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

[Rosemarie Morgan]

Collective female rage is surely VERY important here  - and relatively 
unexplored, I would say.  I had thought of this and had wondered if Hardy 
knew or understood this "rage." I probably assumed,  that being Hardy 
he  did understand --but I would really like to learn of more insightful 
studies into this

Best
Rosemarie-


  At 10:31 AM 1/9/2009, you wrote:
>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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Rosemarie Morgan
Research Fellow, Yale University
President, The Thomas Hardy Association
Editor, The Hardy Review
124 Bishop St, New Haven, CT 06511

203 624-6976