The Difference Between Fate and Coincidence Essay Example

death also symbolizes her fall, because it causes Tess to feel primarily responsible for her family’s poverty stricken condition, which results in her accepting the job against her better judgment.

In addition, when John Durbeyfield meets with the Parson and the Parson tells Mr. Durbeyfield that he is the “lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d’Urbervilles. ” This sets the entire novel on its dark and twisted course. Hardy’s definition of fate was molded by the idea that there was an evil power that had ultimate control over the universe that intends to get the better of every plan man creates to help make his life better or to be happy.

Hardy refused to believe in a generous God; life was simply too ironic for him to believe that, so he believed that all bad things were derived by an evil supernatural force. This is shown in the novel by two of the many religious figures that Hardy presents us with are hypocrites. For instance, when Alec just throws away all of his recently established religious beliefs just to be with Tess again, and Angel and his desertion of his religion completely, although Angel’s father appears to have a good heart.

Again Thomas Hardy shows how religion influences his views on fate by criticizing the local parson’s hypocritical attitude that forces poor Tess to bury her ironically named child “Sorrow” in the revolting section of the cemetery reserved for people who committed suicide and drunks. Hardy also displays that fate is determined by an evil force that controls Tess always directing her back in the direction of Alec, even though both Alec and Tess

want nothing to do with each other at multiple points in the novel they end up crossing paths over and over.

Tess Durbeyfield’s fall/tragedy is generally described as being an unfortunate destiny, but many skeptics believe that her tragedy borderlines an improbable coincidence. Thomas Hardy wrote this novel with the belief that an evil supernatural being is in full control of everything that goes on in the world. With that knowledge the reader can come to the conclusion that Hardy meant for this to be Tess’ ill-determined fate. She fights and attempts to stay happy with her scapegoat Angel whom just turns out to be another hypocrite in her life, and abandons her as soon as he realizes she is not perfect and leaves her on her own again.

Although when he does not receive that letter from Tess explaining everything to him it just reflects the idea that it was just meant to be for Tess to be miserable, because Angel even says “Oh, Tess! If you had only told me sooner, I would have forgiven you. ” Although, Tess constantly battles with her pre-determined monstrous fate, she is forever doomed to failure and the novel ends with her death/execution. Her death was foreshadowed, when Angel placed her in the coffin when he was sleep-walking.

Hardy expresses Tess’ death as a symbol for mankind, because even though she worked and tried really hard to be happy and not be poverty stricken fate knocked her down, making happiness unachievable. Thomas Hardy presented in the novel the Tess of the d’Urbervilles many characters that seemed to be under the control of an evil supernatural being which controls fate and

every character’s destiny, especially Tess’. The dominion of fate in this novel is evident, just by following Tess’s life which has taken the turn for the worst, but this helps the reader comprehend Hardy’s view of fate and brings it closer to realization.