Tess Of The D'Ubervilles Revision Flashcards
Context of the novel?
- set in the Victorian Era (19th century) which was a difficult time of social change
- condemns the industrialisation Of agricultural work which acts as a destructive force
- challenges misogynistic social attitudes, social etiquettes and treatment of women in Victoria’s era
- contains complex detailed interrogations of Victorian values and capitalist culture of his time
- raises questions about injustice & inequality of legal system due to fierce condemnation of values
How does Hardy present his viewpoint on the unfair social and misogynistic attitudes at the time?
- often acts as Tess’ only advocate against an unfair world as he elevates her and suggests she’s a passive victim of Male abuse
- he embodies deep moral sympathy for lower classes and rural women
Why did the novel arouse substantial amount of controversy during this era?
Caused controversy amongst status-conscious readers as it suggests family history is meaningless and undesirable
-portrayal of women victimised by self righteous rigidity of English social morality but Hardy acts as an advocate for Tess as he embodies moral sympathy
How is Tess presented?
- possesses noble virtues through her sense of duty, beauty and obedience> heroine, goddess and ‘ideal woman’ in society
- allegory of the theme of fate as she is a passive victim of Male abuse
- hamartia=weakness of will + reason, her passivity
- brings to light the unfair normalities Of society
- a stimulus that challenges misogynistic social attitudes towards women
- associated with colour red> singles her out for punishment of fates? eg red ribbon
- her simple virtue and integrity contrasts with that if her parents as she abides by her own morals
What aspects of Tess are to blame for the punishment of fates?
Is it her passivity, beauty or pride?
How does Hardy create biblical references/allusions?
- she takes the fruit from Alec which parallels Eves ‘fall’ > is Alex the serpent?
- presented as a god like heroine> presented as pure, innocent and angelic which suggests she is a Marian figure
- Tess also begrudgingly accepts her unfair damnation but wants to save her baby, and so she baptises her son> takes on the role of a priest and has elevated in life as she relies o power of faith
What quotations present Tess as a God-like heroine?
-“her figure looked singularly tall and imposing as she stood in her long white night-gown”> Marian imagery of purity, grace and innocence, elevated status
•Has Tess had an anagnorisis regarding her feelings towards her faith or is she trying to repent for the immoral sin she was involved in so she isn’t condemned by God and shunned by society
-“Sorrow, I baptise thee in the name of the father, the son, and of the Holy Ghost”
•relies upon faith to save her son from immoral, wrongful act he was conceived in which shows contrast in her character
•her status has elevated as she has taken on role of priest to baptise her son; which would’ve been considered inappropriate and blasphemous in Victorian society
What are some of the values Tess possesses?
-her strength and integrity to abide by her own and natural morals
-simple virtue
-beauty
-pride
Elevated by Hardy as no faults are of her own wrongdoing
How is the theme of women & femininity presented?
- women portrayed as having a unique relationship to nature> more in touch with outdoors whereas men are more in tune with modernity + industrialisation
- are symbols of fertility, nature and purity often linked with lushness of setting
- she is an individual soul
Why does Angel call Tess ‘Artemis’ and ‘Demeter’ ?
He falls in love with his idealised image and not reality> lack of perception
- sees Tess as a kind of ‘every woman’ who represents eternal, universal femininity
- sees her as a surreal being, almost goddess like
How is the theme of injustice of existence presented?
- unfairness and fate dominates the lives of Tess & family > general aspect of existence
- Christianity offers little solace of heavenly justice> moral atmosphere is pagan justice
- reoccurring question of “why do bad things happen to good people?” > unfair social etiquettes
- forces that rule human life are whimsical and uncaring> her story defined by coincidences and plot twists
What are some of the hardships/fates Tess has undergone?
- punished for death of Prince which acts as a catalyst in lead up to ‘inevitable evil’
- she’s sleeping before the rape of Alec> passive victim of sexual abuse
- her child dies following the tragedy > she is a victim of circumstance
- judged and ostracised by society> condemnation by God and society > little heavenly solace from Christianity
How are Tess’ parents presented?
- impoverished family
- are proud and ambitious yet they lack wise parenting > profligate
- her father is imprudent and an alcoholic> reckless, impetuous habit of excessive drinking
- her mythical mother abides by old fashioned, traditional superstitions as the fortune telling book she possesses has become “so worn by picketing that the margins had reached the edge of the type”
How is Tess presented as mature and rational?
-“I’ll go” as she speaks about fetching her drunken father from public house> reversal of roles as she is parental figure> dependability and rationality
-through her affectionate and solicitous nature> “this lent her a deputy-maternal attitude when she was alone with her juniors” > inversion
•possesses a maternal instinct and lives by her own and natural morals which contrasts with her parents’ feckless behaviour
Quote that shows Tess is unfortunate?
“You are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the D’ubvervilles..?” -Parson Tringham
•the revelation of the family lineage is the start of her fates
•Her father’s drinking to celebrate means Tess must take the hives to market, even though she has not slept. The ill-fated trip leads to the death of the horse, which leads to Tess’s parents sending her off in hopes of her marrying well or gaining money from the d’Urbervilles.
