 Similarly, the nature and significance of ideas of "Wessex" were developed over a long series of novels through a lengthy period of time.The idea of Wessex plays an important artistic role in Hardy's works (particularly his later novels), assisting the presentation of themes of progress, primitivism, sexuality, religion, nature and naturalism; however, this is complicated by the economic role Wessex played in Hardy's career.Considering himself primarily to be a poet, Hardy wrote novels mostly to earn money.