Tess Of The Du'rbervilles

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Tess has been described as “a toy in the hands of fate.” Comment on this using examples from the first part of the novel.

In Hardy’s novel ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles the character Tess is seen as a tragic figure. There are a number of key factors that can back-up this argument. The first is that Tess’s behaviour towards others. She is seen as a young, pretty and sensible girl according to her family. However, to strangers she is taken advantage of and ‘hurt’. I think that she is responsible for her own downfall due to her behaviour and actions. Tess is somehow drawn into a circle of evilness by one ‘Alec D’Urberville’. He is the closest living relative and is also very wealthy but Tess’s father John was not aware of this until he met the Parson. When Tess is sent to the D’Urberville family at Talbothays to work by her mother, she is here taken advantage of. This part of the novel can back-up my argument of Tess being described as “a toy in the hands of fate.”

In the opening chapter Tess’s father meets the Parson to find out more about his close relatives who live in a richer society than himself and his family, (the D’Urbeyfields). Parson Tingham told John D’Urbeyfield about his rich history heritage and that he is the lineal representative of the ancient family of the D’Urbervilles. John D’Urbeyfield was then unaware by this news that the Parson had told him. For i.e. the Parson states “Don’t you really know that you are the lineal representative of the ancient knightly family of the D’Urbervilles?” This suggests the unawareness of John D’Urbeyfield not knowing of his wealthy family fortunes. This meeting also had an impact on Tess as this was a chance for her to find out more about her wealthy history heritage, however at the same time a chance for fate due to her fathers’ decision to send her to the D’Urbervilles due to the father at Victorian times were to be seen as the main person of the house at that particular period of time.

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A short while later in the novel there is a dance at Marlott where Tess and Angel exchange glances at each other. These two have never met before which results in them meeting for the first time. Angel drops out of the dance and then glances at Tess who is sitting there and both exchange glances at each other as if one of them were to expect an answer from another. However, Angel walks straight past Tess not saying a word leaving Tess a feeling of neglect. For instance the text states “As he fell out of the dance his eyes ...

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