论苔丝之死
Abstract
TessofD’Uberville,isafamousworkofThomasHardy.ThisworkdescribesthetragedyofTess.Tess’tragedycoagulateswithmuchmoredifferentcolorofthesocietyandperson.Itdestroysthisdaughterwhowasborninnature,andownedman’ssimplenaturalcharacter.Thenovel’ssubtitlecallsTess“apurewoman”,afterTessloseschastity,shekillstheman,butthefemaleofthisearthisinnocent.Shehasperseveringvitality,contendingwithnotonlydestinybypossessingsingly,butsociety,thefamilies,individualsetc.Shehasanotherheavyfactortomakethispureandgreatfemaleheadfordestructioneventually.Inherlife,therearethreemainpersonswhodirectlyaffecther.ThefirstoneisAlec,whorapesherandbecomesthedirectmurder.HisappearancechangedTess’all.ThesecondoneisAngle,whoistheaccessoryandalsothebestloverofTess.ThethirdoneisTessherself.Besides,thesocietyandthefamilyaffectTess’wholelifelargely.Thus,inthispaper,theauthormakessomedetaileddiscussionandanalysisofthesefactors.
KeyWords：Chastity;destiny;murder;
摘 要
德伯家的苔丝是汤马思哈代的著作之一。这部作品描写了具有大自然纯朴本性的苔丝的悲剧一生。苔丝的悲剧凝聚着社会和个人多重色彩，各种复杂的因素交织成一种强大的压力，摧毁了这位生于自然，具有大地般朴实本性的女儿。小说的副标题称苔丝是“一个纯洁的女人”，在作家的眼中，她虽失身又杀人，但这位大地之女是无辜的。她有着顽强的生命力，以独有的方式和命运抗争，但社会、家庭、个人等多重因素最终使这位纯真的大自然之女慢慢走向毁灭。在这些原因中，有三个很重要的人物直接影响到苔丝的整个人生。第一个就是亚雷，他奸污并成为了谋杀她的直接凶手。他的出现改变了苔丝的一生。第二个就是安吉儿。他是帮凶，同时也是苔丝最爱的人。第三个人就是苔丝自己。除此，社会以及家庭等因素也在很大程度上影响了苔丝。因此，作者将在本文当中对以上因素做出探讨与分析。
关键词
贞洁；命运;谋杀.
Introduction
Noprofoundexperience,nogoodwork,asthesayinggoesforhundredsofyears.InthenovelofTessofD’Urberuilles,theauthorintroducedapuregirlinhisnovel,whobecomesamurder.AndwhatreduceTesstobeamurder?IsitonlybecausetherapeofAlec?Andwhatwasthereallove?WasthelovebetweenTessand?Ifthegirlcouldbemoreconfident,ormorecourageous,couldtheresultbechanged?
Inthe“firstphase”ofthenovel,AlecD’UrbervilletakestheadvantageoftheinnocenceofTess.Later,inthethirdpart,shethenfelldeeplyinlovewithAngleClare,anaffluentagriculturist.TesssoonalienatesbyrevealingherearlierencounterwithD’Urberville.TessofD’UrbervillesdemonstratesagreatdealaboutthethemesofthenovelaswellasthecharacterofTess.ThebookwassupposestorevealtheversatilityofTess’character.However,italsorevealedagooddealthathelpsusunderstandHardy’scentralthemeofthebook.ItwasbecausetheversatilityofTessherselfthatmakesherunique.However,shewasawomanofpurityandfortitude.
MostofscholarsandreadersattributeTess’deathtoAleconly.ButtheauthorofthispaperthinksthatAngle,Tess,andthesocietyarealsothefactors,besidesAlec.
I.TheFamousWork,TessofD’Urberville,andItsGreatWriter
A.TheSettingoftheNovel
The19thcenturyisaprosperousperiodinEnglishliterature.Thereisamostimpotentwriter,wecan’tforget,andHeisThomasHardy.Heisjusttheauthorofmysubject.TessofD’UrbervillesisgenerallyregardedasHardy’sfinestnovel.Thisisabrillianttaleoflove,betrayal,seduction,duty,sinandrule.Atlast,thisisatragedy.
