Tess of the d'Urbervilles

> "*Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized.*"
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**Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented** is an 1891 novel by Thomas Hardy. First appearing in a serialized edition in the British Illustrated Newspaper The Graphic in 1891, the novel was eventually released in three volumes, with a whole, single-volume edition released in 1891. The novel received controversy for its challenge against sexual ethics in late Victorian England, though it is now a classic in English literature and Hardy's famous work

A poor young woman discovers she is related to a wealthy, ancient family, but her quest to claim kinship is filled with hardship, tragedy and romance.

## Plot Summary

### Phase the First: The Maiden

An old peddler named John Durbeyfield learns from a parson that he and his family are descended from an ancient noble family called the d'Urbervilles. The Durbeyfields live in Marlott, a farming village in Southwestern England. Despite the family being poor, they hoped their relations with the now-extinct d'Urbervilles would improve their lifestyle.

The Durbeyfield's 16-year-old daughter Tess participates in the annual May Day dance, where she first glances at a young man and his brothers. Later, Mr. Durbeyfield celebrates his discovery by drinking at the local tavern and is too drunk to deliver the beehives the next day. Tess decides to do the delivery, but after the family horse Prince is killed in an accident, she blames herself for the horse's death. Her parents send her to the d'Uberville mansion to claim her kin from the d'Urberville and hopefully make her a fortune.

Tess travels to the homestead of the d'Urbervilles at Trantridge, where she meets her supposed cousin, Alec d'Urberville, and his blind, old mother, Mrs. d'Uberville. Tess didn't know that Alec was never related to the d'Urbervilles and had no relation to her; his father, Simon Stokes, was a wealthy man who changed his surname to d'Uberville following his retirement. She gets a job tending the fowls at the d'Uberville estate to increase her income. She works at the estate for several months, where Alec makes several attempts to seduce her, and she constantly rejects him.

One night, while making her way home from a local town, Alec tricks her into letting him give her a ride back. While looking for a path, Tess falls asleep, and when Alec finds her, he rapes her.

### Phase the Second: Maiden No More

Tess leaves Trantridge and returns home to Marlott, knowing she does not love Alec. In the late summer, she gives birth to Alec's child, conceived from the rape. When the baby's health fails, Tess baptizes him and names him Sorrow since her father refuses to have a parson baptize an illegitimate baby. After Sorrow dies, she buries him in the churchyard’s section for unbaptized infants.

### Phase the Third: The Rally

Two years pass. Tess, now 20 years old, leaves Marlott and seeks work elsewhere. She is hired as a milkmaid at Talbothays Dairy. While there, she befriends three milkmaids, Izz, Retty and Marian, and is happy with her new life. She also meets Angel Clare, whom she had met several years earlier at the May Day dance, and is at the Dairy training to be a farmer.

Tess and Angel spend most of their time together and fall in love. She wasn't initially interested in marriage and was afraid to reveal her past to him after rejecting Angel's request to marry her.

### Phase the Fourth: The Consequence

Angel leaves the Dairy briefly and visits his family back home. His two brothers have become parsons, while Angel considers them narrow-minded, and he tells them about Tess. He returns to the Dairy, where he again proposes to Tess, but she refuses. They continue their courtship until their affections become overbearing for her, and she finally accepts Angel's marriage proposal. She is still too afraid to tell him about her backstory and attempts to write it on a confession note and slides it under his door, but he never reads it.

Angel and Tess are married. On their wedding night, Angel rents out an old house, which once belonged to the d'Urbervilles, and they confess their secrets. Tess thought Angel would be more understanding and tell her past to him.

### Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays

After listening to her story, Angel is shocked. He rejects Tess and thinks about what his family and society would think if they found out. He gives her some money and boards a ship to Brazil, warning her not to follow him until he returns for her while he tries to accept her past.

With her husband gone, Tess loses her money and becomes depressed. Now, out of a job, she was forced to find work at an unpleasant farm, where her Talbothays co-workers Marian and Retty join her. After finding out that Izz tried to travel to Brazil with Angel, Tess blames herself for how he behaved toward her and decided to write to him frequently.

