Tess

• "Every woman and girl in a white frock carried in her right hand a peeled willow wand, and in her left a bunch of white flowers."


  - The intrusive narrator is introducing the customs and traditions of the Mayday Dance from the beginning of the novel.

  - There is deliberate focus on the way the women are presented and how they look during the dance. The women are all surrounded by white and carry flowers that symbolise purity and innocence. They are almost angel-like.

  - Thus, in making Tess take part in the Mayday dance, the narrator only suggests one thing: she is pure, chaste and innocent. She is currently following Jacobean laws of purity.

  - However, the fact that there is a large focus on innocence foreshadows innocence and chastity as being one of the key themes of the novel (key focuses, too) and perhaps one of the factors that determine Tess' fate.
• "Genuine country girls unaccustomed to many eyes."


  - Focus on the girls that participate in the Mayday Dance.

  - In stating that the girls are "unaccustomed", puts the women/girls in an isolated position - with a lack of male interaction. This could suggest that Tess is in a similar position too, she is sheltered and protected from any male threat.

  - Perhaps that is one of the reasons as to why she is not aware of the dangers of menfolk? She lacked the knowledge>
• "A fine and handsome girl"

  "Mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes"

  "She wore a red ribbon in her hair"


  - This is the first time we encounter Tess; we encounter Tess in Chapter 2 and our first acknowledgment of her is through a presentation of her appearance.

  - Structurally important -> throughout the novel, the narrator feels the need to focus on Tess' appearance. Could Tess' appearance signify something? Perhaps it is one of the factors that determine her fate.

  - Moreover, in focusing on Tess' appearance, the narrator reduces her to her beauty, foreshadowing her being reduced to beauty throughout. Future events in the novel are foreshadowed by her description.

  - The contrast between Tess' "red ribbon" and her "white gown" also anticipates her innocence being tainted - perhaps reflective of the bedding sheets on the night of a wedding.

  - There is a reason as to why the writer had made her wear a red ribbon. Perhaps he is trying to send a message: Despite the red bow being small and her innocence being one of her best attributes, a small incident out of her control will overtake her innocence.

  - Important to note that the colour red acts as a motif throughout the novel: a symbol of blood, danger, hell, devil and death.
• "The pouted-up deep red mouth had a way of thrusting."


  - Once again, the narrator focuses on Tess' appearance but this time, the focus is more vulgar and intimate to the extent that the narrator makes readers believe that he has some sexual or physical attraction to Tess.

  - Again, Tess is presented as being followed by the red motif. It could be argued that in presenting Tess' mouth as being "red", he attributes the lack of innocence to her mouth. This could perhaps foreshadow her "parting her lips and taking in the strawberry" which might have seduced Alec into raping her because of her obedience.
• "Her freshness."

  "She was a fine and picturesque country girl, no more."

  - The narrator once again focuses on Tess' presentation but this time, on her purity. It can be argued that in calling her "fresh", the narrator suggests that Tess follows the laws of purity and chastity and thus is an ideal marriage prospect for the men seeking a wife at the Mayday Dance.

  - However, it is also important to consider as to why there is so much focus on Tess' innocence. Considering Hardy was an advocate for equality between men and women and wanted to challenge the double standards, it can be argued that in focusing on her innocence, Hardy attempts to solidify the readers' view of Tess as being an innocent girl, foreshadowing his attempt to maintain her reputation as a pure woman after her rape.

  - NOTE: The subtitle of the book is "a pure woman". Thus, in making the subtitle this, Hardy encourages the readers to see Tess as an innocent girl and keep this view of her throughout.

  - Moreover, in presenting her as a "fine and picturesque country girl" the narrator idealises Tess and presents her as being one with nature, reflective of the idyllic view of Angel.

  - Nevertheless, in stating that Tess was "no more" than a "country girl" Hardy could perhaps be focusing on the social position of working-class country girls; whose worth was undermined by the middle-class/upper-class men as they were often seen as good for their male pleasures. They are dehumanised throughout, thus, foreshadowing Tess being dehumanised too as a result of her social class.
• "There still beamed from the woman's features something of the freshness and even the prettiness of her youth."


  - Focus on her physical beauty and her inward beauty too - her innocence. The narrator seems infatuated with Tess. It is as if he is in love with her and knows her personally.

