[Hardy-l] Re: Thoughts on 'Tess'

[dale kramer]

Actually I thought that Angel was the best-cast (in a Hardyan  
context) of any of the characters. I agree he's gawky and even goofy- 
looking, but he's not exactly a smoothie in the novel, either. If his  
brothers are stuffed shirts, he's a floppy blouse. In both the novel  
and the serial he is, initially, looking for an identity (even while  
he thinks he has one, rejecting his university-clerical background  
for a hearty existence on the land).

In watching a performance of a "Hardy story" I always look first, and  
probably misguidedly, at the characters' resemblance to my concepts  
of the novel or story. I say "misguidedly" because it's the PLOT of a  
Hardy story that matters most, with the characters' illustrative of  
the emphases of the plot. In that restricted sense, I am for the  
moment (until I see the rest of the serial) disappointed in this most  
recent dramatization. As others have already mentioned, the serial  
leaves out indications that Tess has a mental bias toward disaster  
and the cruelty of the universe. What the serial presents is a  
hustling through the plot, presumably to get in as many "Hardyan"  
scenes as possible. This can create discordance, especially when non- 
Hardyan elements are tossed in, most notably in the death of Prince,  
with no blood spurted on Tess and Prince dispatched efficiently with  
a gun blast. All in less than ten seconds (at least by my memory).

While on the subject of characters, did anyone else notice collagen- 
puffed lips?

Best,
Dale





On Jan 7, 2009, at 10:08 AM, Niemeyer, Paul J. wrote:
>  I couldn't help but find Angel to be gawky and, well, a little  
> goofy-looking.  I suppose I've always seen him as more the Brad  
> Pitt type.  Fire away!
>
> Best,
>
> Paul Niemeyer