Hap - Thomas Hardy (1866) - Structuralist critic

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[...] Hap - Thomas Hardy (1866) - Structuralist critic Hap is one of Thomas Hardy's first famous poems, written in the 1860s when he was still in his twenties. Its theme is one that would reoccur throughout both Hardy's poetry and fiction: the apparent unpredictability of the world and how our fortunes (and misfortunes) are the consequences of blind chance rather than some bigger plan. Nevertheless, here's 'Hap' and a few words of analysis. The Cruelty of Chance: A Critique of Existential Randomness Hap" criticizes the reality that luck plays a major role in human existence. [...]

[...] The speaker, who is utterly jaded, claims that "hope" fades and "joy lies slaughtered," as if these were universal realities. A Yearning for Explanation: The Desire for a Vengeful God in the Face of Human Suffering The speaker considers that if a malevolent God were creating all of this anguish, suffering would at least have an explanation and people would be able to find release from their pain through suicide. Even though the presence of a "vengeful god" seems terrible, it would provide a rationale for human misery. [...]

[...] The word or serendipity, in the title also alludes to random chance. Conclusion Statistically, the speaker would have been equally likely to experience "blisses" as "pain," but that did not happen. That is precisely what is so frustrating: humans have no control over how their lives unfold, and no good or terrible, will ever assist them in making sense of it all. Concisely, "Hap" laments the fact that life is haphazard. It is determined by chance and there is no way of knowing or influencing which way the dice will fall. [...]