"'That's the story about me in Marygreen, is it—that I entrapped 'ee? Much of a catch you were, Lord send!' As she warmed she saw some of Jude's dear ancient classics on a table where they ought not to have been laid. 'I won't have them books here in the way!' she cried petulantly; and seizing them one by one she began throwing them upon the floor.

"'Leave my books alone!' he said. 'You might have thrown them aside if you had liked, but as to soiling them like that, it is disgusting!' In the operation of making lard Arabella's hands had become smeared with the hot grease, and her fingers consequently left very perceptible imprints on the book-covers. She continued deliberately to toss the books severally upon the floor, till Jude, incensed beyond bearing, caught her by the arms to make her leave off. Somehow, in doing so, he loosened the fastening of her hair, and it rolled about her ears." (Chapter 11)

Have you ever had an argument with someone and suddenly realized that you're fighting about something totally different from what you started with? And then accidentally-on-purpose spread pig fat all over that someone's favorite book?

Well, that's what happens in Jude the Obscure when Arabella starts arguing with Jude. She's mad because she and Jude aren't exactly happily married. Jude thinks she manipulated him into the relationship.

Meanwhile, Arabella's also melting down lard for storing (as one does, apparently, in the Victorian era). It's a smelly process that Jude finds totally disgusting. So what better way to get back at him than to start throwing his books around and getting grease all over them? Clearly Arabella is a no-holds-barred sort of fighter.

Of Books and Pigs

So now that we've got the basic story down, what's going on here? This fight is just one example of Jude's dilemma. He's born into the lower class, marries a lower-class woman, and yet he wants to go to the university to study the classics. And that's, well, not something the lower classes are groomed to do in the late-19th century.

Jude, though, is determined and teaches himself Latin and Greek (hence those books on the table). Only, as it turns out, it takes more than knowledge to make it into the elite university club. Jude's got the knowledge, but he doesn't have the connections that open doors.

The Clash

Jude's dreams are at odds with his reality. The books and pig fat loom large, more like symbols than just objects that happen to appear in the same place—think poetic juxtaposition. 

The dialogue also works by juxtaposition. These two aren't even talking in the same language. Arabella flings some insults at Jude in her lower-class accent, riddled with slang ("I entrapped 'ee? Much of a catch you were, Lord send!"). But Jude's response is composed and proper, without a contraction in sight. He at least starts by taking the high road.

When Hardy puts Jude and Arabella in scenes like this, the clash is cringe-worthy. Even though Jude's got high ideals, his reality is pretty bleak. And pretty greasy.