  - Many critics argue that Hardy attempts to present Tess as innocent despite the fact that her rape, her adultery (married to Alec according to religious law and thus, committing adultery with Angel) and her murder of Alec are far from being signs of innocence and purity. Thus, it can be argued that the narrator's/Hardy's extensive focus on her purity will be what guides him or encourages him to restore her reputation as an innocent girl throughout the novel
• "Deputy-maternal attitude"


  - Reference to Tess' attitude around her siblings.

  - It is clear that one of Tess' weaknesses are her siblings and their suffering as a result of poverty and parental neglect. Thus, it can be argued that her family's situation is one of the tragic villains which persuade her to exploit herself for her family's financial stability, thus making her embody a Jesus-like or Messiah-like role.

  - Moreover, in focusing that Tess has a "deputy-maternal attitude" which is a common occurrence within females, it can be argued that Tess is a victim of her gender. Had she been a boy perhaps, then the boy-version of her may perhaps have prevented her from acting out of empathy and love for her siblings.

  - Foreshadows Tess becoming a mother.

  - This "deputy-maternal attitude" places roles and obligations on Tess; she has been forced to grow up earlier than expected which not only foreshadows her rape at a teen age but also foreshadows her emotional and financial burden when she is only a teen which puts her in complex situations between choosing herself or her family.
• "The girl's young features looked sadly out of place amid the alcoholic vapours."


  - Focus on her innocence and naïveté; an adult environment forced upon her innocence.

  - It is clear that she is young.

  - Foreshadows her "young features sadly out of place" when encountering Alec who wants to exert power over her.
• "But somebody must go. I think I could go if Abraham could go with me to keep me company."


  - Tess is seeking someone to accompany her in finding her parents at the inn.

  - Tess is presented as an active, brave and powerful teenage girl who is forced to grow up faster than other children normally are. It could be argued that this is due to her "deputy-maternal role" which provides her with an acute sense of responsibility, presenting her as being more responsible than her actual parents. Thus, in doing so, Hardy puts Tess and her siblings in a difficult position, emphasising the impact parental error has on herself and her parents, to the extent that she has to fulfil the parental role. Not only does the parental error force Tess to fulfil the parental role, but it also forces her to take actions and live according to what is best for her siblings and her family, as seen when Tess has to sacrifice her own free-will and dreams to "claim kin" for her family to prevent them from falling in further poverty.

  - Poverty is a driving force in Tess' life which determines her fate. Poverty and parental error as a tragic villain.

  - Tess is also presented as being an independent, strong-willed woman, challenging stereotypes. We begin to admire her.
• "She became splashed from face to skirt with crimson drops."


  - After Prince's death. Blood stains Tess "white muslin figure" to the extent that it if from "face to skirt". Thus, it can be argued that in presenting Tess as being covered with blood, Hardy uses it as a metaphor to foreshadow the extent to which her future sins will impact her future. Despite the fact that she is an innocent girl, her innocence is exploited to the extent that she cannot rid herself of the past sin and is what determines her life.

  - It is almost claustrophobic - no part of Tess remains untouched by the blood. The covering of Tess "from face to skirt" is also significant in suggesting that Tess cannot escape her victimisation, as well as her condemnation by the Victorian religious morals.

  - Moreover the blood all over Tess could be a metaphor and symbolic for the blame of Prince's death being put on Tess. She has 'blood on her hands' and therefore must play an active role in helping her family's suffering to prevent their further suffering. However, her killing of Prince, although not deliberate, it is what allows her negative fate to start as it is the factor that encourages her to remain passive against her parents and accept her fate be controlled by them.

  - BAD OMEN; Prince's death will change her.
• "Nobody blamed Tess as she blamed herself."


  - It is clear that Tess' "deputy-maternal attitude" not only impacts her behaviour and emotions to her siblings, but also forces her to take a responsible role for causing her family and her siblings possible disaster.

  - This is structurally important -> Prince's death happens just after Joan's suggestion to Jack that the "fortune-teller" had told her she should send Tess to claim kin. Thus, in structuring it in this way, the death of Prince gives Joan and Jack a further reason as to why they should listen to the "fortune-teller" and send her to claim kin. They now have a valid reason.

