The Major Themes of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

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The Major Themes of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Here are major themes of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Some of these

themes contradict one another; others are complementary. Consider each

of these themes in depth, using the text to substantiate your ideas.

The novel is about Tess- her personality, trials, growth, and

development. While many novels concern the interaction of

characters, Tess of the D'Urbervilles concentrates almost

single-mindedly on the life of its heroine. The other characters are

important only insofar as they affect Tess' fate. Some readers see

Tess as a detailed story of the psychology of an unchaste woman- how

she deals with her own morality.

Tess can also be viewed as the symbol of valiant challenge against

both the rigid morality and religious dogma of the old order, and

the skepticism of the modern world. Tess' story is that of a woman who

tries to respond to the changing world around her with honesty and

integrity. She can be viewed as an independent, active heroine who

chooses martyrdom. She can also be seen as a victim either of

society or of her own nature, who has no choice but to let herself

be destroyed.

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RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

Tess is an exploration of love and passion. Tess' relationships with

Alec and Angel are as dif...

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...ck from his story and comment on human and

cosmic injustices toward the exceptional or innocent individual? Other

readers say that Hardy is neither a pessimist nor a fatalist; he's

simply angry at life's injustices and wants to make his readers look

at them. They believe that Hardy champions the individual, who, like

Tess, fights against convention and fate in order to follow her own

path in life. Tess does seem to grow in spite of everything, thereby

affirming human potential in an often inhospitable universe. Hardy

doesn't give us nearly as positive a view of Tess' parents, who are

typical rural fatalists, accepting everything that happens as "it

was meant to be." It's Tess who, because she takes action and

fights, saves her family from destruction.

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