That is the whole point of the novel and the move Jude the Obscure or Jude.
Jude is a sensitive, romantic sort who believes that he can achieve all his
life's dreams through hard work(attending University) or desire(being married to sue).
The reality is he lives in a world where class and convention rule and any attempt to overcome them are brutally crushed. The reality is, his true love doesn't nearly flaunt convention as boldly as she imagines she does, and when it comes down to it, her mind is very parochial, never mind that she is of a changeable nature to start.
All that this means for Jude is that his dearest hopes and dreams of upward mobility and personal happiness are mercilessly denied by an uncaring world. This is symbolized most tragically by what happens to his children in the film.
Truly, some souls were not meant for this world. Or at least in Jude's case, some souls are tragically ahead of their time.
“Doctor Who” of course, but he only made a short appearance and then he must have jumped into his Tardis and flown away… he must have had his calculations wrong or else me might have been able to prevent this whole bloody disaster!
Maybe that’s what you were implying when you said “ahead of their time”… me thinks you know the workings of The Doctor!
;-)