Chapter 9

• -    "I’ll always be ugly now, because Angel is not here."- This moment reflects Tess’s internalized guilt and loss of self-worth, which Hardy uses to illustrate how societal and personal shame weigh heavily on her.
• -    "The wrong man met her, and with her reluctance, fate sealed her path."- This quote highlights the theme of fate, suggesting that Tess’s life is shaped by random misfortune. Alec’s intrusion into her life is seen as a fateful encounter, signalling Tess’s impending downfall.
• -    The harder I strive to be good, the more I suffer."- Tess’s lament reflects her deep frustration with her circumstances. No matter how hard she tries to do the right thing, she is met with suffering. Hardy emphasizes the tragic irony of Tess’s situation, where virtue leads to punishment.