She approached a wandering preacher and was shocked to see that it was Alec d'Urberville.

### Phase the Sixth: The Convert

Alec and Tess are shaken by their encounter. He has been converted to Christianity after being influenced by Mr. Clare. Tess tells him about their illegitimate child, and Alec tells her not to tempt him again. She asks him to leave her alone in peace.

Tess receives word from her sister, Liza-Lu, that her mother is ill. She goes back home to look after her. Mrs. Durbeyfield recovers, but her husband suddenly dies afterwards. The Durbeyfields are evicted from their home and spend the night at the d'Uberville family crypt after they couldn't find rented rooms.

### Phase the Seventh: The Fulfillment

Angel falls ill in Brazil and decides to return home to England and forgive his wife. He finds Mrs. Durbeyfield, who tells him that Tess is staying in the village of Sandbourne. He sees Tess staying at a fancy boarding house, where she tells him that he had arrived too late to forgive her and wants to stay with Alec.

Angel leaves in shock, and after retreating to her room, Tess argues with Alec and kills him by stabbing him. She flees the house to find her husband while the landlady discovers Alec's body and alerts the authorities. Tess reunites with Angel and confesses her crime, saying she had done it to accept his forgiveness. He is unbelieved about her killing Alec but agrees to help her escape the country.

The two hide in an empty house for a few days and travel across the country. They arrive at Stonehenge, where Tess asks Angel to marry Liza-Lu if she dies. The couple falls asleep but is awakened by a search party the next day. Tess is arrested and sent to jail.

Angel and Liza-Lu stand outside the prison where Tess is kept. A black flag is raised over the building, signalling her execution.

## Characters

Tess Durbeyfield- The main protagonist. She is a beautiful young woman who lived as a poor peasant with her family in the village of Marlott. She is obedient and responsible and would do anything to protect her family. After discovering she is a member of the d'Uberville family, her life spirals out of control, resulting in her being pregnant with an illegitimate child and keeping her past a secret. She is also an alluring victim of the two men who made her vulnerable and miserable.

Angel Clare- The son of a parson and Tess' love interest. His father and brothers are respected clergymen, but he is part of the farming industry rather than joining the ministry since he is not interested in religion. He meets and falls in love with Tess while spending time at the Talthobays Dairy, where she worked, but chooses to temporarily leave her after discovering her backstory.

Alec d'Uberville- The main antagonist. A rich and arrogant young man, he takes an intense infatuation with Tess after he arrives at his family estate and constantly seduces her, but he fails to make her love him and is responsible for impregnating her. Alec is not a d'Uberville; his merchant father allegedly took the name after retiring and building the estate.

Joan Durbeyfield**-** Tess' mother. She is hardworking and caring towards her children, especially her eldest, Tess. She's hopeful for improvements in Tess' life and suitable matches for her, such as sending her off to the d'Uberville estate to claim her kin. While she is hurt by Tess' unfortunate moments, such as having an illegitimate child and her failed marriage, Joan still forgives her daughter.

John Durbeyfield**-** Tess' father. He is a lazy, drunk farmer who hates doing his job. When he finds out he is a descendant of the d'Urbervilles, he becomes overjoyed and hopes to make a profit from the connection. He hardly provides for his family, such as Tess' issues with her misfortunes.

Mrs. d’Urberville - Alec’s mother. She is a blind, old woman whose late husband became wealthy through a trade and lived in a large estate that once belonged to the d’Urbervilles. She is interested mainly in the fowls and hires Tess to look after them for her, who is more fond of them than her son or anyone in her household.

Marian, Izz Huett, and Retty Priddle- The milkmaids at Talbothays Dairy who become Tess’ close friends during her employment there. They all have a crush on Angel, and despite them being devastated when he chooses Tess over them, they still keep their loyalty to her during her hard times.

Reverend Clare- A pastor and Angel’s father. His main goal is to convert the residents to Christianity, and Alec becomes one of his converts. His two other sons follow in his footsteps and become parsons, except for Angel, as he and his father disagree on religious philosophy.