Intragedy,thereader,oftensympathizesandempathizeswiththeprotagonistwhoattains“wisdomthroughsuffering.”Tess,whoisasovirtuousgirl,whydidHardygiveTess,avirtuousgirl,asorrowfuldestiny?Here,weshouldturnoureyestotheauthor—ThomasHardy.Hisworkreflectedthedeepchangesofsocialeconomy,moralandcustom,afterthecapitalisminvadedintotheEnglandcountry.Notonly,hewrotethepeople’stragedy,especiallywomen’stragedy,andrevealsthefalseofcapitalism.
TessofD’Urbervillespublishedin1891,whichisthemostremarkableworkofHardy.Ithasdisplayedonebyashortlifetimeofheroine,Tess,andpressingtragedyexperience,theworldtragedy.Facingabourgeoisieonthisaccount,superstructuressuchasmoralityandreligionhasinitiatedopenonechallenge.
TessofD’Urbervillesisanextraordinarilybeautifulbook,aswellasanextraordinarymovingone.Itisatragictaleofabeautifulandinnocentpeasantgrillthatisthevictim,notonlyofherVictorianenvironment,butalsoofpeople,includingheshiftlessparents,hercruelseducer,AlecD’Ubervillandmorallyrigidhusband,Clare,allofthemthatwecan’tomit.
B.TheStoryofTessofD’Urberville
ThisnovelcausedaheckofafusswhenThomasHardyfirstpublishedit.Originallytitled"APureWoman",thenovelisconsideredasoutrageousforawomansuchasTesstobeseenaspureinHardy’seyes.
TessDurbeyfieldisthepeasantdaughterofhagglerJohn.Johngoestogetdrunkincelebrationandendsupsohammeredthathe’stooilltotakesomestuffwhichhehastosellinthehorseandcart.HegetsTessandherlittlebrothertodoitinstead.Tessfallsasleepandthehorseendsupinanaccidentandiskilled.Asaresult,theoverlysensitiveTessfeelsguilty,notrealizingitisreallyJohn’sfault.
MeanwhilehermotherJoanhaslearnedthataLadyD’Urbervillelivesinaneighboringvillage.ShewantstosendTesstoclaimkinandlearningthatthereisamasterD’Urberville,hasnotionsthatTess,beingabeautifulgirl,willmarryhim.Tessreallydoesn’twanttogobutdoesoutofguiltofthedeathofthehorse.Alec,theyoungD’Urberville,anastysleazygitwhoneedstobecastratedandlustsafterTess.ShegoeshomeafterAlectriestobuyheroff.
Tess’sbabybecomesill,shechristensthebabySorrowinatouchingceremonywithhersiblings,butthechilddies.Notlongafter,TessgetsworkatTalbothays,alargedairyfarmagoodwayawayfromherhometown,andsheheadsoffthere.ThismarksahappyspellinTess’slife.ShemeetsAngleClarewhohadbeenatthespringdance.HisfatherisaparsonbutAngledoesn’twanttobeinvolvedinthechurchandislearningthewaysoffarminginstead.HefallsforTess,whoisdistraughtafterdecidingnottogetmarried.Anglepersiststessfallinloveandagreetomarry.Tess,feelingunburdened,confessesfreaksoutandleavesTess,althoughbylawtheyarestillmarried,andtravelstoBrazil.
Tessinthemeantimeendsupworkingwithsomeofherolddairymaidfriendsforahorriblefarmer.SherunsintoAlecwhoaccusesheroftemptinghimandguilttripsTessintolivingwithhim,becauseherfamilyisonthevergeofhomelessnessandneedthemoney.Havinggivenuponandrealizinghishypocrisy,sheagrees.AnglecomeshomefromBrazilhavingrealizedtheerrorofhiswaysandtracksTess.Onfindingher,helearnsthatshethinksit’stoolateforthem.HetakesoffandTessgetsintoafightwithAlec,whichendsinherstabbinghim.Sherunsafter,andtheyspendtimetogetherinanoldmansion.Afterwanderingthecountrysideforawhile,TessfindstheyareatStonehenge,andfeelsathome,havingbeendescribedasaheatheninherhomevillage.ShetellsthatshouldshebecaughtshewantshimtomarryhersisterLiza-Lu.Thepolicecatchuptoher,andshortlyafterTessishanged.
