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Shvoong Home>Social Sciences>Thomas Hardy's TESS and the theme of FATE AND CHANCE in the novel (part 1) Summary

Thomas Hardy's TESS and the theme of FATE AND CHANCE in the novel (part 1)

Article Summary   by:hinashahid     Original Author: Thomas Hardy
  • Summary rating: 2 stars (55 Ratings)
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In Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, we are introduced to Tess, an individual who is constantly rendered defenseless against fate. Throughout her journey, Tess's ideals and sense of individuality are continuously tested by a series of misadventures and accidents. Regardless of where she wanders, the forces of nature are ambivalent. Fate in Tess of the D’Urbervilles, oftentimes proves cruel for Tess and destroys her flourishing innocence with a few inauspicious and unpleasant events.
There are three coincidences that play the most important roles in the outcome of the novel. The first one is the tragic death of Prince, the Durbeyfield horse. If this had not happened, Tess would not have had to go to the D'Urbervilles and she would not have been raped/abused there by Alec and she would not have had any problems with society or in her marriage with Angel Clare. The second important coincidence is that Tess meets Angel again at Talbothays dairy. Without this meeting she would not have fallen in love, she would not have being so honest and told him about his past, she would not have become the silent, depressed girl she became after Angel left her. Third, if she would not have met Alec again while he was preaching, she would have never gone back to him and she would not have killed him, so it would not have cost her life. Once Tess’s father came back home drunk, the next morning he had to deliver beehives to the market but his condition made it impossible to deliver them to the market. On this account Tess set out with his brother on the journey to deliver the beehives in time. During the journey, Tess fell asleep, and the horse that was leading their cart collided with a mail-cart, and got fatally injured. Hence, Tess fell victim to fate as she was totally defenseless in all that happened. “The pointed shaft of the cart had entered the breast of the unhappy Prince like a sword, and from the wound his life’s blood was spouting in a stream, and falling with a hiss into the road” (Chap 4) “Then she stood helplessly looking on. Prince also stood firm and motionless as long as he could; till he suddenly sank down in a heap.” (chap 4) Prince's death causes circumstances to change especially for Tess; she feels she's responsible because the horse died on her watch and so therefore she feels guilty: “No excuse for me—none. What will mother and father live on now?” (chap 4) As a consequence of the loss of the family horse and the feeling of guilt that made her think she was responsible for all that happened, Tess decided to set out to earn something in order to obtain money for her family. “Well, as I killed the horse, mother,’ she said mournfully,’ I suppose I ought to do something……” (chap 5)
In her choice to opt to earn for the family she went in search of ancient family connections in the hope of securing a job. There at Tantridge, fate led her to meet Alec D'Urberville.

(to be continued....)
Published: March 17, 2008   
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  1. Answer   Question  :    is tess a pure woman;;; ( 1 Answer ) View All
  1. Answer  :    After the careful study the heroine tess proves herself a pure lady.At the end she made herself free from the tragedy she faced and made free herslf from further tregedies . Thursday, June 07, 2012
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  1. Answer  :    role of fate and chance Thursday, April 21, 2011
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