[Hardy-l] Tess

[Jcphardysoc at aol.com]

In a message dated 13/10/2008 20:50:31 GMT Daylight Time,  
pauline.guerin at ntlworld.com writes:

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.  



I agree with Rosemarie on this one. Hardy could hardly describe sex as  
explicitly as in modern novels so it has to be inferred by the reader. I would  
have thought that complete fulfilment for an attractive young  wife, formerly 
rejected by her husband for her supposed impurity, would  involve carnal 
relations following their reconciliation otherwise Tess would not  feel wholly 
accepted. Angel had to consummate their  marriage to demonstrate his forgiveness of 
her past life - not that she should  have needed forgiveness.
 
In The Woodlanders it is implied rather than explicitly stated  that 
Fitzpiers has sex with Suke Damson.  on the night of the Midsummer  revelry.  
Sometimes readers have to make assumptions about what is implied  by an author 
constrained by the prudery of Victorian publishing  conventions.
 
Best wishes
 
John Pentney



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