Phase the Sixth: "the convert" Flashcards
The Convert
The title of Phase the Sixth refers to Alec’s conversion to christianity, supposedly leaving behind his immoral past. The key occurrence in this Phase is Alec coming into Tess’ life again, as he hasn’t been present since she returned from his house at Trantridge.
A fear overcame her, paralyzing her movement…
This phrase demonstrates the effect which Alec has on Tess. As when she was at Trantridge, Tess is ‘paralyz[ed]’ when in Alec’s presence, entering a dream-like passive state. This time, however, she is ‘overc[ome]’ by ‘fear’ as well. This also suggests that what happened to Tess in The Chase was rape, as she is fearful of Alec being around her. This encounter between Tess and Alec begins Alec’s following of Tess, and leads to Tess’ ultimate capitulation. This marks a time of great suffering for Tess.
An almost physical sense of an implacable past which still engirdled her.
Hardy is emphasising the way Tess’ past with Alec will always follow her, no matter what she has done and how her life moves on. This foreshadows the way in which Alec, from now on in Phase the Sixth, will pursue Tess until he gives in and becomes her mistress. Hardy used the word ‘engirdled’ in Phase the First to describe the area of the Vale of Blackmore, which was being presented mostly as a pastoral idyll, however, now he uses it to describe the parochial nature of the countryside, and show how Tess will always be trapped by her past in such a narrow society. This is a potentially anti-pastoral element of country life.
Bygones would never be complete bygones till she was a bygone herself.
This quotation has connotations of death; Hardy writes that Tess’ past will always follow her until she is dead. This reinforces the sense that Tess’ past ‘engirdles’ her and will follow her forever, as Alec will. Hardy takes a sad and reflective tone with this quotation; there is a sense that Tess knows that her past will follow her until she dies and is almost giving up because of it.
Its dry pale surface stretched mercilessly onwards.
Now that Alec is back, the countryside takes on a dead and infertile nature. Hardy describes the ground as ‘dry’ and ‘pale’, which gives the idea that the land is harsh and doesn’t provide, and the way is stretches ‘mercilessly onwards’ is symbolic of the way in which Tess’ life stretches unforgivingly onwards, and it makes the reader aware that Tess is going to go through an even tougher period in her life.
“It is a shame for parents to bring up their girls in such a dangerous ignorance of the gins and nets that the wicked may set for them, whether their motive be a good one or the result of simple indifference.”
This is Alec speaking to Tess when he pursues her to the farm where she is working. He uses hunting imagery to describe the way men ‘trap’ girls; ‘gins and nets’ are tools associated with hunting animals. This plays into the symbolism of Tess as a helpless, hunted animal. Alec’s focus on ‘parents’ bringing up ‘their girls in such a dangerous ignorance’ feeds into the idea that Tess’ selfish parents are to blame for her situation, and also suggests that the innocence of young girls can be ‘ignorance’ too, and this can be a very harmful thing for them, making them vulnerable to ‘the wicked’. This emphasises both Tess’ innocence and ignorance, as well as her parent’s stupidity and ignorance.
**“You temptress, **Tess; you dear witch of Babylon - I could not resist you as soon as I met you again!”
Alec is blaming Tess being a ‘temptress’ for what happened for her and for his tuning away from religion. The accusatory tone taken when Alec calls her a ‘temptress’ and a ‘witch’, saying she is worse than Eve, suggests that she is entirely to blame for what happened, making Alec do what he did to her.
“Once victim, always victim - that’s the law!” tess
Straight after Tess hits Alec with a glove, showing her as more assertive, she reverts into self-pity and sorrow, stating that she will always be a ‘victim’. The reference to the ‘law’ demonstrates the restrictions and condemnations of social law.
“O why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel! I do not deserve it!…It is all injustiCe I have received at your hands!”
This is a letter from Tess to Angel in Chapter 51. There is a clear shift in Tess emotions - she has gone from calling herself his ‘wretched slave’ and saying how she has sinned against him, to recognising that he has treated her ‘monstrously’ and none of it is her fault. This shows how the hardships which Tess has suffered has worn her down.
“I am not a - proper woman.”
This is a very important quotation as it is Tess herself saying that she is not a ‘pure woman’. It can be used in an argument against her being ‘pure’, as even she herself admits that she is not.
“Why am I on the wrong side of this door!”
This is another example of Tess’ suicidal ideation. She is wishing she is in the tomb of her ancestors rather than on the outside of it. This further demonstrates the lasting effect of what happened with Alec on her.
