TESS WEB PAGE BY MARY HARRISON

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES

Written By Thomas Hardy

Since my English teacher has asked us once again to test our creative nature,

this is my finished product.

Map of Tess's World

Shall we begin with a trip to the Past?

Tess Of The D'Urbervilles was written in the Victorian Era during the industrial revolution. In reaction to the industrial revolution there was mass depression, riots, slums, over-crowding and child labor. During Hardy's time women were seen as two extreme: completely pure, therefore protected and kept naïve and in the dark about many issues or as whores. There were not many opinions for a woman. Women were the heart of the home, men were the heads. Women could not own property, nor could they vote. Unmarried women had even fewer options, they were simply seen as an unwanted surplus.

Name: Thomas Hardy

He was born in 1840 in South-West England. He first began as an architect but gave that career up to write full time. His novels show how internal and external forces of nature combine to shape human destiny. His characters are subjects to fate but also to the mercy of their own passions, most have a tragic outcome, such as with Tess. Hardy's novels were a attraction to the disappearance of God in society.

Phase the First ->The Maiden

During this phase we are introduced very quickly to the main characters. This phase is where Tess' fate is sealed. Her father becomes aware of his families roots and therefore feels the need to celebrate and send Tess away for help from their "relatives". As we are introduced to Tess, Hardy uses color to set her apart from the rest. The red ribbon also foreshadows her fate very much like in "The Scarlet Letter." At the end of this phase we, as readers must decide for ourselves if Alec actually rapes Tess because Hardy leaves the details very vague

Phase the Second-> Maiden No More

From the title of this phase it is very clear that something very dramatic has occurred, that being Tess' loss of innocence. Tess gives birth to her rape child, Sorrow. This is a great stress to her and with Sorrow's death brings a sense of relief, although we can't deny that she did love her child. Religion gets a slap in the face during this phase. Beginning with the burial of Sorrow and his baptism.

Phase the Third-> The Rally

Tess picking up the pieces becomes a dairymaid and meets her future husband Angel Clare. This was a rather dull phase for me but contained a lot about fertility and nature as well as religious outlooks.

Phase the Fourth-> The Consequence

It this phase it is proven that love is blind to faults. Angel Clare finds Tess beautiful but refuses to see anything else about her. Tess tries her best to refuse Clare' s proposal but caves in thus proving that she will never be able to get on with her life. Angel seems to want to change Tess in this phase, suggesting little things that will make her more beautiful and attempting to refine her.

Phase the Fifth->The Women Pays

Tess' confession to Angel about her past brings an unexpected reaction from Clare. During this phase the reader may also notice that Hardy has stop referring to him as Angel Clare but simply Clare. Upset that Angel has married someone totally different from what he thought he leaves her and goes to Brazil. Of course he leaves Tess with money but tells her that he will find her when he chooses not the other way around.

Phase the Sixth->The Convert

Alec comes back into the picture! He is trying to become more religious yet can't quite make the cut so he blames Tess for pushing him off his path of religion. (SURE) Tess tells Alec about their child and he claims that if he had of know he would have aided her in anyway possible because he would have wanted to be part of his life. She bends to Alec once again because he fathers death and her mother's illness. Angel finally returns from Brazil.

Phase the Seventh-> Fulfillment

This phase is short but sweet, Clare searches for Tess because he realizes that he was a loser. He's changed from his experiences in Brazil. When he finds Tess she is basically in the lap of luxuries with Alec. Alec had told Tess that Angel was never coming back for her so therefore she goes off with Alec. She, of course, is happy that Angel has finally returns to her but is pissed with Alec so she kills him. She chases after Angel and they enjoy a few days of happiness until the police find her and arrest her and then hang her.

The End