The main character of the novel Jude the Obscure written by Thomas Hardy. He is tricked into marrying Arabella, his first wife, has kids with Sue Bridehead, his cousin, and never gets into the Christminster colleges because of his poverty despite his intelligence.
Jude is the tragic hero where from the very beginning of the book his life seems okay and promising, then things just get worse and worse.
Throughout the novel his character is very stable and sure of himself. The only thing that breaks him completely is the death of his children, and Sue deserting him. He didn't break before from the pressures of the public ostracizing him and Sue because they weren't married, and when he had to sell all of his precious books.
The reader cannot help but sympthatize with Jude as he tries so very hard to do everything in life but is only rejected in the end.