[Hardy-l] Tess

[Pauline Guerin]

Mmm not sure I necessarily agree Rosemary, after all fulfilment could
possibly mean that she is just glad to be back with him, and content to be
'somewhere' she feels she belongs.  

Also, wouldn't anyone shy away from seeing two people together in such
circumstances, not knowing whether or not they'd been having sex, I know I
would. After all the cleaner wouldn't know if they were innocents or serial
killers,  

Is one really ready to take on the world after a night (or several) of
sexual ecstasy?  Frankly I'm usually ready to sleep for a day or so!  

I was always told by my professors that it is wrong to assume, because we
can only go by what the text suggests, so to presume that they definitely
had sex is not 'safe'.  If Tess is weary, and frightened and hungry from
running and hiding, and Angel is worried and weary; tired and frightened, is
sex going to be that high on their agenda? Mmmmm 

Pauline



Hardy didn't entitle this section "Fulfilment" for nothing. Nor, 
surely, would the cleaner have scurried away feeling she'd witnessed a most 
tender love scene had there been no intimacy?

One is ready to take on the whole world after a night of sexual ecstasy.