Tess of the D'Urbevilles: Novel by Thomas Hardy
Introduction
Tess of the D'Urbevilles is a novel written by Thomas Hardy. It was first published in 1891 in serial form in the British illustrated newspaper The Graphic. In 1892, it was published as a complete novel. Today, it is considered one of Hardy's most popular novels.
Angel Clare
Angel Clare's love for Tess is presented as idealized, and unrealistic. The word "phosphorescence" evokes a fantasy world and idealized perfection. The word also has a symbolism of the changing color of wedding robes.
Angel, the hero of the novel, is not actually the man who claimed to love Tess. Instead, he cheated on her with a woman who was not his real love. Despite this, Angel repents and seeks reunion, but it's too late. Moreover, Tess's father has died, leaving her mother a widow. D'Urberville uses this to lure Tess, and Tess relents to his enticing ploy, since she believes Angel won't come back.
Tess's Beliefs
While the book's hero, Angel, is a good man, Tess doesn't follow the Christian faith. She doesn't believe in god, but she does believe in angels. She would rather pray to Angel Clare than to a god. She believes that love can redeem our personal lives.
Liza Lu
Liza-Lu is the short form of her real name, Eliza-Louisa. She has the same gorgeous eyes as her mother and plays a pivotal role in the story. She is not the protagonist of the novel, but she does play an important role.
Tess Durbeyfield
Tess Durbeyfield is the daughter of a poor, rural family. Her mother sends her to work for the d'Urbervilles in order to claim her kinship to their wealth. However, she is seduced by Alec d'Urberville, and eventually gives birth to his child. After giving birth to his child, she must leave her home to pursue a new life. Through her struggle, she finds strength to face the challenges that lie ahead.
The story is set in a rural area in England, and Tess lives on the estate of her mother, Mrs. Stoke-d'Urberville. Alec lives at Tantridge estate and is infatuated with the pretty "Coz". In order to avoid a relationship with him, Tess tries to keep her distance. However, as she travels to the neighboring town, Alec follows her.
John Durbeyfield
John Durbeyfield is the father of Tess of the D'Urbs, and he has high hopes for his daughter, but he is an idle, uncultured peddler who despises work. His wife, Joan, has a strong sense of propriety, but is very forgiving. As Tess grows up, her mother becomes her main supporter.
When Tess learns her family is aristocratic, she decides to seek help from d'Urbervilles. The aristocratic name "Durbeyfield" is a powerful symbol for Tess, and when she finds out that she will be forced to work as a domestic, she decides to find someone who will be willing to help her.
Alec d'Urberville
Alec d'Urberville is the handsome son of a rich merchant and not a legitimate descendant of the family's ancient nobles. He seduces Tess while she works for his family, hoping to win her heart.
Joan Durbeyfield
Joan's motives for sending Tess to the d'Urbervilles are not entirely clear. She wishes she had done more research about Alec before sending her to his estate. Her inexperience shows, but she is aware of the risks she has thrown her daughter into. Without taking protective measures, she leaves Tess open to the manipulations of Alec. While Joan had once hoped to marry a dashing man, she was never able to live up to her dream.
Joan Durbeyfield's family lives in a rural part of England. They are poor. However, she finds out that her family's ancestry is of the d'Urberville family. This knowledge gives her the courage to resist the temptations of an aristocratic life and leads her to the village pub, where she meets a young man who is unsuitable for her.
Tess and Angel's Relationship
Angel, however, does not approve of Tess's decision to marry Alec. Although she is reluctant to confess her past, she eventually agrees to marry Angel. She tries to hide her history from Angel several times, but he does not listen to her. Angel later confesses to Tess about his affair with Alec.