TessoftheD’Urbervillesisabeautifullyconstructedstory,whichmakesuseofthehandoffate.ItisthesweetandnaturalcharacterofTessthatgivesthebookitsexceptionality.Thebeautifullyinnocentchildneverseemstogrowintoawoman;sheretainsadearinnocenceandvulnerability,whichshehadfromtheoutset.Herpurityofmoralsandspiritmakehertheperfectvictimforsuchasmall-mindedsociety,andIempathizedwithherinawayIhavedonewithfewcharactersinnovels.Itisdifficultnottofallinlovewithherquietcourage,althoughitiseasytofeelexasperatedwithherintensepassivity.Hertrue,deeploveforisanotherthing,whichmakesherendearing.AsTessnoteswhenasksifheloveshermorethanTessdid,no-onecouldbecauseshewouldlaydownherlifefor.
Thethree-dimensionalAngleisanotherattractivecharacter.Initiallyyouwanttolikehimandbythelaterchaptersyoubegintoempathieswithhimdespitehisratherrashandinconsideratetreatmentofhiswife.Itisclearthathelovesher,butit’salsofairtosaythathedoesn’tfeeltheintenselovethatTessdoes,giventhathewassowillingtotreathercruellyandwithsuchnarrow-mindedhypocrisy.
Ⅱ.TheFactorsoftheTess’Death
A.DirectMurder
Whenwereadthebookatthefirsttime,itiseasytofindthemurderofTess.EverythingcanbeputontheAlec’shead.Ifhedidn’trapeTess,shecan’tbecomesopity.ItisnotdifficulttoseethatAlecisaplayboy.Atthefirstappearanceinthescenes,hisdissolutemadeTessnotpleased.Butheisaduckinfact,heowngoodmanner,whichmadeTess’parentmisunderstand.Inchapter3,ayoungmanappearedinthegarden.Helookedabouttwenty-four,tallanddark,withfullredlipsandablackmoustachecurledattheends.“Well,mybeauty,whatcanIdoforyou?”hesaid,lookinginterestedlyather.Asabourgeoisiegildedyouth,Alecistheviciousincarnationofthisnovel.ItisformeddistinctcontrastexactlywithTess,whosymbolizesthekindheartedandpurify.ButAlecputitintohermouth.Heputrosesintoherhairandfilledherbasketwithstrawberriesandflowers.Hegaveherfoodtoeat,andwatchedher,whileshequietlysmokedacigarette.Shelookedmoreadultandwomanlythanshereallywas.Aleccouldnottakehiseyesoffher.Shedidnotknowasshesmiledinnocentlyattheflowersthatbehindthecigarettesmokewerethecauseoffuturesorrowinherlife.Atthelast,heactuallywrappedthecoatofreligion,andbefurtherintensifiedcommitprimes.Atthehardy’stime,thereweresomanypeopleusingreligiontocheatotherpeople,itisthehypocritical.Furthermore,itishighlyentertainingevenwhileitdoesnotlayeverythingoutinaneasy-to-followstory,andeventheclimaxmovessoquicklythatitiseasytoleavethetheaterandnotknowexactlywhathappened.Inchapter19,shesaid,“it’stoolate!Becauseyoupersuadedme,youwithyourfinewords!Asyoudidwhenyouseducedme!Youtoldmehewouldnevercomeback!Buthedid!Andyouhelpedmyfamily—that’showyoupersuadedmesocleverly.ButwhenIbelievedyouandcametolivewithyou,hecameback!AndnowIhavelosthimasecondtime,andthistimeforever!Hewillhatemenow!”sheturnedhertear-stainedfaceandMrs.Brookscouldseehowshewassuffering.Andheisdying;helooksasifhe’sdying!Itwillbemyfaultifhedies!Youhavedestroyedmylifeandhis!Ican’tbearit,Ican’t!Themanspokesharply,andafterthattherewassilence.Justthenshenoticedamarkonceiling.Itseemedtobespreading.Itwasred,andwhenshestoodonthetableandtouchedit,itlookedlikeblood.Sheranuptolistenatthebedroomdooragain.Thedeadsilencewasbrokenonlybyaregulardrip,drip,drip.Sheranwildlyputintothestreetandbeggedamansheknewtocomebackwithher.Togethertheyhurriedupstairsandpushedopenthebedroomdoor.Thebreakfastlayuntouchedonthetable,butthelargeknifewasmissing.TheyfounditinAlecd’Urberville’sheart.Helaidonthebed,pale,fixed,dead,stillbleeding.SoonthenewsspreadalloverSandbournethatMrs.Brooks’guesthadbeenkilledbyhisyoungwife.Yet,italsosuggests,ingoodsurrealistfashion,that“knowing”isnoteverything,that“seeing”and“believing”aregoodoptions.Fromtheseexamples,howcanwefindthebenefitofthereligion?ItisseemsthatmanypeoplebelievetheBuddhismlikemeinChina.Iteasymadeusdoubtstheforeignreligion.Withthisdoubt,Iwenttolibrary.ThereisabooknamedTHEPROPHET,whichiswrittenbyCaly,whoisLebanese.Thetitlepageis“thefirstphilosophyinpoem”.Thereisaunitinthisbook,ONRELIGION.Anoldpriestsaid,speaktousofreligion.Andhesaid:HaveIspokenthisdayofaughtelse?Isnotreligionalldeedsandallreflection?Andthatwhichisneitherdeednorreflection,butawonderandasurpriseeverspringinthesoul,evenwhilethehandshewthestoneortendtheloom?Whocanseparatehisfaithfromhisaction,orhisbelieffromhisoccupations?Whocanspreadhishoursbeforehim,saying,“ThisforGodandthisformyself:Thisformysoul,andthisotherformybody?”Allyourhoursarewingsthatbeatthrushspacefromselftoself.Hewearshismoralitybutashisbestgarmentwasbetternaked.Thewindandthesunwilltearnoholesinhisskin.Andhewhodefineshisconductbyethicsimprisonshissongbirdinacage.Thefreestsongcomesnotthroughbarsandwires.Andhetowhomworshippingisawindow,toopenbutalsotoshut,hasnotyetvisitedthehouseofthehouseofhissoulwhosewindowsareopenfromdawntodawn.Yourdailylifeisyourtempleandyourreligion.Wheneveryouenterintoittakewithyouyourall.Taketheploughandtheforgeandthemalletandthelute.Thethingsyouhavefashionedinnecessityorfordelight.Forinreverieyoucannotriseaboveyourachievementsnorfaillowerthanyourfailures.Andtakewithyouallmen:Forinadorationyoucannotflyhigherthantheirhopesnorhumbleyourselflowerthantheirdespair.AndifyouwouldknowGodbenotthereforeasolverofriddles.Ratherlookaboutyouandyoushallseehimplayingwithyourchidden.Andlookintospace,youshallseehimwalkinginthecloud,outstandinghisarmsinthelightninganddescendinginrain.Youshallseehimsmilinginflowers,therisingandwavinghishandsintrees.Inthispoem,Ifindthissentence,“hewhowearshismoralitybutashisbestgarmentwerebetternaked.”
B.Accessory
AfterscanningthecauseofAlec,peopleshouldputtheireyestootherones.ItisAngle’sturn.ManypeoplewillthinkthatAngleisalsoacasualty.Heisanothertragicpersonageimageinthisbook.Heisfromamiddleclassfamily.Hehashisideaandambition.NeitherAngleClarenorhisfamilyhasoriginallychosenfarmingasaprofessionforhim.Whenhewasaboy,peopleadmiredhisgreatqualities.Nowheisaman,noparticularpurposeinlife.HeisunwillingtothefieldservesfortheGodagainsthimself’swill.Andhehopestodosomethingforthepeople.AngleexplainsthatinfacthedoesnotinfactwishtoentertheChurchlikehisbrothers,becausetheChurch’sviewsaretoostrictanddonotallowfreethinking.Itmakeshimtobetreacheryofhisfamilyandreligion.Hisopenmindmadehimtobelovedwithacountrygirl,whichisnotfitforherfamily.istheangleinTess’heart.HislovetoTessownsthepurityoffirstlove,fervorandimpressments.HeisdeeplydumpagedbyTess’puerility.Anglethinks“Whatafreshandpuredaughterofnaturethatdairymaidis!”Heseemstoremembersomethingabouther,whichbringshimbackintohappytimeinthepast,beforehisdecisionmadehislifeindilemma.ThismemorymakeshimpaymoreattentiontoTessthantheotherdairymaids.Inhiseyes,Tessistheembodimentofperfect.HeisconsciousnesswithrespectattitudeandsolemnmarriagetogetcontactwithTess.AfterrefusedbyTess,heinsiststowait.Hisdeterminationisdecisive.ClareisnotdepressedbyTess’refusal.AndhethinksthatTesswouldfinallyaccepthim.Butinthenightofthemarriage,afterknownthepastofTess,Angle,themanalwaysopenmind,wasfailedintothedeeplypain.Hewasinafflictedfromspirit.Hewouldbelievewhatshesaidisbogus.TimesandtimesheasksTesstodenythetruth.Andhedidn’tgiveherchancetoexplainthatTesswasthecasualty.Whenhesuedthesewereneverchanged,hechoosesescape,andhecan’tunderstandher.AfterTesstoldherstory,everythingischanged.Clarestirredthefire.Itwasunnecessary,buthefelthehadtodosomething.Hehadnotreallytakeninthewholestoryinitsfullhorror;hisfacewaslikeanoldman’s.Hemadeuncertainmovements,becauseeverythinginhisheadwasvagueanduncertain.Hecouldnotmakehimselfthinkclearly.“Tess!CanIbelievethis?Areyoumadperhaps?Mywife,myTess—youaren’tmad,areyou?”Hewastalkingbutcouldnotthinkatthesametime.Hisbrainseemedtohavestoppedworking.Heturnedawayfromher.Tessfollowedhimandstoodtherestaringathimwithdryeyes.Thenshewentdownonherkneesbesidehim.Inthechapter14,itisclear.Hewasrelievedtoseehersleepingdeeply.Andyethefelthealonehadthewholeworryofwhatactiontotake,andtheresponsibilityforherlifeaswellashis.Heturnedawayfromherdoor,andthenturnedbackagain,pulledbuthislovefoeher.ButhiseyewascaughtbyapaintingonthewallofoneofTess’ancestors,aproudfiercewoman,wholookedasifshehatedandwantedtodeceiveallmen.HethoughtsheandTesslookedalike.Thatwasenoughtostophim,andhewentdownstairstohislonelybed.Helookedcalmandcold,dullofself-control.Hisfaceshowedhehadfoughtagainstpassionandwon,butdidnotlikebeingthewinner.HestillfounditdifficulttoacceptthatTess,thepurevillagemaiden,wasnotwhatsheseemed.Howunexpectedlifecouldbe!Heputoutthecandle.Thenightcamein,unconcernedanduninterested,thenightwhichhadswalloweduphishappiness.ItseemslikeasentenceofExcellenceIsNeverAnAccident.Therighttobeheardisconstitutionallyguaranteed.Therighttobelistenedtomustbeearned.ButTessdidn’trealizewhatshesaidisunforgiving.Inthechapter15,hewasescaped.Nextmorningheseemedtoremembernothingofthenight’sexperiences,andTessdidnotrefertohissleepwalking.Theyfinishedpackingandleftthefarmhouse,wheretheyhadhopedtobesohappy.Afterdrivingsomedistancestoppedthecarriagetogetdownandcontinueonfoot.Tesswasgoingfurtheroninthecarriage.Hespokeseriouslytoherastheyseparated.Hesaid,Iamnotangrywithyou,butIcannotbeartolivewithyouatthemoment.Iwilltrytoacceptit.ButuntilIcometoyou,youshouldnottrytocometome.ThepunishmentseemedaheavyonetoTess.Hadshereallydeservedthis?SomeonesaidthatAngle’sideaisthetraditionallyideaofbourgeois.ButIthinkthissayingisdogmatically.Onthisfair,heisalsothecasualty.HislovetoTessissopurity,butthisentirethingwastiredbythecruelfact.TheironyandhypocrisyofAngle’sreactionareindicatedbythetitleofthissection.Itisaclassicstatementofsociety’sdoublestandard,whichjudgesmen’ssexualbehaviorlenientlyandpunisheswomenforthesamebehavior.WhyisAngleunabletoforgiveherwhenshejustbestowedthegiftofforgivenessonhim?Ishersexualexperiencethecauseorhischaracterandmisconceptions?Doesherconfessionnecessitatetheirseparation,ordotheypartbecauseofparticulartraitseachhas?CouldTesshaveavertedthepartingbybehavingdifferentlyandtherebychangedherdestiny?Orisherdestinyunchangeable?Isshevictim,self-victimizer,orboth?Tess’confessiondestroysAngle’sideathatTessisavirginal,simplechildofthesoil.Asaresult,hecannotacceptthefact.Preferringhisfancifullove,heis“motheringhisaffectionforher”.Atthesametimethatheisdisappointedinhisvisionofherinnocenceandlowlystatus,Angleblamesherforthefamilybackgroundwhichhepreviouslythoughtitwouldmakeheracceptabletorespectablemiddleclasssociety.Heisself-contradictorybecausehisrejectionofsociety’svaluesissuperficial.Atadeeperlevel,hestillbelievesinsociety’smorallawsandsocialcode.Nevertheless,hedoesloveTess.HisgriefinlayingTessinthestonecoffinclearlyexpresseshislove,thisactionalsosymbolizeshisbeliefthatit’sreallyhisbeloved,hisidealofhisbeloved,nolongerexists.Earlierintheeveningheistornbythedesiretofollowhertotheirbedroom.Isitachanceorevenafateoperatinginthisincident?OrisHardyindulginghistasteformelodramaandcarryingcoincidencetoofar?RejectingTessatthispointAnglewouldfacetoassumea“terriblysterileexpression”.Thinkingandclingingtosociety’svalueswhichcuthimofffromnatureand,ofcourse,hehasjustcomefromthelush,fertileFromValleywheretheappetiteforjoycarriedhimalong,yetheis“terriblysterile.”Choosingintellectovernatureortheemotionallifedestroysthelifeforce;Angle“wasbecomingillwiththinking;eatenoutwiththinking,witheredbythinking;scourgedoutofallhisformerpulsating,flexuousdomesticity”.TherepetitionemphasizestheimportanceofthisideaandexpressestheintensityofHardy’sfeelingsaboutAngle’sintellectuality.HardyoffersasomewhatcontradictoryjudgmentofAngle’srelianceonthemind:Somemightrisktheoddparadoxthatwithmoreanimalismhewouldhavebeenthenoblerman.Wedonotsayit.YetClare’slovewasdoubtlessetherealtoafault,imaginativetoimpracticability.ThoughHardyisreluctanttosaythatbeingmoreopentothephysicalorsexualwouldmakeAngleabetterman,heiscriticalofAngle’sover-relianceonabstractionsandimagination.
Theentirethingiscurl,howagirlcancarryon?AsAnglewatchesTess’coachslowlymoveupthehill,hehopesthatshewilllookbackathim.Toodevastatedtomove,shedoesnotlookout.Isthisonemorelostopportunityforreconciliation?Ifso,istheforceofcircumstancesagainstthem?Someonewillsayit’samournfulstoryoflove.Whatmadethislovebeginning?Beautifulsmile!oncewebegintoloveeachothernaturallywewanttodosomething.Itiswhatthetrueloveinthenovelis.Itispayingputbravelywithoutanyreturn.Whentheworldisfulloflove,theworldisperfect.
C.TessHerself
Ourdramatispersona,Tess,isapurewoman.Butherfinalissopity.Itisherdestiny.Whypeoplesocurltosaythat?Buteasyexactlyaspurelambgetthewrongpath,onekind,herpurekindheartedbedestroyedeasytobewreckedbysocietyisdevouredbyferociouswolf.Herdisinterestandthespiritsacrificingoneself,giveviciousinfluencechance.But,franknessthatheroneselfrunningafterpurifiesalsomakesherandhappinessfailtomeetAnglebyanarrowchance.Whenherjadewasdied,asagirl,howcanshetosupportthisbigfamily?Butwhenthevillagepeoplearrivedatchurchtheynoticedherandstartedwhisperingtoeachother.
FromtwoaspectswecanseeanalysischaracterofTess.First,shehasalltheinnocenceandpuritythatthenaturehasendowedwith.Wecanseethispointfromherkind,selflesstoherparentsandherfriends,andherloyaltytolove.Thesecond,afterherunfortunateencounter,shebecomesacomplicatedwoman,andshenolongerenduresallthingssilently.ShestrugglesagainstAlecandunjusttreatment,contempt’sandcriticizeshypocriticalreligion.ItseemsthatTessisunyieldingtoevils.Atlast,theconclusionisthattherealcauseofTess’stragedyliesinthewickednatureandhypocriticalmoralityofthebourgeoissociety.