Mrs. Clare- Angel’s mother. Like her husband, she is also concerned about supporting social conventions. At the same time, she wants her son Angel to be married to a woman of a well-off social status and initially looks down on Tess as an impoverished farmer girl.

Eliza “Liza-Lu” Durbeyfield- Tess’ younger sister. She helps her sister look after her baby and ends up with Angel after her sister dies.

Abraham, Hope & Modesty Durbeyfield- Tess’ younger siblings. Her brother, Abraham, travelled with her to deliver the beehives and was with her when their horse was killed in a freak accident,

Sorrow- Tess’ newborn son conceived after being raped by Alec. He doesn’t live very long after birth, and his mother baptizes him before he dies.

Cuthbert Clare- One of Angel’s brothers. He is a scholar and dean at Cambridge University.

Felix Cuthbert- One of Angel’s brothers, who is a curate.

Mercy Chant- The daughter of a friend of Reverend Clare. She was initially arranged to marry Angel but ends up with Cuthbert instead.

Richard Crick- The dairyman and owner of Talbothays. He is a kind, cheerful man who treats Tess well and is known to tell humorous stories.

Farmer Groby- A man who identifies Tess’ ill-fated reputation. He later hires her at Flintcomb-Ash, but he treats her poorly.

Car Darch- One of Alec’s favourite women before he chooses Tess. Nicknamed the Queen of Spades, she is a tough woman who fights Tess after she laughs at her when she spills treacle on her dress. Later, Tess is reunited with Car when they work at Flintcomb-Ash.

Nancy Darch- Car’s sister, nicknamed the Queen of Diamonds. She accompanies her sister as they work together at Flintcomb-Ash.

Jonathan Kail- An employee at Talbothays. He is responsible for telling Tess and Angel about their work during their honeymoon.

Mrs. Brooks- The owner of The Herons, a boarding house in Sandbourne where Tess and Alec stayed. She was the one who found Alec’s body and alerted the authorities.

Parson Tringham- A clergyman in Marlott who informs Mr. Durbeyfield of their relations to the d’ Urbervilles.

## Writing History/Reception

Hardy first began writing Tess of the d’Urbervilles in 1888-89. Growing up in rural England, the farming landscape he had been surrounded by in his early years influenced the fictional county of Wessex he would include in his works. At the time of writing the novel, Hardy had already become one of England’s leading writers, having gained success from his previous works such as *Far From the Madding Crowd* and numerous short stories. Having difficulty finding a publisher to submit it into a full-length number, Hardy instead used the manuscript and had it published serially, meaning that one chapter would be published at a time, depending on the reception it received. If all goes well, it will be combined into a novel. Hardy had a contract with W.F. Tillotson and Son to deliver his story into four instalments between 1887 and 1889. But after some difficult negotiations, Hardy parted ways with Tillotson and Son. He then had the offer to publish the serial chapters in the Graphic London Illustrated Weekly Newspaper. The novel eventually appeared serially on July 4th, 1891, in England and on July 18th in the American newspaper Harper’s Bazaar.

After the serials had a successful reception, Tess of the d’Urbervilles was published in three volumes. In 1892, it was published in a single volume and sold over 20,000 copies in over a year. Despite its success, the novel mainly received mixed reviews, with the controversy focused on the challenging sexual morals of late Victorian England. Some had criticized the novel’s protagonist, Tess Durbeyfield, as an innocent, pure woman whose sexual and scandalous desires make her unfit for society, such as when she was impregnated after being raped, and her newly married husband is appalled by her past. As a result, the original form was censored, and many magazines banned it from being published in their works. Despite the controversy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles has been considered Hardy’s greatest work and a classic in English literature.

