The Return of the Native

Thomas Hardy's novels are all set in Wessex which is a quasi-mythical region in southern and south-west England. The native community of this area was of particular interest to Hardy, and in The Return of the Native this community plays a greater role than it does in other works by Hardy. In The Return of the Native, the significance of the rustic characters is not limited to providing mere background scenery or local colour. Instead, these characters fulfill various important functions such as commenting upon the main characters, and providing a form of comic relief.
The rustic characters have been presented to provide the background against which the story is set. These characters are the part and parcel of Egdon Heath. Through them Hardy introduces us to the local customs, beliefs, superstitions and occupations like the annual bonfire to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot, the Maypole celebrations, the village festival or picnic and dancing, etc. We are also informed of some of the superstitions of that time like beliefs in ghosts and witches. For instance, Susan Nunsuch, who believes Eustacia to be a witch, makes a waxen effigy of her and put needles into it and puts it on fire. Thus these characters convey the spirit of the place to the readers.
One of the main roles of the rustic characters is to provide important information about the main characters. The rustic characters are introduced to us early in the story during the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. From their gossip we learn facts about Clym, Wildeve, Eustacia and Thomasin. For instance, Susan expresses her disappointment that Thomaisn should choose a husband like Wildeve. We also learn about characteristics of Wildeve that he is clever and learned man who was an engineer before running a public house. We learn that Mrs. Yeobright disagreed to the proposed marriage of Wildeve and Thomasin. We also learn about Eustacia that she is very strange, she lives with her grandfather and she does not like to