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Brontte Hwang

Mrs. Sarich

AP Literature

2 May 2011

The Destruction of the d’Urbervilles

Title: Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Author: Thomas Hardy

Date of Publication: 1891

Genre: Tragedy

Historical Information about the Period of Publication:

Lambert, Tim. “Life in the 19th Century.” Local Histories. Tim Lambert, n. d. Web. 27

Apr. 2011.

According to Lambert, more is known about poverty during the 1890’s because detailed

descriptions and accurate surveys were recorded. The poverty-stricken population was

undermined by the elite Victorian population because the elites believed in the theory of self-

help, which meant that the poor were poor because they were unable to sustain themselves. Poor

families were often separated in their search for work. This publicized knowledge may have been

influential in Hardy’s representation of the lower class in his novel.

Biographical Information about the Author:

“Thomas Hardy Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Advameg, Web.

Thomas Hardy was born the first of four children on June 2, 1840 in Higher

Bockhampton, Dorset, England to Jemima and Thomas Hardy. His birthplace influenced the

location of “Wessex” in his works. Hardy loved books from an early age and learned to read

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before attending school. Although he seriously considered attending university and entering the

Church, he, instead, began to write poetry. Many of his early works, including The Poor Man

and the Lady, were unsuccessful because they were considered too critical of Victorian society.

Although Hardy could have made a living with architecture, he chose to continue writing

despite his lack of success. In 1870, Hardy met and fell in love with Emma Lavinia Gifford. She

inspired some of his most beautiful poems, such as “When I set Out of Lyonnesse.” It seemed

that falling in love improved Hardy’s works as his works began to be well-received afterwards.

His later and most successful novels, Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891), The Mayor of

Casterbridge (1886), and The Return of the Native (1878), brought him fame, money, and

famous acquaintances. He travelled often and met many other prominent writers, such as Robert

Louis Stevenson and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Later in his life, Hardy published many poems and

dramas, including Poems of the Past and Present, The Dynasts, and Satires of Circumstance.

After his wife’s death in 1912, he married Florence Emily Dugdale in 1914. Hardy died

on January 11, 1928.

Characteristics of this Genre:

Binfield, Kevin. “Literary Genres and Techniques.” English 300. Murray State

University, n. d. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

Melani, Lilia. “Tragedy.” Department of English. Lilia Melani, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 27

Apr. 2011.

Tragedy is a form of literature that can be traced to ancient times. Binfield gives a general

description of the genre of tragedy as “a dignified and serious drama that recounts the fall of a

person of relatively high social status.  The fall results from that person's own actions (especially

those based on what in other circumstances would be considered virtues) or from the nature of

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fate.” However, there are several types of tragedies that can be found in literature: Greek tragedy,

Medieval tragedy, and Elizabethan or Shakespearean tragedy.

In Greek tragedy, the tragic hero is often depicted as someone who is neither all good nor

all evil so that the audience can relate to him or her. The fall of the tragic hero is caused by a

tragic flaw, often hubris, in his or her character or a tragic error in judgment. According to the

theory of Greek tragedy, the audience feels more remorse for the tragic hero’s suffering than for

his or her mistake because the audience has become attached to the tragic hero throughout the

story.

During Medieval times, tragedy was seen as a reversal of fortune. Medieval tragedy is

simply depicted in literature as a transition from happiness to sadness due to a mistake or a

character flaw.

A distinctly English form of tragedy began during the Elizabethan period. Perhaps the

most famous Elizabethan writer of tragedies is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare championed

the Romantic Tragedy, which “[disregards] the unities (as in the use of subplots), [mixes]

tragedy and comedy, and [emphasizes] action, spectacle, and—increasingly—sensation”

(Melani), in many of his plays, including Macbeth and King Lear. Another form of tragedy,

known as the tragicomedy, also developed during the Elizabethan period. As its name suggests,

the tragicomedy blends tragedy and comedy. In a tragicomedy, “the action and subject matter

seem to require a tragic ending, but it is avoided by a reversal which leads to a happy ending”

(Melani).

The story of Tess of the D’Urbervilles may be categorized as a tragedy because of Tess’

tragedy-ridden life. As the reader becomes attached to Tess throughout the novel, the reader feels

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remorse over the tragic events, which seem uncontrollable, in Tess’ life that transform her from

an innocent young girl to a sorrowful woman with many burdens.

Plot Summary:

Tess of the D’Urbervilles begins with as John Durbeyfield, a poor peddler, learns of his

family’s noble descent. Shocked and overjoyed by the news, John Durbeyfield beings to behave

like nobility, assuming an air of dignity and position. After telling his family, John and his wife

learn of a wealthy d’Urberville family, whom they assume to be their blood relatives. They send

their eldest daughter, Tess, to find work at the d’Urberville mansion in hopes of marrying one of

their rich relatives and regaining their family’s previous wealth. Unfortunately, to Tess’ dismay,

she discovers that the d’Urbervilles are not really d’Urbervilles, but rather, Stokes. After she is

seduced and raped by Alec Stokes-D’Urberville, Tess returns home in disgrace and bears Alec’s

baby, who dies shortly after birth.

