A Little Life Literary Elements

Literary fiction

The time frame of the novel is never specified; the plot spans more than 50 years, describing the entirety of Jude's life. Most of the events take place in New York City and the surrounding areas, but some action takes place in many different regions of the United States

Different portions of the book are narrated from different points of view. Many chapters use an omniscient narrator to describe Jude's experiences. Some chapters are narrated by an omniscient narrator describing the experiences of other characters, such as Willem or JB. A few chapters are narrated by Harold in the second-person as he addresses Willem.

The tone and mood are often melancholy, haunting, and filled with longing. Jude's life is consumed by shame and the trauma surrounding his past. The descriptions of his past suffering and his ongoing self-harm make it clear that he cannot free himself from suffering. The other characters hope in vain that they might be able to help Jude see all the wonderful things about himself, and this desire affects the reader as well.

Jude is the protagonist; Brother Luke, Dr. Traylor, and Caleb can all be considered antagonists.

The central conflict of the novel occurs between Jude and himself; because of Jude's traumatic past, he does not believe that he is worthy of love, nor that he can truly trust anyone in his life.

The climax of the novel occurs when Jude commits suicide. The conflict is resolved because he can no longer bear the pain of all his suffering, and there is no longer any possibility that he will find a happy outcome to his life.

Due to cyclical abuse, Jude's traumas foreshadow future acts of abuse and sexual violence. His experience with Brother Luke, in which a seemingly nurturing person betrays and abuses him, foreshadows his experience with Dr. Traylor and his experience with Caleb. Jude's initial suicide attempt after the end of his relationship with Caleb foreshadows his later suicide after he loses Willem. The death of Harold's young son foreshadows that he will eventually lose his adopted son, Jude, as well.

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Jude is very well-read and well-educated, so there are numerous illusions throughout to books, music, and art that are important to him. Jude's name is also likely an allusion to St. Jude (the patron saint of lost causes) and possibly the main character in Thomas Hardy's novel Jude the Obscure. Hardy's protagonist also endures a life of deep suffering and loss.

See "Imagery" section.

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