## Themes

### Social Class

Tess grew up as a farmer girl, as her family was of low social status, and they seemed to be forever destined to live a life as impoverished peasants in rural England. At the beginning of the book, Mr. Durbeyfield is told by a passing pastor that his family bloodline is passed down by the noble d’Urbervilles, whose family history dates back centuries, to the point when one of the ancestors fought alongside William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Upon hearing this news, Mr. Durbeyfield feels like he and his family are liberated from poverty and maybe finally be among the more affluent social class, which makes his mind obsessive. During the May Day dance, most women wanted to dance with wealthier gentlemen because they all wanted to be part of the upper social structure by dancing with their wealthy counterparts. In the Victorian era, money mattered more than lineage, and the Durbeyfields hoped that if they sent Tess to the d’Urbervilles to claim her kin, she could receive a fortune that would make her worthy of being a gentleman’s wife. If her family were more self-aware about the d’Urbervilles, their hopes of being well-off would be quickly dashed when their supposed relative, Simon d’Uberville, was never descended from the ancient noble family. He was only wealthy enough to legally change his surname, possibly to trick others into believing he and his wife and son Alec are the descendants of the now-extinct family.

When Tess meets Alec, she immediately knows he is not the romantic man for him as he attempts to seduce her. Eventually, he rapes her and gets her impregnated, which is considered a scandalous controversy in Victorian England for young women to be pregnant out of wedlock. As a result, Tess finds herself a social outcast in society, and her reputation would likely not land her into nobility by luck or marriage. When she tells Angel the truth about her past, he is so outraged by what he has heard that he rejects her and laments how society would react if they found out. On the other hand, Angel does not wish to be of the upper social class. His parents had expected him to receive an education and become a parsonage like his two brothers, but Angel prefers to work in the agricultural business and marry a milkmaid. If he were well-off, it would have been impossible for him to marry Tess, as their social statuses stand out. No matter how hard Tess tries to break herself from her impoverished social status, her ambitions and wrong choices cost her life.

### Women

women are seen as sensitive, weak people who are pressured by the effects of their society and have no right to be valued like men. They are also seen as pure symbols of fertility and innocence, as they cannot be more independent and make their own decisions. At the May Day dance, all the girls were dressed in white while participating in an activity showing their symbolism of purity and nature.

Since women are known not to be treated like equals, several men unfairly treat Tess herself, whom she crosses paths with. At Flintcomb-Ash, Farmer Groby makes her life miserable by doing her work long, difficult working hours; to add insult to injury, he had also identified her ill-fated reputation. Most notable, however, is Alec d’Urberville, whom Tess becomes a victim of his sexual desires and is responsible for making her an outcast from the social class. While Angel loves and adores her, he immediately abandons her after he learns about her past, and he warns her not to follow him until he can accept her past. In the beginning, Tess is different from the other women as she is a unique individual who makes herself successful as a character who wants to search for her identity.

### Injustice

Injustice is a topic in *Tess of the d’Urbervilles* that often takes a heavy toll on those suffering. Tess and her family are most harshly hit by injustice, as they face an unfair form of punishment for some actions they have either done or have happened to them. For example, Tess punishes herself even though she didn’t mean to kill her horse, Prince. She was also penalized for being raped by Alec, mainly because she couldn’t stand up for herself and be more protective of Alec’s sexual harassment; it is also because society punishes her for her scandal of having a child out of wedlock.

Tess lives in a male-dominated society, where men are powerful enough to dominate themselves over women because they are more equal easily. Aside from Alec’s mistreatment of Tess, Angel also takes advantage of her but, unlike Alec, doesn’t do it physically but with thought. He sees her as a goddess of nature and often fantasizes about her being the perfect country woman but doesn’t explore to know about her true identity. After she finally opens up about her scandalous secret, he immediately changes and uses injustice on her by declaring that society will never accept her if her secrets are exposed. This would prompt Tess to protest how she is unjustly treated since she has done nothing wrong to be punished so wrongly, while those who punish her or take advantage of her walk free unpunished.

### Fate

Whenever anyone in the story does a specific action, they unknowingly decide what fate has in store for them, with the one most affected being Tess. From the moment her father discovered their supposed ancestry to the d’Urbervilles, her troubles were only beginning; Tess could not escape from a series of predicaments. After her father gets too drunk to deliver the beehives, Tess is unknowingly fated to do much of the dirty work herself. After Prince is accidentally killed, the narrator predicts troubling times will soon occur for Tess.

