[hardy-l] Tess as Alec's mistress and Joan's complicity with Alec

[Rosemarie Morgan]

This is a superbly detailed profile of Joan  - thank you Jane -- and I feel 
, perhaps, in line, with Jane (?) that we may be too hard on Joan who is, 
after all,  going along with the "country code" of encouraging her daughter 
to play her "trump card" (using sexual allure to gain a husband 
--especially one from a higher class).  Joan *does* though, underestimate 
Tess's capacity to rebound (as opposed to capitulating)  -- as when Alec 
confronts Tess (as she leaves Trantridge) with the fact that she will never 
love him and she responds to the effect that she never can, or never will, 
although now would be a good time for saying she did (she, being pregnant).

  Joan later admits (to Angel) that she never did really know Tess (first 
edition), but -- and this is my question -- *why* does Joan tell Angel 
where Tess can be found (Sandbourne)? Is this in the belief that Tess would 
wish it? Or because Angel is Tess's legal husband --and should be told? Or 
because she- Joan - feels guilty about the part she's played in Tess's 
downfall ?  (possibly all this and more) I wonder what folks think about 
this -- considering that if Tess chooses to flee  from Alec, as she does, 
that the Durberfield family may be the losers.
Best
Rosemarie


>I  have been meaning to comment on this since Joan Durbeyfield's role in
>Tess's downfall
>
>Best wishes
>Jane