After this incident, Tess is no longer the carefree, innocent young girl, but has

transformed to a cautious and burdened woman. Tess finds work as a milkmaid at Talbothays

Dairy, where recuperates and finds love again with Angel Clare, although, she is still troubled by

her past. After Angel and Tess marry, they both confess to each other their sexual sins prior to

their marriage but only Tess is able to find forgiveness. Angel, disgusted and unable to accept his

shattered image of Tess, whom he thought was the epitome of innocence, goes to Brazil, leaving

Tess. Alone and heartbroken, Tess, once again, leaves to find work elsewhere and eventually

ends up at Flintcomb-Ash, an unsuccessful farm. A desperate Tess finds herself back in the arms

of Alec Stokes-D’Urberville, who seems to be completely transformed. When Tess is on the

verge of finding love again, Angel returns, forgives her, and begs her to take him back. Although

she initially turns him away and tells him it is too late, Tess runs away with him after murdering

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Alec for lying to her and telling her Angel would never come back. Unfortunately, Tess is found

and arrested at Stonehenge. The novel ends with Angel and Tess’s sister watching as a black flag

is raised over the prison, signaling Tess’s execution.

Describe the Author’s Style:

Thomas Hardy’s frequent use of imagery can be found in Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

Hardy vividly describes his characters’ appearances and the setting.

Among these on-lookers were three young men of a superior class….The eldest wore the

white tie, high waistcoat, and thin-brimmed hat of the regulation curate; the second was

the normal undergraduate; the appearance of the third and youngest would hardly have

been sufficient to characterize him; there was an uncribbed, uncabined aspect in his eyes

and attire, implying that he had hardly as yet found the entrance to his professional

groove. (10)

The river had stolen from the higher tracts and brought in particles to the vale all this

horizontal land; and now, exhausted, aged, and attenuated, lay serpentining along through

the midst of its former spoils. (87)

Most of Hardy’s novels end in tragedy. Although he denied being a pessimist, Hardy

believed in the inevitability of tragedy in human life. In Tess, Hardy’s pervading use of the

theme of tragedy is apparent in the various misfortunes of Tess’s life.

Poor Sorrow's campaign against sin, the world, and the devil was doomed to be of limited

brilliancy—luckily perhaps for himself, considering his beginnings. In the blue of the

morning that fragile soldier and servant breathed his last….(80)

Another common theme in Hardy’s works is that of fate. Later in Hardy’s life, he read

the works of Arthur Schopenhauer, a philosopher who introduced the idea of “Immanent Will,

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the blind force that drives the universe and in the distant future may see and understand itself”

(Thomas Hardy Biography). This idea of Immanent Will influenced Hardy’s ideas on the

influence of fate in a person’s life and the futility of human will against fate, which is apparent in

the way Tess’s life seems to be controlled by fate.

The pointed shaft of the cart had entered the breast of the unhappy Prince like a sword,

and from the wound his life's blood was spouting in a stream, and falling with a hiss into

the road. (24)

Hardy’s characters are often from the rural, poor class and are humorously portrayed.

Hardy also makes it apparent that their lives are controlled by Victorian society’s rigid structure.

Hardy also uses dialect to distinguish the poor class from the upper class.

“And here have I been knocking about, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no

more than the commonest feller in the parish...And how long hev this news about me

been knowed, Pa'son Tringham?” (3)

Durbeyfield, leaning back, and with his eyes closed luxuriously, was waving his hand

above his head, and singing in a slow recitative—"I've-got-a-gr't-family-vault-at-

Kingsbere—and knighted-forefathers-in-lead-coffins-there!" (9)

Hardy’s work was often criticized for being too openly immoral because Hardy wrote

of open sexual relations between men and women.

The obscurity was now so great that he could see absolutely nothing but a pale

nebulousness at his feet, which represented the white muslin figure he had left upon the

dead leaves….D'Urberville stooped; and heard a gentle regular breathing. He knelt and

bent lower, till her breath warmed his face, and in a moment his cheek was in contact

with hers. She was sleeping soundly, and upon her eyelashes there lingered tears. (62)

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Memorable Quotes:

1. “Don’t you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient

and knightly family of the d’Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan

d’Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the

Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll?” (3).

