Name: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Author: Thomas Hardy
ISBN: 9780199537051

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Author Description

Young Tess Durbeyfield attempts to restore her family's fortunes by claiming their connection with the aristocratic d'Urbervilles. But Alec d'Urberville is a rich wastrel who seduces her and makes her life miserable. When Tess meets Angel Clare, she is offered true love and happiness, but her past catches up with her and she faces an agonizing moral choice.Hardy's indictment of society's double standards, and his depiction of Tess as "a pure woman," caused controversy in his day and has held the imagination of readers ever since. Hardy thought it his finest novel, and Tess the most deeply felt character he ever created. This unique critical text is taken from the authoritative Clarendon edition, which is based on the manuscript collated with all Hardy's subsequent revisions.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The central conflict arises when Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a poor rural family, is thrust into a series of tragic circumstances after attempting to claim a noble lineage. Tess seeks to improve her family's social standing, but she is repeatedly thwarted by the predatory actions of Alec d'Urberville and the rigid, unforgiving moral expectations of Victorian society. The narrative follows her struggle for autonomy and integrity as she navigates the physical labor of the Wessex countryside and the emotional constraints of her relationships. The story is presented through a third-person omniscient perspective that emphasizes the indifference of the natural world toward human suffering.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Detailed descriptions of the Wessex landscape and agricultural life
Exploration of the double standards regarding female purity
Use of fatalistic irony to underscore the protagonist's misfortune
Critique of the Victorian class system and social hierarchy
Symbolism involving the natural environment and seasonal changes
Examination of the conflict between traditional rural values and modern industrialization
Characterization of the protagonist as a victim of circumstance and societal judgment
Philosophical reflections on the nature of destiny and human agency

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers frequently highlight the emotional weight of Tess's experiences and the stark contrast between her inherent goodness and the harsh treatment she receives from others. Discussion often centers on Hardy's critique of Victorian morality and the way he uses the setting of Wessex to mirror the internal states of his characters. Critics often point to the novel's pacing, which moves from pastoral beauty to inevitable tragedy with deliberate, measured intensity. Many readers find the author's portrayal of the protagonist to be a significant departure from the archetypes of the era, noting that the narrative forces a re-evaluation of what it means to be a pure woman in a judgmental society.

Page Count:
492

Publication Date:
2008-10-15

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199537054

ISBN-13:
9780199537051

classic

Wessex England

Man-woman relationships

Victorian

Tragedy

Realism

England