Withered Arm

"The Withered Arm" by Thomas Hardy is a short story about a woman named Grace, whose arm becomes physically deformed due to a curse or supernatural forces linked to her tragic past. The story explores themes of revenge and the supernatural, suggesting that Grace's suffering and her arm's condition are interconnected, symbolizing her inner emotional scars. The narrative reveals how past wrongdoings and unresolved tensions can impact individuals both psychologically and physically, blending real and supernatural elements to examine human nature and social village life in 19th-century England.