Jude the Obscure

Jude Fawley, a young man from a village in Wessex, aspires to be a scholar and self-studies Greek and Latin while working in his great-aunt's bakery. His dreams are thwarted when he is naively manipulated into marrying Arabella Donn, a superficial local girl. Their marriage quickly deteriorates, leading to her abandonment as she moves to Australia. This experience forces Jude to abandon his academic ambitions, highlighting themes of aspiration, manipulation, and the impact of personal relationships on one's dreams.