[Hardy-l] Re: Tess on PBS

[Niemeyer, Paul J.]

Rosemarie, in saying that Arterton's Tess "lacks a tragic dimension," I don't mean to say she isn't tragic--she is--but that her character seems to lack the "built-in" sense of tragedy that Hardy's Tess manifests from the start.  The "blighted star" speech occurs before the onset of the accidents that propel Tess on to her misfortunes, so it can be said that she shapes the world as tragedy.  Of course Arterton is not at "fault" for the missing speech--it's a directorial/dramatist decision.  That said, I'll reiterate that I LIKE how the serial is presenting Tess: she is a girl who is forced to mature under horrible circumstances.
 
OK, I've got a flight to catch.  Airports. . .talk about horror. . .
 
Paul Niemeyer

________________________________

From: Rosemarie Morgan [mailto:Rosemarie.morgan at yale.edu]
Sent: Mon 1/5/2009 7:46 AM
To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
Subject: RE: [Hardy-l] Re: Tess on PBS




Yes- the omissions are interesting- the "blighted star" soliloquy (surely
it's not Atterton's fault that this was cut). . .I'm not sure about lacking a tragic dimension. To my mind Arterton
dramatised this dimension with superb sensitivity and skill in both the
baptism scene and her conversation with the parson ("Such a little innocent
baby...!")


Rosemarie



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