  - Tess as a scapegoat; her own enemy as she tends to over-exaggerate a lot of the incidents within the novel. She exaggerates the death of Prince although we know she was passive in her contribution to it, yet, her maternal instinct intensifies her guilt, thus, leading her to "claim kin".
• "A fulness of growth that made her appear more of a woman than she really was."


  - The descriptions of Tess are too vulgar and explicit, to the extent that we begin to dislike the narrator for how he sexualises her.

  - We pity Tess because the focus on her physical appearance is a clear sign that she is a victim of patriarchy, her beauty being a nuisance.

  - We feel disgusted. Her beauty makes her, her own victim. Tess is sexualised. Perhaps in sexualising Tess, the narrator prepares us for the further sexualisation of Tess which is inevitable because of her presentation.

  - Perhaps a metaphor for Tess having to grow emotionally and mentally at a faster rate than other girls due to her social standing, her maternal instinct and her fears of causing suffering for her family. It is Tess' fast pace growth which leaves her innocent and passive towards her parents' plans, obeying them out of fear of poverty.
• "Roses at her breast; roses in her hat; roses and strawberries in her basket."

  "A thrown of the rose remaining in her breast accidentally pricked her chin."

  - Colour imagery of red throughout; a recurring motif.

  - Alec decorates her with roses suggesting that to Alec, the most important aspect of a woman is her appearance. Thus, it can be argued that Alec's encounter with Tess and his description of her are a clear sign he loves her for her physicalities.

  - The thorn pricking her chin is symbolic of loss of virginity, foreshadowing the pain and suffering to come, as well as foreshadowing the pain and suffering to come as a result of poverty which exploits Tess well-being, free-will and self-worth. Significant to the tragedy as poverty is what leads her to such suffering.

  - Tess being surrounded by roses also makes us feel as if she is in a claustrophobic situation she cannot escape, anticipating her inability to escape Alec's dangers and the pain caused by him because of poverty.
• "Her self-esteem had sunk so low."

  - Tess' beauty as a fatal flaw. Although her beauty and her physical appearance is out of her control, it is one of the factors which make her tragically suffer.

  - Every character she encounters focuses on Tess' beauty in some way.

  - As Tess becomes more aware that characters focus on her beauty and objectify her, she grows more self-conscious.

  - Hardy argues that Tess' suffering is not as a result of inward factors but as a result of outward factors outside of her control. Thus, her beauty was out of her control and therefore can be argued that anyone who blames her future rape on her is wrong. She plays no active role.
• "Tess' hair looked twice as much as other times. She put upon her that white frock which imparted to her developing figure an amplitude which belied her age, and might cause her to be estimated as a woman when was not much more a child."


  - Tess is presented as being a victim of her mother's parental error as her mother attempts to upsell her beauty, making her even more beautiful than usual. Although we are aware that Tess' beauty is a focus throughout the novel, in trying to make her more beautiful than usual, the narrator suggests that her mother is trying to sell her for her beauty. Her own mother objectifies her and uses her as a tool for financial stability.

  - Tess is presented as being a sacrificial character, Jesus-like, passive to the control other characters have over her life and is willing to accept exploitation of her looks, kindness and love towards her family for their own benefit. Tess is in a vulnerable position because of parental error and poverty.

  - Moreover, in deliberately dressing Tess in the "white frock", Joan presents Tess as a chaste and innocent young girl ready for marriage as she embodies victorian values on purity, implying she is ready to sell Tess to Alec.

  - Tess' mother also deliberately made Tess look older to enhance Alec's fancy for her.

  - Tess as a naive and innocent child.
• "I wouldn't let her go till I had found out whether the gentleman is really a good-hearted young man."


  - Fate/missed opportunity.

  - Tess a victim of her gender and parental error. Marriages were seen as financial transactions. It is clear that although her mother regrets sending her to claim kin, her main focus is to get Tess married as she cares about Alec being a "good-hearted young man".

  - Victorian norms for women: the parents found the spouse for their daughter. Thus, it can be argued that the victorian norms are also what makes Tess a victim. The control and power given to parents is immense to the extent that forcibly sending a child to marriage is permitted. These backwards norms play a role in her fate, her passivity and her urge to please her parents by sacrificing herself.
• "Tess' white muslin"


  - Innocence, chastity.
• "She wiped the spot on her cheek that had been touched by his lips."

