Tess of the D'Urbervilles Quotes - Phase the Seventh (Fulfilment) Flashcards
A quote from Tess as she lies on the “altar” of Stonehenge, suggesting that she is “home”. Stonehenge is a pagan symbol of praise to the Sun, and Tess’ lying upon it to symbolically die in her “home” suggests her to be a woman of the natural world, beyond the materialism of Victorian industrial life, abused by this society in which she did not belong. The idea of Stonehenge as a symbol of Sun worship also presents Tess as a sacrifice to the patriarchy, the sun being a symbol of male power within the novel.
“And you used to say at Talbothays that I was a heathen. So now I am home”
“Sleepy are you, dear? I think you are lying on an altar”
A quote from the final chapter of the novel, suggesting the restoration of order as Angel walks alongside ‘Liza-Lu, a younger, purer version of Tess, akin to Tess before the tragic events of the novel. Angel received the wife he desired, and thus order is returned
“One of the pair was Angel Clare, the other a tall budding creature - half girl, half woman - a spiritualized image of Tess, slighter than she, but with the same beautiful eyes - Clare’s sister-in-law, ‘Liza-Lu”
A quote from the end of the novel, the word ‘justice’ in quotation marks suggesting that a false justice has been done. The idea of the ‘President of the Immortals’ refers to Prometheus, a Greek god tortured for presenting humans with fire, suggest Tess to be more a Greek tragic victim, whose tragedy is brought about by a destructive omnipotent force
“‘Justice’ was done, and the President of the Immortals […] had ended his sport with Tess”