Young and unworldly Jude Fawley dreams of emulating his mentor and schoolmaster, Phillotson. Jude studies diligently but his dream is interrupted when he is seduced by Arabella, a neighbor's daughter. Believing falsely that Arabella is pregnant, Jude marries her, but the marriage soon fails. When Jude decides to pursue his studies at Christminster he falls recklessly in love with his cousin, Sue Bridehead but the relationship proves to have tragic consequences.