Readingthenovel,peopleareimpressedbythetitlepagethatTessis“apurewoman”.Itisthephrasethatcausedsomuchuproarwhenthefirsteditionofthenovelisfirstlypublished.Ithascreatedproblemsforreadersandcriticseversincethenovelwascompleted.Thetitleoffendsmanyonmoralgrounds,forwhomTessisaruined,immoralwoman.Othersarepuzzledintellectually;whatisHardy’sbasisforcallingherpure?Itcallsnotonlytherollthenovelsubject,butalsothetragedyhavingexpoundedherfurther.Thesubtitledefendsinvariousways.OneofthemostcommondefensesisthesuggestionthatHardyisshowingthatthetraditionalChristianviewequatingvirtueandpuritywithvirginityiswrong.AnothercommonexplanationofthesubtitleisthatHardydistinguishesbetweentheactandtheintention.ThisisadistinctionAngleClarefinallymakesinthenovel.OrisitpossiblethatTessispureinhercharacterasApostolicCharitythathersoulremainsunstainedregardlessofwhathappenstoherbody?
Herpureiskindheartedandmoralcharacterandisunfoldinginherconductdealingwithaffairsanduncompromisinghonestytoamatory.Thecontemporaryreviewersareunwillingtoadmitwhoisnotchaste,ispure.Butinfact,thebookistotellreaderhowapureandinnocentgirlisdriverusthecruelsocietytothewallandfinallybecomesthesacrificeofthesociety.Fromthebeginningtotheend,whatwecanreadisherpurityandherstragglewiththesocialdrivenforce.Intheend,whenTessissentencedtobehanging,there’sonequestioninourminds.Sheknewwhattheyweresayingandrealizedshecouldcometochurchnomore.Soshespentalmostallhertimeinherbedroom,whichshesharedwiththechildren.Formhereshewatchedthewind,thesnow,therain,beautifulsunsetsandfullmoons,oneafteranother.Peoplebegantothinkshehadgoneaway.Sheonlywentoutafterdark,towalkinthewoodsandthefields.Shewasnotafraidofthedarkortheshadows;itwaspeopleshewasanxioustoavoid.Afterjokingbytheothergirls,sheactuallyjumpedtoAlec’scarriage.Itisjustherchartlessmakeherfailtotheevilhand.Wecansaythatsheischartless,butthemoreischildish.Ifsheownsmoreexperiences,shecanownmoreconsciousnessofsafety,theresultischangeable.Althoughthevillagepeoplehadalmostforgottenhertrouble;shedecidedshecouldneverbereallyhappyinMarlott.Tryingtoclaimrelationshipwiththerichd’Urbervillesseemedsofoolishandshamefultoher.Shethoughtherfamilywouldneverberespectedthereagain.Evennowshefelthoperisewithinher,hopeoffindingaplacewithnofamilyconnectionsandnomemories.InescapingfromMarlottsheintendedtodestroythepast.Perhapsnowshecouldmakeupfoehercrimeagainstsociety.Shehasbeenreallynotunfamiliartohim,shehasbeenshortofbutmorekeepingwatchbutonnow,thisisthatsheisnaiveatthesametime;alsobeingunabletokeepsilentisthatsheisshortofoneaspectknowingthattoaffairsofhumanlifeinthecharacterorconsciousnessinsaying.WhenshetoldAnglethepast,shealsoexpressesherrecurrence.Thetraditionchastityconceptinhersoulgoaheadishavingstayeddeeplybrand.Shefeelsfromcommittingacrimebeingthinkingofonekindforeverafterlosingchastity,thecompunctionfeels,theinferioritycomplex,hascomeacrossthiskindofproblemonceand,showingweakaspect.OnceandoncerefusingAngle,itisjustthispsychology.Duringtheperiodofhecannotforgiveher,herinferioritycomplexdisplaysmainlyhisslavewhoobvious,unceasingly,requeststhatmakinganexplanation,expressesherwillingnesscomposeeven.Atthesecondhalfofthisnovel,shedidAlec’smistress.AnewphasebeginsinTess’lifewhenshemeetsAlecagain.HispursuitasmuchasAngle’srejectiondeterminesthecourseherlifenowtakes.Shehadhoped,aswomendo,thatlivingtogetherforatimewouldbreakdownhiscoldness.Beingnearhimeverydaywasheronlyhopeofwinninghimback.IsarbitrarycoincidenceatworkinherstoppingatjustthetimeandjusttheplacewhereAlecisspeaking?Isitcoincidencethatshestandsinthesunsothathenoticeshermovementwhensheleaves?Istheirmeetingagaininevitablebecauselifefollowsapatternoroccursincycles?OrisitinevitablebecauseherpersonalpastwithAleccannotbeescapedinsociety?Thetitleofthissectionapplies,ironicallyenough,tobothAlecandAngle.Shestillasked,MayIwritetoyou?Iagreetotheconditions,becauseyouknowbest.Onlydon’tmakeittoomuchformebear!Thatwasallshesaid.Ifshehadsobbedorfaintedorbeggedhim,hewouldprobablyhavegivenway.Butshemadeiteasyforhim.Duetotheinfluenceofastranger(theReverendClare),Alecundergoesareligiousconversionandbecomesapreacher.Duetotheinfluenceofastranger,Angleundergoesanintellectualandemotionalconversion,whichallowshimtoseeTess’purityandinnocence,andhereturnstoEnglandandtoTess.Alecrelapsestohisformersensual,womanizingselfwhenheseesTess.Itisjustherchartlessmakeherfailtotheevilhand.Wecansaythatsheischartless,butthemoreischildish.Ifsheownsmoreexperiences,shecanownmoreconsciousnessofsafety,theresultischangeable.
D.Society
Studyinganovel,wecannotignoreitssocialbackground.WhyasTess’girlishpuritylost?Whydoesthewrongmantakethewrongwoman?Whydothebadsooftenruinthegood?Whyisbeautydamagedbyugliness?Thousandsofyearsofphilosophycannotgiveustheanswerstothesequestions.Thesociety,thefamilyarewovenhavingmovedtowardsthisbigtragedynets.Herfamilyisthestratumbelongingtonowell-likedruralareabeingplacedinthattime.Thefamilyhasalreadyarrivedatabrinkofcollapse,herfatheralsotakehislifeasplayinggame,putsinbutalwaysonTess’bodywiththedifficulttask.Shelosesherchaste,societyisallchastityconceptateverystepincisivethelifebeingaffectingher,theideologicalroot-causehavingbecometragicultimately.Attheend,shedropseveryconcept,andkilledAlec.Sothereisanothersaying,itisjustthefamilyandthesocietymadeherlikethat.
WhenIanalyzedthesecourses,Ijustfounditisthedestiny.IfTesslivedin21stcentury,canshegetthedifferentplight?Idon’tthinkso.Idon’tthinksheissoluckily.Dayanddays,wesawthelawcaseonTV.Theresomeonewasraped;theresomeonewasdiedoflove…Whyaretheresomanycases?Thesocialismoredeveloped.Weneedconsciousness.Theconsciousnessforwoman!Actually,Iamnotfeminism.Butwereallyneedadamancyforourselves.Becauseofwewanttocontrolourdestiny.
Conclusion
TessofD’Uberville,thisworkisfullofsympathyandhelpless.PeopleanalysesthefactorsofTess’deathfromdifferentpartsofherlife.TheauthorofthispapertakesmoreattentiontoTess’lover.Infact,everythingwouldchange,ifthereisnoAlec,whorapedher.Becauseitisareality,itisreallyhappened.Whatmayonlychangeistheattitudetothisfair.AlotofreflectionwasleftbyHardythoroughhiscreationofTesstragedy.ItseemedthatTesscouldneverescapethewrongsofthepast,eithersociallyorpersonally.Tesswaskind-heartedpureandbraveandhadacutesenseofresponsibilityandstrongsenseofmoralduty.FormthispaperwecanseethatTessmovedawayfromhervillage.Itseemsthatshewantstochangeherlifestyle.ButitisjustbecauseAngle’sdeparture,Tesscomestoherawfuldilemmaonceagain.Toanotherpartofherlife,thesocietyandherfamilyarealsothemainfactortoherdeath.FromthetragicstoryofTess’shortlife,wecanseeinadeepersensethatitisthecapitalistsocietyofthetimethathasruinedher.LivinginasocietyoverwhelmedbycapitalistLaw,religionandstateapparatus,Tess,apoorpeasant,inevitablyleadsatragiclifeandfinallygoestohercollapse.Thusfacingsomanycases,itseemsthatTess’tragedyisunavoidable.
