[hardy-l] Tess - Angel not charged

[Phillip Mallett]

It perhaps strengthens Tony's argument, that 
Angel doubts Tess's guilt until the moment of 
arrest, that the sentence he quotes- 'Her story 
then was true!' - was an addition to the 
manuscript, as if TH was himself mulling over the 
issue. Similarly, in Ch 57, 'By degrees he was 
inclined to believe that she had faintly 
attempted, at least, what she said she had 
done...' is a revision in the ms of the earlier 
and less qualified ''By degrees he grew...'. This 
might well be an issue Hardy discussed with 
someone like Francis Jeune, QC: according to the 
Life he was at a party at the Jeunes' in March 
1891, when putting ''the finishing touches' to 
Tess, but he stayed there so often Lord Rowton 
called him their 'dosser'.

In support of Chuck's very helpful message, one 
might also quote (ch 57): 'neither one of them 
seemed to consider any question of effectual 
escape, disguise, or long concealment. Their 
every idea was temporary and unforefending,like 
the plans of two children.' (At one stage the ms 
had 'dreams' rather than 'plans'.)

So far as Clare does offer a plan, it is only to 
walk inland, where they are 'less likely to be 
looked for' than nearer the coast, with the 
thought that 'Later on ... we can make for some 
port'. This, at most, is to imagine making a 
plan, rather than actually to make one. Just 
before the arrest, however, he does look round 
for a stone or other weapon; fortunately for him 
he doesn't find one, so there is no question 
resisting arrest, or trying to stop the police 
arresting Tess. I think he is legally safe - 
though he has been sentenced in retrospect by 
generations of readers of the novel....

Phillip Mallett
-- 
Was man nicht erfliegen kann, muss man erhinken ...
Die Scrift sagt, es ist keine Sünde zu hinken

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532
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