  "She had undone the kiss as far as such a thing was physically possible."

  - It is clear that Tess is in a moment of desperation as she has her innocence abused and exploited by Alec's "kiss of mastery".

  - Thus, in presenting Tess being desperate to undue the forced romantic act on her, Hardy presents Tess as attempting to hold on/regain her innocence as much as possible. It is clear that she is not ready for any romantic interaction and wants to remain pure. LINK TO IMPORTANCE OF CHASTITY.

  - It is also important to note that when Tess is kissed by Alec, she cannot escape as she is on a carriage on her way to Trantridge. Thus, Alec deliberately kisses her in a situation where she cannot escape or is forced to remain obedient to him, knowing that her disobedience may ruin her chances of claiming kin.

  - Significant to the tragedy; although she actively tries to fight against his sexual abuse, Alec would see his romantic assertion of power over her as an incentive to further act on his pleasures because of the importance he now has in her life - as her kin, causing her life to fall into ruins.

  - Nevertheless, it could also be argued that despite denying the offer of a kiss, yet allowing Alec to kiss her, she is passive. She is passive as she fears to disobey him knowing the opportunities her family will receive. She sacrifices her morals for money. TRAGIC.
• "Her appearance drew upon her some sly regards from loungers in the streets of Chaseborough."


  - Reduced to her looks; an ill-omen. At the presence of men, Tess is always objectified and over-sexualised. It is clear that her beauty is a nuisance and will bring her downfall.
• "Maiden no more"


  - Title of Phase the Second.

  - This is significant as Tess has lost her virginity to Alec and she is no longer considered a 'pure woman', at least by society's standards. This prepares the readers for Tess' fate as an ostracised woman for her sins, suggesting that the loss of her virginity will impact her negatively.

  - The focus on Tess no longer being a "maiden" suggests that purity and chastity are an essential requirement of a woman, and thus, she will struggle.

  - She is now a fallen woman; consequences of the rape. Ironic; in presenting her as a fallen woman, Hardy alludes to the downfall of Adam and Eve. Unlike the common view that female was the cause of male downfall, Hardy distorts it and suggests that a man is the cause of Tess' downfall.

  - Tess as a victim of patriarchy and misogyny. Alec will be one of the tragic villains in her life.
• "Did it never strike your mind that what every woman says some women may feel?"

  - Tess says this after Alec mocks her for saying that "she didn't understand [his] meaning until it was too late". He believes "that's what every woman says". Alec is presented as the epitome of misogyny and patriarchy, dehumanising women by ignoring their emotions. Instead of seeing women as worthy beings, he sees them as manipulative women who are worthy of their mistreatment. Moreover, in saying so, Alec suggests that he is selfish and self-centred, focusing on his own pleasures rather than female pleasures.

  - Tess takes on an active role by attempting to take on the role of a feminist advocate against patriarchy, misogyny and double standards. Tess holds similar views to Hardy, and thus, it can be argued that Tess' stance against Alec's response is Hardy trying to address the mistreatments of women.

  - NOT PASSIVE; SHE HAS A VOICE. However, we pity her because she stands up for herself when it is too late.

  - Tess as a feminist. We admire her. This novel is not just a tragedy about Tess as a victim of patriarchy, but it is also a novel which relates to any woman who reads this. The innate fear held by women against men and their manipulative nature.
• "I must put one there - one that will be good for dangerous young females like yourself to heed: "thou shall not commit"."

  - On her way to Marlott after leaving Trantridge, Tess encounters an artisan with red paint whose job is to paint religious verses in places around the town.

  - Having painted: "thy, damnation, slumbereth, not", the man decides to paint "thou shall not commit -", reasoning that it is one needed for dangerous females like Tess.

  - STRUCTURALLY IMPORTANT: In making Tess encounter the artisan who is painting religious verses about sexual morality to prevent "dangerous young females" from sinning, Hardy suggests that Tess' fate as an adulterer had been solidified to the extent that she cannot escape societal judgement. Her fate is sealed and she cannot escape. Moreover, in making the artisan focus on the sinning of dangerous females, Hardy also puts Tess in a position of discomfort which may make her feel as if she is wronged. The artisan holds a misogynistic stance and blames the downfall of men and their promiscuity on the beauty of women which makes them "dangerous", thus, unknowingly implying that Tess' beauty is the cause of her own downfall and her rape.

