[hardy-l] More on the ending to Tess of the D'Urbervilles

[Paul Yuellig]

I've always felt that Hardy was too morbid & bleak in his ending to Tess. To me, Tess would not have had it in her to stab Alec. It might seem like...who are you to comment on Hardy's storyline? Well, not only have I commented on it...I have satisfied myself over this dislike in Tess of the D'Urbervilles by writing my own, private ending to Hardy's wonderful novel. Of course, I have not (and will not) made any attempt to publicize this "ending"...it is only for my own enjoyment...so that I can have Tess end up happier...I think she has earned it. To have Tess hung at a prison followed by Angel's marrying Liza Lu is too much for me. I feel that Hardy is writing out his own misery by having Tess take the fall for him. He is known to have had a depressed view of life (by way of reading Darwin, the changing of rural English life via the industrial revolution and also, his heavy and unromantic marriage). This could have driven him to write such depressing stories. I love Hardy's
 writing. His talent for description is wonderful. It would have been nice if he had been happier. Far From the Madding Crowd is easier to take and more realistic...just one person's opinion....
       
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