One character I feel sympathy for is Miss Ada Moss from 'Pictures' by Katherine Mansfield
Short Stories Discuss why you can sympathise with certain characters One character I feel sympathy for is Miss Ada Moss from 'Pictures' by Katherine Mansfield. From the beginning of the story there are hints that indicate that Miss Moss is in difficult financial circumstances. Similarly one can see that she has not always lived like this as she says, 'I wonder why I always wake up so cold in the mornings now.' And she explains that this must be because she does not have a good hot dinner in the evenings any more. Miss Moss is a character dwelling in her successful past and has not realised that she no longer has what it takes to have further success. This is quite a strong statement especially when one considers that the story ends with her getting a job, but I believe this is one of very few to come and she will be lucky if this job lasts as there is no stability in her field of work. The show of self confidence and stability she puts on in public and often in private makes me feel further sympathy for her as she is a very unstable character. Two of the main events that have caused me to think this are: when she lies to her landlord about her getting a job, and the fact that she is desperate enough to audition for acting jobs although she is a contralto singer. I feel the utmost sympathy for the character of Eveline who is created by James Joyce. She is a weak minded
Tess of the Durbervilles
How did Thomas Hardy use description to portray Tess' emotions? Thomas Hardy has been a very successful writer. He was penalised for writing novels in which were not 'proper' at the time he wrote it. Tess of the D'Urbervilles was said to be 'pessimistic' and 'immoral' by critics of the 19th century. This meant Tess of the D'urbervilles was one of Hardy's last ever novels. The public at this time were clearly not ready for Hardy's abrupt style of writing. It was only later given the attention it deserved. Thomas Hardy wrote many other books such as Mayor of Casterbridge and Far from the Madding Crow. When criticised he turned towards poetry, and succeeded doing that as well as novels. He was born in 1940 in Upper Bockhampton, in Dorset. He was a lover of music and had a good education thanks to his parents, and quit doing architecture to keep writing thanks to his wife, Emma Gifford. Hardy was a very opinionated man, and in his twenties lost his religious faith. This was not uncommon as Charles Darwin's 'origin of species' speech caused many people to turn their backs on the bible's teachings, and turn towards science, the more believable view. His own thoughts of the suffering in the world meant Hardy could no longer believe there was a loving God. Local ways were strongly kept in Dorset, but in 1847 the introduction to the railway mean town and country gradually started to
How does Hardy portray Tess as a pure woman?
Tess of the D'Urbervilles How does Hardy portray Tess as a 'pure' woman? There are many ways in which Hardy describes his character Tess, but the theme of purity often emerges within the subtext. He does this by using Tess' physical features, language, mannerism, social interaction and he contrasts her to the other characters in the novel. The meaning of pure can be interpreted in many ways. One definition of pure is to be free from adulterants. As we learnt from the novel, Tess is not pure in that sense. Therefore, Hardy's definition moves away from the traditional Victorian perception of purity. The Victorian readers would have seen Tess as a 'fallen' woman. Many thought she was a 'harlot' who deserved hanging. It was disgraceful for yourself and your family to have been a 'fallen' woman, but Tess gave birth to her baby Sorrow. (In Victorian times this would have been one of the worse possible things to do). Not only had Tess not been married when she lost her virginity, but she also had a child out of wedlock. However, Hardy disagreed with that way of defining purity in a woman. The way I think Hardy defines pure is pure minded and good hearted. There are several examples of this. One being that Sorrow was christened even though she was angry at the church and her religion. She did this because she was scared that her child was going to hell because of something she had
How does Thomas Hardy portray a) Tess, b) Alec in Phase the First?
