• PRIYA VASHISHT
• Dr. Swati Chauhan

Thomas Hardy's short stories The Son’s Veto and The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid offer a compelling exploration of women as subaltern figures, who are restrained due to the inflexible social hierarchies and patriarchal expectations. This research paper looks into how Thomas Hardy showcases his female protagonists Sophy and Margery as oppressed and underrepresented individuals whose desire and individualities are suppressed by societal norms. Through the lens of subaltern studies this paper will highlight how aspects like class, gender, how imbalance of power affects their lives, showcasing them as voiceless people who are helplessly dependent on male authority. In both the short stories the female characters in some way or another have fallen victims to the societies rules and roles, Sophy, in The Son’s Veto is continuously denied her agency and personal happiness, her son often dictates her life and her fate, this very representation reinforces the victorian ideals of how a female is supposed to submit to the society's pressure and male dominance sacrificing one's own happiness . Likewise the character og Margery, in the Romantic Adventure of a Milkmaid although she experiences some amount of fleeting independence but ultimately falls victim to the societal pressures portraying the limitations that are put on middle class women. Through the criticism of Hardy's Work this paper aims at presenting the deep seated oppression faced by women bringing to light their struggle for self- determination. This paper argues that Hardy portrays women as subaltern and also acts as a critic on Victorian society, its gender and class inequalities.

New women, Female agency, Social hierarchy, Subaltern studies, Oppression, Patriarchal mindset

"Women as subaltern figure in Thomas Hardy's short stories The Son's Veto and The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 6, page no.d812-d816, June-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506393.pdf

"Women as subaltern figure in Thomas Hardy's short stories The Son's Veto and The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 6, page no. ppd812-d816, June-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506393.pdf