacher.

_Highlights Clym's grief and his turn toward religious vocation._

> I am thinking of marrying... 'Tis Mr. Venn.

Thomasin tells Clym she wants to marry Diggory Venn.

_Reveals Thomasin's intention and sets up the central conflict of the chapter._

> How can I have the conscience to marry after having driven two women to their deaths?

Clym feels guilty for the deaths of his mother and Eustacia and believes he is unfit for marriage.

_Shows Clym's deep remorse and self-blame._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_the_native_se/chapters/iii-the-serious-discourse-of-clym-with-his-cousin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_the_native_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_the_native_se/chapters