The Tess of the d’Urbervilles Essay Example

of her father's pride."

During the journey, we witness Tess's perception of our world as a "blighted star," which remains fatalistic throughout despite not affecting the outcome of her situation. Despite her circumstances being already dire, they only worsen from here onwards. Knowing or not knowing the severity of her predicament makes no impact on Tess's future; it merely serves to provide insight into her character.

Joan's plan is for Tess to pretend to be related to the D'Urbervilles, which eventually leads to Tess's troubles with Alec. Tess feels guilty about killing the family horse, Prince, and leaving her family in more poverty. Joan had already decided that Tess should go, but it was up to Tess to choose. She decides to go for her family's sake and takes responsibility for Prince's death, believing she should do something to make up for it.

Although I do not believe that Tess possesses a passive 'temperament,' certain parts of the novel do depict her actions as extremely passive and consequential to her future. For instance, when Alec coerces himself upon her, she is seen "passively sitting down on the coat that he had spread and shivering slightly." It is possible to argue that Tess was passive during this dangerous event and that her misfortune was a result of her own fault. However, it is essential to take into consideration Tess's physical state at the time. She was in a state of 'reverie,' she was cold, and lost in the woods. In my opinion, Tess was incapable of escaping and would have collapsed if she attempted to run away.

Considering that men are usually physically stronger than women, it is fair

to judge that Tess was unable to prevent harm from coming to her at the hands of Alec. According to Laura Claridge, Tess has been described as being sharp-tongued and confident, though her initial reactions to uncomfortable or unwelcome situations often involve sudden impulses of reprisal. When she is forced into a corner and left with no other choice but to obey, Tess loses her determination and submits. It should be noted that people insist or beg for her compliance rather than simply asking, so she is not being passively obedient but is instead following orders.

Tess appears most passive when she is deeply depressed. A clear illustration of this is her return home after leaving Alec when she felt so low that she wished to hide in a tomb. Additionally, another instance of her passivity while feeling low was when she confessed her calamities to Angel in the hope that he would forgive and love her. During this time, Angel was in a 'somnambulistic state' and carrying Tess in his arms.

Tess is exhibiting a passive behavior where she allows him to take advantage of her. Even if it could save Tess' life, she refuses to resist or move away from the undesirable situation. This behavior is a clear indication of Tess's death wish, which is evident in her passive behavior during times of depression. As the novel progresses, Tess experiences a complete breakdown of her psyche, ultimately leading to her being unaware of her actions.

In her most passive state, Tess is likened to "a mere corpse drifting with the current"5 due to her deep grief and heartbreak. However, this is not her

true nature, as her unfortunate experiences, possibly caused by others, have led to this state. Society also contributes to her depression by labeling her as a 'fallen woman' and failing to offer any assistance during her struggles.

Within the novel, society shuns a character, exemplified by the church and its members who treat her unkindly. This is evident when the character hears whispers about herself and subsequently feels too disheartened to continue attending church. Despite the notion that a church should be a place of refuge and pardon, Hardy portrays it as quite the opposite, depicting two clergymen, who are Angel's siblings, as cynical and biased individuals in a single scene.

Tess is destined for society's condemnation due to her violation of a crucial social norm, and the protagonist regrets acting hastily with the dairymaid, or whoever she may be.

This passage highlights the notion of "marriage before means" and how society's opinions can have a significant impact on individuals. This is illustrated through the story of the parson who refused to bury Tess's infant, fearing the judgment of others. This decision caused Tess further distress, demonstrating the impact of societal expectations. Similarly, society's expectations influenced Angel Clare's perception of Tess after her encounter with Alec, causing him to view her as a different person.

According to the text, Angel's negative opinion of Tess stems from societal views on virginity as a desirable trait for women. The patriarchal society in which she lives considers premarital affairs for women to be sins while men's affairs are dismissed. However, Tess is sincere in dismissing Angel's affair as she loves him genuinely. Despite their confessions being similar, society and

Angel view them differently. Tess requests justice and forgiveness but is not being passive.

Despite getting on her knees and begging for Angel's forgiveness, it cannot be said that Tess's passive temperament caused Angel's departure. On the contrary, Tess is reacting strongly to the situation. It is not due to passivity that Tess suffers from this misfortune. This societal condemnation of the main character in Tess is reminiscent of another of Hardy's novels, Jude the Obscure, where the protagonist and his lover are similarly condemned by society for breaking social norms.

Sue Bridehead, similar to Tess, surrenders her spirit and yields to a man she does not love because she believes that she cannot be with the man she genuinely loves due to societal and circumstantial factors. Fate is another theme that parallels both Tess and Jude. One relevant quote that connects the two is: "Tess had aspired to teach at this school, but fate appeared to dictate otherwise."* Likewise, Jude had hoped to become a scholar, but like Tess, fate prevented him. There is still one "author" of Tess's misfortunes that I have not mentioned; "the President of the Immortals."

Tess acknowledges the existence of God and, despite facing difficulties, believes that He must have a role in her personal narrative: "...Whom she could not classify as the God of her youth, and failed to understand as anything else."* Hardy employs the term 'justice' to depict Tess's punishment.

The intended meaning behind Hardy's use of the word "justified" remains ambiguous. It is uncertain whether Hardy believed that Tess's execution was justifiable in the eyes of society or if her long-standing suffering finally reaching an end was

justice. It is plausible that Hardy's use of "justified" was meant to be satirical. Those who did not know the full story, who adhered strictly to societal norms without making exceptions for individuals like Tess, and those who were heavily influenced by societal standards believed that justice was served. Tess may have been considered "pure" in the eyes of God, and it was only through his manipulation of her life that she became anything but.

My belief is that Tess does not possess a passive nature. The novel may present her as passive, however, I believe that other external factors such as societal influence and fate contribute significantly to her unfortunate circumstances.