Alec Quotes

• "Recent erection", "almost new", "everything looked like money".


  - Missed opportunity & fate; fate and social class are interlinked. Despite being made aware that there are no relatives alive or ancestral mansions, John sends Tess to claim kin. PARENTAL ERROR.

  - THEME OF DECEPTION -> They are of an ancient lineage. The mansion Tess arrives to seems to be new money. The "recent erection" and the "almost new" building should have been a warning to Tess as the D'Urbervilles are ancient.

  - She is deceived, just as her family are deceived by the benefits of "claiming kin".

  - Bad omen; negative start -> foreshadows Tess' failure.

  - Link to industrialisation and the threats of it.
• "D'Urberville gave her the kiss of mastery."


  - Not only does Alec's social class as a man with "money" permit him to have power over Tess' financial stability, it also allows him to assert physical and emotional power over her.

  - It is not just a tragedy about Tess falling victim to her social class and poverty. It is also a tragedy about Tess' poverty making her a victim of the mastery of her kin which ultimately masters her life throughout the novel.

  - Alec's position as powerful man is made known; Hardy presents him as being in control and transcending Tess socially and in all other aspects of her life.

  - The "kiss of mastery" is also reflective of Tess' future, foreshadowing how a simple kiss will lead to her fate to be mastered by her past which is caused by her kin.

  - Nevertheless, this also shows Tess' passivity, she is passive and loses her power as an active character as she allows Alec to assert power over her.

  - Tess as a submissive woman; typical of her gender. Perhaps she is also submissive because of the social class and fears her family's financial stability being taken away?
• "Alec cursed and swore at her, and called her everything he could think of the trick."


  - Alec's social position and social class is made evident once again. He mistreats Tess and is not condemned for it. He asserts his social class over Tess.

  - Alec is upset by Tess' lack of subservience. As an upper class man, he is used to achieving all he wants.

  - Alec as a character who is power hungry -> foreshadows his desire to assert his power over Tess further. Typical of a tragedy: a battle of power.
• "For near three mortal months have you trifled with my feelings, eluded me, and snubbed me!"

  - Alec feels discontent with Tess because she rejects him and visibly does not love him.

  - Alec puts himself in a position of a victim, presenting Tess as a villain and a temptress who causes suffering to Alec. He reverses the roles. We are aware that he is the one who puts Tess in the position of a victim and attempts to tempt her for his own gain. Tess in an Eve-like position.

  - Mental manipulation; Alec asserts his social class over Tess once again. In knowing that Tess struggles financially and is fearful of not providing for her family, by making her believe that she has tempted him and caused him emotional distress, it could be argued that Alec exaggerates his feelings in attempt to persuade her to give into his desires out of fears.
• "Remember, my lady, I was your master once! I will be your master again. If you are any man's wife you are mine!"


  - Tess' encounter with Alec after attempting to visit Angel's family for financial help, but being prevented by his brothers' cruelty.

  - Alec's behaviour is complex to understand - he claims to be a converted Christian man, yet, his behaviour does not embody Christian morality. Instead of loving Tess, as expected of the Bible, he weaponises his social class and patriarchal expectations to abuse Tess.

  - Ironic; flashback to his behaviour towards Tess initially. He is still in this race of him trying to assert power over Tess. He is power hungry.

  - Foreshadows his assertion of power which is significant to the tragedy as it leads to Tess being manipulated by his tempting offers and causing a further downfall.

  - "Master": Metaphor for her rape controlling her life, she is mastered by him when in his presence or outside of his presence.

  - Structurally no change -> he carries to assert power over her. Cyclical structure.
• "I have enough and more than enough to put you out of anxiety, both for yourself and your parents and sisters. I will make them all comfortable."

  - Structurally the same - mirrors the Alec at the very beginning of the novel who attempts to manipulate Tess and asserts power over her through his exploitation of her social and financial insecurity.

  - Cyclical structure -> This structure makes us believe that another downfall of Tess' is to follow because everything seems to be repeating itself.

  - Importance of social class in Tess' downfall: Tess' social class is what makes her vulnerable at the hands of Alec. She has a weakness for providing for her family and not disappointing them. Considering she has disappointed them by leaving the marriage, Tess may accept the offer to mend her reputation and please her family.

  - She sacrifices herself for her family.
• "You will see what I have sent there for you."

  Tess: "I wish you wouldn't give me anything at all! I can't take it from you."


  - Cyclical structure; repetitive. Like at the beginning of the novel, Alec is manipulative and preys on Tess' weakness as a financially vulnerable character in attempt to persuade Tess to give into his desires.

  - Alec is a smart character; he is able to recognise Tess' flaws and prey on them, as well as manipulate them for his own benefit.

  - In this case, Alec is aware of Tess' fatal flaw - her weakness for her family. She is likely to obey him or follow him for the sake of him providing for her family.

  - Tess' reluctance to accept help suggests that she is aware herself of how the offers could impact her; foreshadows her abandoning her morals.