Eustacia Vye lives with her grandfather, Captain Vye, in a cottage on Egdon Heath. Because she is different from the other villagers—beautiful, proud, and mysterious—people gossip about her and even say she is a witch. This shows how she does not fit in with the simple life of the heath and why she dreams of escaping it. Eustacia longs to go to Paris, dreaming of a brighter and more exciting life than the lonely heath can offer. But she cannot go on her own—her future depends on finding a man who will marry her and take her there. For her, love is not just about romance, but also a way to escape and reach the life she desires.
The title The Return of the Native mainly refers to Clym Yeobright, whose return brings a fresh breeze to the dry and lonely heath. After spending years in Paris, he comes back with new ideas and energy, raising hopes and stirring changes in the quiet life of Egdon. Eustacia uses her charm and beauty to draw Clym closer, hoping to shape his path toward her own desires. She sees him as the one who could take her away from the heath, and with her seductive presence she tries to guide him, like stepping stones, toward the dream she longs for.
