In the world of Thomas Hardy the individual who finds himself caring greatly for life is the same individual who must suffer the delusion of having his pilgrimage fail. In the conclusion of the short poem “For Life I Had Never Cared Greatly” the poet-novelist implies that, in spite of his better judgment in knowing that he is destined for misfortune, he cannot help becoming involved in living. Even though men are usually doomed to suffering, it is the ignoble life that does not make the effort to live; it is the heroic life that attempts in vain a worthwhile ambition
