Paper Summary:

The paper addresses the significance of the remote location of Wessex and the attitudes of the aristocrats in the novel towards the attention of lower-class women. The paper describes how Tess of the lower classes is seen as symbolic of country life where women were defined solely by their relationships with men, their beauty and their social class. The paper also points out the skewed interpretations of morality in this story that highlights the common spirit endemic to rural England.

From the Paper:

"The connection between Alec and Tess is established early on because Tess' father is in love with the idea of being part of the landed gentry. He learns his name is loosely linked to that of the ancient d'Urberville clan. The foolish, awestruck inability to understand what class divisions really mean in the Durbeyfield family are seen in the reaction to Mr. Durbeyfield's revelation: "'Yes; and we'll all claim kin!' said Abraham brightly from under the bedstead. 'And we'll all go and see her when Tess has gone to live with her; and we'll ride in her coach and wear black clothes!'" (Chapter 4). Although the revelation that the Durbeyfields and d'Urbervilles are linked demonstrates the falseness of class constructs--there is only a few letter's difference between the two names--the power of social constructions, within the setting of the novel give the corruption of the d'Urberville's Norman name great weight. Alec has all of the social power in this English country setting, Tess has none.
"Tess' father sends Tess away to the d'Urberville estate, which to Tess seems like another world, even though geographically it is not that far away--however, due to the limited vision of the localized perspective of what makes a 'great man,' and Tess' limited experience, she feels as if she is being torn far away from her home. Tess' experience living in the country marks her physically and intellectually--she still speaks with a thick dialect at the beginning of the novel, and blends in with the other members of her town. The only real, initial difference between Tess and other girls like her is her slightly greater beauty, symbolized by the ribbon she wears on a May festival day."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hardy, Thomas. Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A pure woman. Online literature. August 11, 2009. http://www.online-literature.com/hardy/tess_urbervilles/

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