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

[Susan Mary Farrell]

Yes - the theme of male betrayal is a big one in Tess.  Perhaps having Tess
kill Alec was Hardy's way of illustrating collective female rage about
women's social, economic and intellectual oppression, in order to truly
"free" herself - but then of course, she had to pay in kind.  Alec's murder
is multi-faceted in its symbolism, which I'm sure has been (and perhaps
continues to be) thoroughly debated about why Hardy had her take that
course.  

 

Susan 

 

 

  _____  

From: TonyAshling at swtrains.co.uk [mailto:TonyAshling at swtrains.co.uk] 
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:14 AM
To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
Subject: RE: [Hardy-l] Re: Thoughts on 'Tess'

 


A fascinating debate. For me, it is less important how innocent or
otherwiseTess was. The main point, as Joanna says, is that Alec raped her
and thus ruined her life. Did she consent? No.  Are only girls innocent in
the ways of the world raped? No.  As Tess exclaimed in The Chase, well
before anything physical happened, ''How could you be so treacherous''. As
Hardy said, ''But where was Tess's guardian angel?''.   

All through,Tess is let down by men. She has to take Prince on the fateful
journey beacuse of her feckless father. The accident to Prince results in
her travelling toTrantridge and encountering the odious Alec, a man who, at
various times, has the unhappy knack of appearing in the guise of a good
samaritan when Tess is in trouble.The parson doesn't allow the baby to be
baptised and thus receive a Christian burial. Angel heartlessly and fatally
deserts her and leaves it far too late to return. The foreman is vindictive
towards her. Only Dairyman Crick emerges with credit. 

Although they are totally different characters, between them Alec and Angel
destroy Tess, Alec by his actions and Angel through his inaction. Tess
waited and waited for Angel to return. Yes, Alec helped Tess's family, but
only so he could get to Tess and possess her. Her family were destitute,
Angel was still in South America, what else could she do?  In exchange, Tess
had to submit herself and her life to Alec, a very high pirice to pay. Only
when Angel eventually returned did Tess realise what her life could have
been with him, and although it was too late and she was tied to Alec, all
her frustration of how he had ruined her life suddenly boiled over and she
killed him. 

Best wishes, 
Tony 












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