How does Thomas Hardy portray a) Tess, b) Alec in Phase the First? In the first part of the novel Tess is portrayed in a very innocent light. She is full of virtue and incredibly child like in all other aspects except her home life. At home Tess takes on the responsibility of taking care of her brothers and sisters due to the frequent absence of her mother and father, therefore taking on the role of a second mother instead of an older sister. Tess spends most of her time in the first phase feeling guilty about something. This starts at the begging, when she feels guilty about enjoying her self as she got her dress dirty. This technique is used to enforce the theme of fate in the story. Usually Tess feels obliged to help out the family due to her own actions. This is how she ends up going to the D'Urberville estate to claim kin, as she felt guilty, since she blames herself for killing Prince. Throughout the first phase many connections are made between Tess and nature. This gives the idea that she is a pure earth child, at one with nature. Many descriptions compare her to the natural world or environment. This enforces the idea of her innocence and quality. The first phase lays down the original ideas of her personality that are later built upon in the book. One of the most important ideas portrayed is that Tess is physically a woman. However she is naïve and generally
To what extent is Tess a tragic heroine? Thomas Hardy - Tess of the d'Urbervilles
To what extent is Tess a tragic heroine? 'I have not been able to put on paper all that she is, or was, to me,' wrote Thomas Hardy of Tess. 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' was published in 1891, amid a whirlwind of controversy, under its subtitle 'A Pure Woman'. 'Tess' was Hardy's 14th novel and deals with the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a country-born girl and the ordeals she faces throughout her life. The novel deals with such issues as family status, morality, religion, illegitimacy and, eventually, justice. Earlier in his life, Thomas Hardy witnessed the public execution of a woman found guilty of murdering her husband. This event had a huge impact on Hardy for it made him realise just how unfair his society was in matters of gender and social status. Victorian society believed that women were 'inferior' and incapable of strong emotion and passion. Through Tess, Hardy shows women as rounded, 3-dimensional characters, giving us a perfect overview of their psyche, emotions and opinions. The works of Thomas Hardy are noted for their tragic content. Throughout the course of history, tragedy has infiltrated all areas of the arts and literature. Tragic theatre was popular in ancient Greece, which is where the word itself comes from (literally meaning 'goat-song'). Such famous Greek tragedies include 'Oedipus' and 'Antigone'. Since then, tragedy has appeared in all areas, including
How is important is Chapter 34 to Thomas Hardys Tess of the DUrbervilles?
How is important is Chapter 34 to Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles’? Thomas Hardy’s ‘’Tess of the D’Urbervilles: a pure woman’’, published in 1890, is a novel which roused much controversy and dissension as it disputed many of the principles and beliefs held by Victorian society. The unfolding events and the which run through the book parody and highlight the way in which the system and organisation of the social structure were resolutely orientated upon class and ones social standing. The dominance of men and their influence in society is one aspect which too is touched upon and challenged by Hardy through the manner in which he shows his main protagonist falling prey to the nature of the patriarchal society, her fate and opportunities constantly determined by men. One of Hardy’s most potent and polemical attacks lies the uncaring nature of the Church and the role it played in society, its grandiose piousness often leaving it and so God with a seeming predisposition to an almost
Comment on setting in both "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and Disraeli's "Sybil"
Comment on setting in both Tess of the D'Urbervilles and another Victorian novel In any novel, the setting is vital, and often reflects the situation in either the plot or the characters feelings. In the Victorian novels setting was often either in the country side, surrounded by nature, in a world that was soon to change, an idealistic look back at the naturalistic world the author looked back to. Otherwise it would be set in the newly industrializing towns, such as London, providing an opinion on the evolution of towns and industry. Whilst there were exceptions to this, such as Disraeli's 'Sybil', in which the country is depicted in an entirely ghastly place, the tendencies of novels of the time were to use the nature around them to show exactly how the character was feeling, or what was going on. A prime example of this is Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, where not only does Hardy babble on like some idyllic stream about rural life, but he also utilises his setting to depict and dictate the mood to be experienced by Tess. Other books of the period also use setting to great effect, and I will also discuss these in accordance and in comparison to Tess. Tess takes place in rural southern England in an area called Wessex that roughly corresponds to present-day Dorset County. Wessex includes a variety of landscapes, from fertile valleys to arid limestone beds, bordered by