At other times, Tess wished to pursue other goals but would be out of reach from her upcoming fates. For example, she wanted to be a schoolteacher, but it was something fate wouldn’t allow her to choose. Her family’s poverty and reckless choices from, her father often made fateful choices in her future. No matter what she does to make her life worth striving for and worthy, she still cannot escape the consequences awaiting her. The narrator points out that Tess being raped by Alec is the result of fate passed down to her by her ancestors, as they seem to spin a web of cruel, ruthless fates to peasant girls like her. Sometimes, other characters are affected by fate, most notably when her friends become heartbroken after she marries Angel, Retty attempts suicide, and Mariam becomes an alcoholic. Tess reacts to this by thinking they are innocent women who deserve better from fate, but those are the only decisions they can make. The future becomes crueller towards the end of the book, with John Durbeyfield’s death leaving Tess to help provide for her struggling family. The final act comes when she decides to stay with Alec, but fate results in her finally killing him and being executed for her crime and possibly her lack of morality.

## Symbols

### Prince

The Durbeyfield family horse, who was accidentally killed, causes Tess to express her guilt by working for the d’Urbervilles. Prince symbolizes the d’Uberville’s noble name but is cursed to a life of physical labour. The horse’s death also symbolizes Tess’s sacrifices, such as bringing devastation to her family and even sacrificing her honour.

### The d’Urberville Family Vault

The crypt of the d’Urberville relatives, where Tess and her family spend the night after they were evicted. The vault symbolizes the honour of life and the ending of life. It seems as if Tess was meant to have her mind set on the ancient noble family she never was related to by blood. When she and Alec met by the crypt, it felt like he was presenting her name and death, where Tess reads her name on the crypt and senses that death will soon come. When she is executed at the end of the book, her ancestors are described as sleeping in their crypts, as if they don’t care about the fate of one of their own, even if Tess joins her ancestors after death.

### Brazil

A country in South America where Angel travels to pursue his farming path after he leaves Tess. Brazil symbolizes Angel’s fantasy of how he sees the world, as it is a mysterious but exotic place that many people in the 19th century had been fascinated about. Angel imagines it will be the perfect place to set up a farm and live off his agricultural lifestyle. But when he falls ill, his farming expectations fail, leaving him no choice but to return home.

## Foreshadowing

* Tess’s clothes become stained with blood after Prince’s accidental death. Foreshadows her killing Alec and his bloodstain leaking from the floor and onto the ceiling, resulting in her capture and death.
* Tess slaughters pheasants to end their suffering. Foreshadows the end of the story, where execution puts her out of her miserable existence.

## Adaptations

* A film adaptation, titled *Tess*, was released in 1979. Directed by Roman Polanski, it features Nastassja Kinski as Tess Durbeyfield, Peter Firth as Angel Clare, Leigh Lawson as Alec d’Urberville, John Collin as John Durbeyfield, and Rosemary Martin as Mrs. Durbeyfield. The film was received to critical acclaim and nominated for six Oscars.
* A TV miniseries aired on ITV in 1998. Directed by Ian Sharp, it features Justine Waddell as Tess Durbeyfield, Oliver Milburn as Angel Clare, Jason Flemyng as Alec d’Urberville, John McEnery as Jack Durbeyfield, and Lesley Dunlop as Joan Durbeyfield.
* A TV miniseries aired on BBC One in 2008. Directed by David Blair, it features Gemma Arteton as Tess Durbeyfield, Eddie Redmayne as Angel Clare, Hand Matheson as Alec d’Urberville, Ian Puleston-Davies as John Durbeyfield and Ruth Jones as Joan Durbeyfield.

## References

1. ↑ The Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, which spanned from 1837 to 1901.
2. ↑ https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/tess-of-the-durbervilles/about-tess-of-the-durbervilles
3. ↑ https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tess/symbols/