Speaker: Parson Tringham

Significance: This line in the book is the beginning of all of Tess’s sorrows. Here, Tess’s father

fatefully meets the local parson, who greets him as “Sir John” and explains to him his family

genealogy. Without knowing that passing on this knowledge that is merely some genealogical

trivia to him will incite all the tragedies in this novel, the parson casually imparts this

information to John Durbeyfield. It is also ironic that the parson begins by calling John

Durbeyfield “Sir John,” but throughout the rest of the conversation speaks to him as a social

inferior while John Durbeyfield begins to address him as “sir.”

2. Clare came close, and bent over her. “Dead, dead, dead!” he murmured. After fixedly

regarding her for some moments with the same gaze of unmeasurable woe he bent lower,

enclosed her in his arms, and rolled her in the sheet as in a shroud. Then lifting her from

the bed with as much respect as one would show to a dead body, he carried her across the

room, murmuring, “My poor, poor Tess, my dearest darling Tess! So sweet, so good, so

true!” (205)

Speaker: Angel Clare

Significance: The scene of Angel’s sleepwalking reveals his inner conflict over Tess’s morality

and lost innocence. Although he firmly sticks to his belief that he cannot remain with Tess

because of her sexual sin while he is conscious, during his sleep talking, Angel reveals that he

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still loves Tess by uttering endearing words, calling her “my dearest darling Tess.” Angel’s

saying, “Dead, dead, dead!” signifies how Tess seems dead to him because she is no longer the

pure, innocent being he once thought her to be. It also foreshadows Tess’s death.

3. Under the trees several pheasants lay about, their rich plumage dabbled with blood; some

were dead…all of them writhing in agony except the fortunate ones whose tortures had

ended during the night by the inability of nature to bear more. With the impulse of a soul

who could feel for kindred sufferers as much as for herself, Tess’s first thought was to

put the still living birds out of their torture, and to this end with her own hands she broke

the necks of as many as she could find, leaving them to lie where she had found them till

the gamekeepers should come, as they probably would come, to look for them a second

time. (231)

Significance: The agonizing pheasants represent Tess’s condition of misery after all the betrayal,

loneliness, and heartbreak she has endured. Tess’s breaking of the pheasants’ necks to put them

out of their misery signifies her acceptance of her past agony and moving on. This scene also

foreshadows Tess’s death by hanging.

4. As soon as she drew close to it she discovered all in a moment that the figure was a living

person…she had recognized Alec d’Urberville in the form….He stamped with his heel

heavily on the floor; whereupon there arose a hollow echo from below. “That shook them

a bit, I’ll warrant,” he continued. “And you thought I was the mere stone reproduction of

one of them. But no. The old order changeth. The little finger of the sham d’Urberville

can do more for you than the whole dynasty of the real underneath.” (302-303)

Speaker: Alec d’Urberville

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Significance: In this scene, Hardy uses the symbol of death in various ways. Firstly, the dead

d’Urberville ancestors represent the emptiness of their legacy and name. Ever since the

Durbeyfields discovered their noble ancestry, Tess has only been burdened by sorrow and

hardship; no benefit has resulted. Secondly, the fact that Tess mistook Alec for one of the statues

conveys the emptiness of Alec’s promises. Alec boasts to Tess that he can do more for her than

her dead ancestors can, but Alec only brings Tess more suffering, making his promises dead.

5. “Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended

his sport with Tess. And the d’Urberville knights and dames slept on in their tombs

unknowing. The two speechless gazers bent themselves down to the earth, as if in prayer,

and remained there a long time, absolutely motionless: the flag continued to wave

silently. As soon as they had strength they arose, joined hands again, and went on. (331)

Significance: The conclusion of the book is written in a weary tone, signifying the final

exhausted end of Tess’s life. Despite all the things that have happened to her, nothing beneficial

was gained by her suffering and the “two speechless gazers,” Angel and Liza-Lu, move on with

their lives. Hardy ironically compares Tess’s seemingly pathetic tragedy to the epic tragedies of

the Greek tragedian, Aeschylus.

Character List:

Name Role in Story Significance AdjectivesTess

DurbeyfieldMain

CharacterTess’s life of tragedy demonstrates the helplessness of humans in the hands of fate.

Responsible, selfless, intelligent, beautiful, enduring

Alec d’Urberville

Secondary Character

Despite Alec’s wealth and status, he spends the entirety of the novel pursuing Tess and is ultimately rejected and killed by his love. He is the cause of much of Tess’s hardships and her ultimate downfall.

Duplicitous, conniving, selfish, impulsive

Angel Clare Secondary Character

Angel is also a source of hardship for Tess. It seems that despite his overbearing effect

Hypocritical, indecisive,

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on Tess, he ultimately does not benefit her and cannot save her from death, which is ironic since his name is Angel.

rebellious, independent

John Durbeyfield

Secondary Character

The father of Tess, he was the first one to know of his family’s noble ancestry.

