With the admirable intention of acquainting myself with the classics of English literature I set out to read the works of Thomas Hardy. Hardy’s works are described by most critics as being depressive so I was quite heartened when the first book I read by him ’Far From the Madding Crowd’, was sad ... but not overtly depressing, and I loved it. So, in my quest for other books by him, the next book I picked up was ’Tess of the d’Urbervilles’.
Part of the aristocracy
The story starts with John Durbeyfield, an impoverished, alcoholic haggler with a large family learning of his descent from the ancient and respected family of the d’Urbervilles. Being on the verge of penury and more than a little heartened by the news of their descent, his wife and he send their eldest daughter Tess, to seek out their d’Urberville relatives and ask for their assistance. Tess, who is young, beautiful and proud initially hesitates but is overruled by her parents wishes. She goes to work and live with the d’Urbervilles but is seduced by Alec d’Urberville the debauched son of the house with many false promises. She returns to her parents village of Marlott, to have a baby which dies soon after.
The above experiences change Tess from a happy, young girl into a quiet introspective woman. She again leaves her house to work as a milkmaid in a distant village at a dairy farm called Talbothay’s. Here she runs into Angel Clare the son of a pastor, but who is training at the dairy farm to be a farmer. At the farm, Tess gains as much peace of mind as it is possible for her to have with her past and gradually finds herself being drawn out by the idealistic, intelligent and handsome Angel. Angel and Tess fall deeply in love. They get married but on the night of their marriage, Tess who’s conscience is troubling her tells Angel of Alec and her baby. Angel is shaken by this confession and tells Tess that he cannot love her anymore and needs time to think. Accordingly, he drops off a very shaken and haunted Tess at her house and goes to Brazil as an agriculturist. Tess, now extremely lonely, despairing and depressed decides to serve out her punishment by working as a milkmaid in a far off village and waiting for Angel to come back to her. Does he return to her and after how long, does she have to turn to Alec d’Urberville again or does she find a chance at happiness after all her terrible experiences? Read the book to find out ...
Mistaken Morality
The story is an extremely tragic one of the downfall of the young and innocent Tess. The men in her life seem to betray her continually. First her father who is a poor role model as an alcoholic, ineffectual person. Then the ruthless Alec who only cares only for his pleasures and who takes away Tess’s innocence when she is a young girl and has no idea what sins men are capable of leading her into. And then the morally upright Angel, who Tess dearly loves, so much that she is able to forgive him anything, but whose love for her doesnt enable him to forgive what he feels are her sins and her selfishness in marrying him before telling him her evil deeds.
Thomas Hardy also brings out the social customs and ideas prevailing in England at that time. He brings out the hypocrisy in the English social strata, since when Durbeyfield learns of his descent he begins to look down on common labour and that leads him to send his daughter to claim kin with the d’Urbervilles. The tragedy of this is that Alec’s ancestors are actually not descended from the great family, but are common merchants who have made their fortune in trade, which was looked down upon by the nobility in those days. So, in order to appear respectable, they take upon themselves the surname and call themselves the Stokes-d’Urbervilles. Hardy also draws out the morality prevailing in those days among the middle class, which Angel Clare forms a part of. The lower classes to which Tess belongs or the aristocracy wouldnt have been so dismayed by Tess’s actions, but Angel who is a product of a much more puritan background, hailing from a family which has 3 upright pastors is unable to forgive Tess, even though in his heart he knows she is not entirely at fault.
Touched by Tragedy
Hardy’s prose is eloquent, from the first few scenes with the May dance which provides a backdrop to Tess’s youth and innocence to the heavy, depressing descriptions of Tess’s surroundings and life after Angel leaves her and in the latter portions of the book. Some of the best scenes in the book are when Tess reveals her past to Angel, Hardy captures the turmoil in both their hearts and minds beautifully. Angel is so traumatised that in a key moment of the book he sleepwalks and reveals his innermost feelings towards Tess. Tess who observes him, knows then that he cannot forgive her and it is an awful realization for her. Another extremely touching scene is one that occurs at Stonehenge later on in the book.
Overall, the book is a wonderful read, with the plot moving along at a brisk pace. But the atmosphere of tragedy and the punishments that Tess has to bear and keep on bearing make it a very difficult read. It didnt stop me from appreciating the beauty of this book but it will be some time before I can pick up another Thomas Hardy again. Jude the Obscure waits in the wings :) ...