Using chapters 34 & 35 show how Hardy presents Angel's rejection of Tess why does he reject her
Using chapters 34 & 35 show how Hardy presents Angel's rejection of Tess why does he reject her? Hardy portrays Angel's rejection of Tess in a number of different ways. At the start of chapter 34 Angel makes the mistake of choosing an old d'Urberville mansion for their honeymoon. Tess is upset by the choice as it suggests that all will not be well. 'Welcome to your ancestral mansion,' is perceived being a very hypocritical remark by Angel as he is renowned in previous chapters for disliking old aristocratic families, yet contrary he likes Tess to be associated with this d'Urberville name. This gives the reader an insight in to his hypocritical side which will take precedence in his rejection of Tess. Hardy also adds to a sense of foreboding by the grim description of the house as a 'mouldy old inhabitation.' The portraits of the two d'Urbiville women are described in a derogatory way 'bill hook nose, large teeth.' The presence of these portraits disturbs Tess as her features are traceable to these women. This suggests that although she is visibly a beauty she has inherited the ugliness within and also the statement by Angel made in a previous chapter that rottenness is handed down in aristocratic families maybe true in her case. The 'smirk of merciless treachery,' shown on one of the family portraits suggests the knowing of with holding of information. This distresses Tess
Contrast the descriptions of Flintcomb Ash and Tolbothays, showing how Hardy uses the atmosphere of places to reflect different stages in Tess' life.
Contrast the descriptions of Flintcomb Ash and Tolbothays, showing how Hardy uses the atmosphere of places to reflect different stages in Tess' life. In this essay I will contrast and explain the description of Flintcomb Ash and Tolbothays Dairy. These two places are very important, because each place shows an important time in Tess' life. Hardy uses Tolbothays Dairy to represent the love and happiness she found and the chance for a new beginning after what happened with Alec. Alec raped her, he saw her as an object of desire. He took away her innocence. This was replaced with the burden of a child that dies. At this time, having a child out of wedlock was a form of public shame. In comparison, Flintcomb ash is where she was unhappy and shows us the audience a time of hard ship. Tess goes to Tolbothays because she cannot face any one in her own town, this is because Alec raped her. Then her baby dies her mother might have been partly to blame for the rape because she dressed her as an object of desire, because of all this happening Tess leaves and goes to Tolbothays Dairy there she hopes to start over again. Flintcomb Ash is a farm, She is forced to find work as a result of her husband (Angle) leaving her and going to Brazil. When Tess arrives at Talbothays she is feeling that there is great optimism and hope for the future. She has now recovered from her recent
English Essay on "Tess of the D'urbervilles" and " The Boarding House"
English Essay on "Tess of the D'urbervilles" and " The Boarding House" " Tess of the D'urbervilles" by Hardy is a thoughtful novel, which depicts life and explores the issue of children maturing and venturing into the world of independence on their own. The persona of this paperback is a sophisticated, reflective and intellectual young adult, presumably female. The narrator reflects on the myriad lessons that the youth (Tess) has familiarized herself with. In particular, Tess notes the value of one's actions and their consequential outcomes. Mutually " Tess of the D'urbervilles" and " The boarding house" illustrated the significantly dogmatic views, which pursue young females of that generation. The views of the past concerning females sexual maturity and virginity were recognized as orthodoxy. A female had a path of life previously set for her by society. She could not virtuously act against set values of her society. Further antagonistic approach to this set way of life would result in unwanted hate and vicarious acts upon you. To say that Polly, the wittingly charming character, and Tess, the shy young maid seeking to please her family, are like is far from the truth however, concerning the characters physical attributes; a correlation is seeable. Tess is sensual and naïve in her own rights. She is portrayed by her long time admirer who wants no more from you than