Foolish, simple, aloof

Joan Durbeyfield

Secondary Character

The mother of Tess, she comforts Tess and suggests that she go to the d’Urberville mansion. Although she is the mother, she often acts like a child.

Simple, motherly, superstitious, practical

Parson Tringham

Secondary Character

Parson Tringham tells Durbeyfield of his noble ancestry and sets the story in motion.

Oblivious, intelligent

Izz Huett Secondary Character

Izz inadvertently makes Angel realize how much Tess loves him.

Sensible

Sorrow Secondary Character

Tess’s illegitimate child, Sorrow’s death represents the start of Tess’s moving on.

Pitiful, sickly, hopeless

Liza-Lu Secondary Character

Serves as Tess’s replacement as Angel’s wife. She will live the life Tess couldn’t.

Helpful, hopeful

Retty Priddle &

Marian

Secondary Character

They represent the wasted lives of those who hung their lives on a dream.

Mindless, silly, dreamers

Setting: Although the story takes place in several locations, all of them are presumably within

Wessex, the southwest of England. Tess’s hometown of Blackmoor represents her years of

naïveté and purity before her tragic life enfolds. When Tess moves to the d’Urberville mansion,

she loses her innocence along with her virginity and begins her life of wandering. Tess finds

solace at the sunny Talbothays Dairy where everything is growing and prosperous. It is also

springtime and the love between Angel and Tess blossoms. After Angel leaves her, Tess goes to

Flintcomb-Ash where it is dry and barren. Here, Tess mourns her loss of Angel and is in

desperation.

Symbols and Allusions:

Prince: The death of the Durbeyfields’ only horse, Prince, was a critical turning point in Tess’s

life. It was because Tess felt indebted to her family for killing Prince that she felt compelled to

go to the d’Urberville mansion to find work. Prince serves as a symbol for Tess’s life of noble

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name but harsh labor. Since Prince died due to Tess’s fantasizing, Prince’s death can also

symbolize the death of useful things due to useless daydreaming.

The d’Urberville Family Vault: The d’Urberville family vault represents the glory of life and the

end of it. Although the prospect of a noble name sounded appealing at first to the Durbeyfields,

they discovered that the promises of the d’Urberville name were empty. The ancestors are long

dead along with their wealth and prestige. The last paragraph says, “the d’Urberville knights and

dames slept on in their tombs unknowing” (331), meaning they did not care what happened to

their descendants.

Brazil: Brazil represents the fantasies and unrealistic dreams the characters have, particular

Angel’s. Thought of as an exotic and promising place, Brazil seemed like an enticing escape for

Angel from his disappointment in Tess. However, like most unrealistic dreams, Brazil proved to

be another disappointment and failure for Angel. Fortunately, his failure in Brazil helped Angel

to find forgiveness for Tess.

Walt Whitman: Angel, a learned man, describes his feelings for Tess in the words of Walt

Whitman: “Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, How curious you are to

me!” meaning that to him, everyone else seems ordinary and usual while Tess seems unique. She

is unlike the other girls in that she is withdrawn and holds a quietly secret beauty. She is also the

opposite of what his parents want for him in a wife so in his rebelliousness, Angel is all the more

attracted to Tess.

Human sacrifice: At the end of the novel, Tess lies down on the altar at Stonehenge to fall asleep.

She asks Angel, “Did they sacrifice to God here?” to which Angel responds, “No…I believe to

the sun” (328). This alludes to pagan religions in which sacrifices were made to appease the

gods. Tess was, in a sense, a human sacrifice for the happiness of Angel.

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Significance of the opening scene: As mentioned previously, the opening scene is the beginning

of all of Tess’s troubles. John Durbeyfield comes to know of his family’s ancestry and incites the

disaster of the d’Urbervilles.

Significance of the closing scene: Also mentioned previously, the closing scene is dismally anti-

climactic as Angel and Liza-Lu accept the death of Tess and move on with their lives. Tess’s

death seems to be insignificant to her ancestors, who had inadvertently caused her suffering and

death.

Possible themes:

1. The futility of human will against fate: As is evident throughout the novel, Tess seems to

be the victim of fate’s cruelty, beginning with her father’s meeting with the clergyman.

She is powerless to shape her own fate as she tries to redeem herself but fails, such as in

the scene where her confession to Angel before their marriage is lost under the carpet.

2. Men dominating women: Throughout the novel, Tess suffers at the hands of men. The

beginning of her suffering is brought by Parson Tringham and her father. Later on, she

loses her innocence and is burdened by impurity by Alec d’Urberville. Angel then

proceeds to break her heart by leaving her and not forgiving her. She is again taken

advantage of by Alec d’Urberville and is led to her own death and punishment by her

murder of Alec.

Hardy, Thomas. Tess of the D’Urbervilles. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.