An analysis of the work of Thomas Hardy, a Victorian writer who is not considered Modernist, may further reveal the differences between modern and Traditional writing styles.

For example, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, while containing progressive feminist themes, is quite traditional in terms of style. While the story is progressive in the sense that Tess cannot be controlled by men’s expectations of who she should be, Hardy still objectifies the character as a pure woman, not much different from the typical Victorian ideal of women. Tess has no real flaws like Mrs. Dalloway.

To continue the comparison, Mrs. Dalloway has an average appearance, while Tess is spectacularly beautiful. Her every thought and action is virtuous, while Mrs. Dalloway harbors secret selfishness. Hardy’s depiction of Tess is so idealized that she seems like a work of art rather than a realistic, relatable character.

Another traditional aspect of Hardy’s work is that the narrator is not a character, but a nameless commentator reflecting on the story’s events. Therefore, the narrator remains static throughout the novel. Also, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, despite being a tragedy, does not have the same nihilistic tone as The Great Gatsby and Heart of Darkness. In Hardy’s work people are genuinely good, albeit flawed; there is a sense of optimism about human nature that is absent in modern novels.

Modernism did not arise all at once, but rather happened gradually, which is reflected in novels that blend modernist themes with traditional writing conventions. What modernist novels share in common is the sense of cynicism and disillusionment that characterize the era. Yet while modernist trends forever changed art and literature, to this day traditional values haven’t been entirely abolished.