Tess of the D’urbervilles

In this classic novel “Tess of the D’urbervilles” The story of a peasant woman unfolds into a series of terrific events that can only best be described as fantastic. What really caught my attention in this story, was the fact that it was based on a perfectly reasonable happenings, especially to the date that the novel was written. Lots of morals in the book also apply to present day thinking and reasoning. It seems that basic principals have not changed all that much over the last hundred years. The fact that none of this would respectfully come to light if the past of the family “Derbeyfield” had not been placed out before “Sir John”.

The novels entire plot is based around the fact that this peasant family is of a noble line, and is so old in fact, it is on its way to starting a new family entirely. If not for the unveiling of this past name, then Tess would have never visited the so-called D’urberville. If this had never happened, she would have never been taken advantage of, plagued with the memory of it because she grew heavy with child, and certainly would not have let Trantridge. Save out this one event from the story, and Tess’ extraordinary life would have been reduced to nothing more than the ordinary journey of a country girl, through ordinary events, that would not have even kept a reader occupied.

After Tess’ child dies, she moves along in life, out of Trantridge, her decision to never marry or be involved in anything of the sort is promptly put to the test. Although she isn’t directly confronted for sometime, she, like all the other dairy workers at Talbothay’s Dairy were destined to fall in love with one man. It seems that Tess’ simple grace and manor interests this man in Tess over all the other Maids. It is not until many denials, many special moments, and many a talking to that Tess finally admits her love openly, and agrees to marry Angel Clare (who happens to be the man from the Dance some year before) After all of this occurs, the girls who worked around Tess and Angel all go through significant changes. Izz narrowly escapes running off to Brazil with Angel, after she slips, and tells him how much she (Tess) loved him. Angel then gets an attack of conscience. Mairan turns to drinking and of course, there is the untimely suicide of Retty.

All of these events cumulate in Tess’ mind, and the fact, that she hid her past life until she was already married, a mistake which she tried to correct with a letter, but the venture failed when the letter became hidden under a rug. What a horrible thing to happen, perhaps even if Tess had confessed Angel she tried to tell him though letter, the entire novel would have been changed. Angel finds contempt with Tess, despite her rejoicing that their sins were the same. That night, on their honeymoon, all was in a fluster. A part of the novel that stood out in my mind, is when Angel walks with Tess to where the old monastery is, and walks the narrow footbridge, almost as if balancing between life and death. Tess just left herself completely in Angel’s hands. She never tells him of the even for sometime to pass. Angel’s decision to leave Tess for Brazil and to call her when needed, when forgiveness feels justified in him, when her dues are paid.

His decision, Tess respects, but is left somewhat in a disillusion, snapping her to the harsh reality that is outside of her loving fantasy dream. Tess’ stubbornness to go to Angels Father for needs, leads her to spending the money he left her on her family and then being left with not much left. She is then forced, well not forced, but somehow pushed, by events, that cause her to wind up at a low class farm, by the name of Flintcomb-Ash. Here the wages are poor, and she is worked like a Dog, letting pride get in her way. Finally, she goes to visit the family of