Setting in Tess of D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess of the d'Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy, uses setting as a main source to establish meaning and atmosphere, and contribute to themes. The d'Urberville estate is a place of dishonor and deceit, whereas the Talbothays dairy farm is a place of hope and new beginnings. Tess's home is the false refuge from the disapproving society.

The d'Urberville estate is perfectly described by the cliché ?looks can be deceiving.? Although the mansion is beautiful, deception and trickery loom within. Alec d?Urberville deceives Tess and takes advantage of her naivety, proving the societal significance of ?Man over Woman.? His desire for Tess ultimately triumphs over her resistance to him, resulting in Tess?s tragic ruin. Moreover, it proves society?s double standard in viewing men and women. It is socially acceptable for d?Urberville to have affairs, but when Tess is seduced, she is considered unclean and an improper lady. In addition, it is at this estate that d?Urberville falsely discloses to Tess that she is not of d?Urberville blood because of her family?s poor industrial status and, therefore, not of a noble class.

At Talbothays, Tess begins a new life. The atmosphere is fresh and the people are warm and friendly, deceit is undetectable. Tess and Angel Clare take many walks through the woods in the brisk morning air, and it is there that Clare teaches Tess intellectual knowledge as well as his rejection of Christianity. Gradually, the couple?s attraction for each other grows into true love and they are soon married, despite Clare?s parents? disapproval because Tess is a lowly dairymaid and not of an aristocratic class as they are. Tess is greatly attracted to Clare, as are three other dairymaids at the farm, Marian, Izz, and Retty. Their love for him controls their emotions and actions, such as Retty attempting suicide and Marian?s digression into alcoholism after Tess and Clare?s marriage.

Tess?s home is her place of refuge, but it does not always function as a solitary place for her. She returns home after her stay at the d?Urberville estate, but is shunned by society because of her out-of-wedlock child. When she returns home once again from her stay at Talbothays, she is looked upon with suspicion because her husband, Clare, is absent. During each visit, Tess made an attempt to retreat from the harsh world, but she could never fully hide from society.