constraints.He is a self-willed individual set up against the coercive strictures of social rules and mores.In a novel structured around contrasts,the main opposition is between Swithin St Cleeve and Lady Viviette Constantine,who are presented as binary figures in a series of ways:aristocratic and lower class,youthful and mature,single and married,fair and dark,religious and agnostic.she [Lady Viviette Constantine] is also deeply conventional,absurdly wishing to conceal their marriage until Swithin has achieved social status through his scientific work,which gives rise to uncontrolled ironies and tragic-comic misunderstandings (Harvey 108).Hardy's characters often encounter crossroads,which are symbolic of a point of opportunity and transition.But the hand of fate is an important part of many of Hardy's plots.Far From the Madding Crowd tells a tale of lives that are constructed by chance."Had Bathsheba not sent the valentine,had Fanny not missed her wedding,for example,the story would have taken an entirely different path."[9]Hardy's main characters often seem to be in the overwhelming and overpowering grip of fate. VII.Poetry 10 In 1898 Hardy published his first volume ofpoetry,Wessexconstraints. He is a self-willed individual set up against the coercive strictures of social rules and mores. In a novel structured around contrasts, the main opposition is between Swithin St Cleeve and Lady Viviette Constantine, who are presented as binary figures in a series of ways: aristocratic and lower class, youthful and mature, single and married, fair and dark, religious and agnostic.she [Lady Viviette Constantine] is also deeply conventional, absurdly wishing to conceal their marriage until Swithin has achieved social status through his scientific work, which gives rise to uncontrolled ironies and tragic-comic misunderstandings (Harvey 108).Hardy’s characters often encounter crossroads, which are symbolic of a point of opportunity and transition. But the hand of fate is an important part of many of Hardy's plots. Far From the Madding Crowd tells a tale of lives that are constructed by chance. “Had Bathsheba not sent the valentine, had Fanny not missed her wedding, for example, the story would have taken an entirely different path.”[9] Hardy's main characters often seem to be in the overwhelming and overpowering grip of fate. VII. Poetry In 1898 Hardy published his first volume of poetry, Wessex 10’