Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), Victorian novelist and poet is best known for his vivid portrayal of rural life and tragic characters. 'Tess of D'Urbervilles' (1891), 'Far from the madding crowd' (1874), 'The Mayor of Caster Bridge' (1886), are his most famous novels. Apart from these he wrote near around nine hundred poems. His 'The Self-Unseeing' is a small poem in three stanzas that contemplates memory, loss and the gentle beauty of the bygone days. He recalls his memory from his childhood days and enkindles the nostalgic feelings in the minds of the readers.
On seeing the foot-worn and hollowed floor of his house and seeing the old chair and fire place, he begins to recollect the good old days. Either his mother or aunt might have sat there smiling at the fire then. As it was a regular incident, he he never gave any importance then. Since he was a child, he couldn't enjoy the precious moments. So, he turned away and continues to play. Only now, he feels the ecstasy of those memorable moments. Usually, the values of the valuable moments won't be recognized when it happens. Its real value will be recognized only later, in its absence. Then everything will glow with a gleam. They will become good old days and golden moments of our life. Similarly the recollection of the past moments brings to life the warmth of family affection and modest pleasures.
Thus, Thomas Hardy's poem, 'The Self-Unseeing' illustrates how individuals frequently over look the importance of experiences while they are occurring, but only gaining awareness of their significance later on. As it is said, 'Having eyes we are blind'.
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