Tess of the d' Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Some critics have said that fate conspires
against Tess, and that she is not responsible
for the things which happen to her. She
herself says, "I am more sinned against than sinning." Do you agree or disagree? Support
your answer with evidence from the text.
As a person who believes that many things are un-avoidable, no matter how careful you are to avoid them, I believe that Tess's life was tragically destroyed by the hand of fate. It is obvious through the words and actions of Tess that she only wanted to have a calm, normal life. However, it seems that she was chosen, for whatever reason, to be on the receiving end of continuous hardships.
From the very beginning of the novel, Tess receives "the short end of the stick" in almost every scene. She is one of the girls who doesn't get to dance with the strange young man before he returns to his brothers. Although they exchange looks at each other, he runs off into the night without a word spoken between them. This is our first glimpse of Tess, and even before we learn more about her, we know that her family is not well off and that her father seems to be a bit of a drunk. Next, she is, to a degree, railroaded into going to claim kinship to the d'Urbervilles.
"OeWell, as I killed the horse, mother,' she
said mournfully, OeI suppose I ought to do
something. I don't mind going and seeing
her, but you must leave it to me about
asking for help."
Tess was very reluctant to go to the d'Urberville house and ask for help, but for some reason, her parents chose her. At the d'Urberville's house, Alec first harasses Tess when they go horseback riding, forcing her to let him kiss her. After that, another event occurs that shows the vulnerability of innocent Tess. The event is written about with a air that could make fate seem a definite cause for the actions against her well being.
"One may, indeed, admit the possibility of a retribution lurking in the present catastro-
phe. Doubtless
Some critics have said that fate conspires
against Tess, and that she is not responsible
for the things which happen to her. She
herself says, "I am more sinned against than sinning." Do you agree or disagree? Support
your answer with evidence from the text.
As a person who believes that many things are un-avoidable, no matter how careful you are to avoid them, I believe that Tess's life was tragically destroyed by the hand of fate. It is obvious through the words and actions of Tess that she only wanted to have a calm, normal life. However, it seems that she was chosen, for whatever reason, to be on the receiving end of continuous hardships.
From the very beginning of the novel, Tess receives "the short end of the stick" in almost every scene. She is one of the girls who doesn't get to dance with the strange young man before he returns to his brothers. Although they exchange looks at each other, he runs off into the night without a word spoken between them. This is our first glimpse of Tess, and even before we learn more about her, we know that her family is not well off and that her father seems to be a bit of a drunk. Next, she is, to a degree, railroaded into going to claim kinship to the d'Urbervilles.
"OeWell, as I killed the horse, mother,' she
said mournfully, OeI suppose I ought to do
something. I don't mind going and seeing
her, but you must leave it to me about
asking for help."
Tess was very reluctant to go to the d'Urberville house and ask for help, but for some reason, her parents chose her. At the d'Urberville's house, Alec first harasses Tess when they go horseback riding, forcing her to let him kiss her. After that, another event occurs that shows the vulnerability of innocent Tess. The event is written about with a air that could make fate seem a definite cause for the actions against her well being.
"One may, indeed, admit the possibility of a retribution lurking in the present catastro-
phe. Doubtless