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

[Keith Wilson]

I thought that that earlier debate had been about rape/seduction, and
the text's apparent leaving of the matter unresolved, despite Hardy's
himself having provided extra-textual evidence for the latter by using
the phrase "seduction pure and simple." I can't imagine anyone from
Hardy on, male or female, arguing that whatever the experience was it
wasn't "traumatic."  Did people really argue that, and I somehow missed
it?

Best,

Keith Wilson   


Rosemarie wrote:

>Several male critics (in the earlier discussion) felt that Tess wasn't
traumatised by Alec's appropriation of her in the Chase but I think that

simply shows a lack of understanding.   Not only is the "first
time"often 
painful, physically and emotionally, for young girls (Tess is described
by Hardy as still a child in many ways), but if it's the case that the
sleeping Tess was taken unawares and unready, unprepared, then chances
are she was seriously damaged by the event.