  - Tess as a victim of Victorian religious morality. The artisan's attitude towards Tess and other beautiful women suggests that he is weaponising religion to create fears amongst the women, contradicting what religions stands for - promoting love.

  - Fate/missed opportunity; the red quote also suggests that her adultery is hard to escape and it is what she will be labelled by.

  - Significant to the tragedy: Alec has now ruined her fate and fortune. She cannot escape his evil nature. It will tragically impact her future.
• "She had dreaded him, winced before him, succumbed to adroit advantages he had took of her helplessness."

  - Tess as a victim; Alec presented as a tragic villain which preyed on Tess' weaknesses: "he had took of her helplessness."

  - It is clear that Tess is a victim of patriarchy and misogyny because of her view that Alec had exploited her weaknesses, such as her empathy towards her suffering family, her naïveté and her desire to help her family, for his own benefit.

  - This quote is a clear sign that the relationship which existed between the two characters was one-sided; Tess was non-consensually exploited sexually. It goes against the natural order of things -> not meant to be.
• "A handsome young woman with deep dark eyes and pale cheeks."

  - Motif; a lot of the novel focuses on Tess' beauty. Even after Tess leaves Trantridge, she is subject to objectification.

  - It is clear that even when she tries to escape the male gaze, she attracts it. Her beauty as a nuisance.

  - Tess at the farm with Sorrow.

  - The "deep dark eyes" and the "pale cheeks" reflect the impact being a "fallen woman" has on Tess. She is presented as being a soulless, lifeless and powerless woman who is numb by her past trauma. It is clear that Tess has been emotionally exploited to the extent that her suffering cannot be hidden by her physical appearances.

  - We begin to pity Tess even more; she is traumatised.
• "'It is always the comeliest! The plain ones be as safe as churches."

  - Extensive focus on Tess' looks throughout; it is as if the narrator is aware that her beauty is a nuisance.

  - This quote is reflective of the patriarchal, misogynistic and Victorian norms which were weaponised against women.

  - Tess is being targeted by those norms and is seen as a character who has challenged those norms because of her beauty.

  - NOTE: Hardy is a darwinistic writer; he often takes a darwinistic approach - evolution of people. Hardy made an interesting point that Tess' features and her beauty stemmed from evolution and therefore were out of control, thus, she cannot be blamed for what has happened to her.

  - However, considering the stance of Victorians on pre-marital sex and the view that women were seen as the inferior gender, Tess is likely to have been fully incriminated and blamed for what has happened to herself. Many critics argue that it is ultimately Tess' fault she has been raped.

  - Patriarchal view - presents the looks of women as being a threat to women themselves, as well as men. A religious stance and link to the downfall of Adam and Eve; Eve caused her own downfall, as well as Adam's.
• "The maids could not refrain from mischievously throwing in a few verses of the ballad about the maid who went to the merry green wood and came back a changed state."

  - Significance of journeys in Hardy's novel: each journey of Tess represents the process of Tess experiencing change and becoming a new version of herself. It is clear that her journey through the woods has created a new version of herself - a 'fallen' woman, which she is known for.

  - "Changed state" -> almost dehumanising to Tess in a way; she is the same person yet she is known for her changed state. Societal pressures and norms dehumanise Tess' goodness and true nature of character merely because she was raped.

  - In stating that the maids could not "refrain from mischievously throwing in a few verses", Hardy implies that it is not just Tess vs Victorian norms and men, it is Tess vs all members of society - whether it is women, church goers, her parents and men. Tess as a victim of society and the people around it.

  - She is very ostracised.

  - Hardy places emphasis on the toxicity and weaponisation of Victorian norms, threatening victims' peace and making them fear the judgement they could face. The fact that morals exist is not wrong; what matters is how we apply them. Victorians use the moral norms as a reason to condemn sinners.
• "Her figure looked singularly tall and imposing as she stood in her long white nightgown."

  
  

  "An immaculate beauty"


  - Although Hardy has elevated Tess throughout the novel, and romanticised her beauty which he perceives as being perfect and ideal, in the scene where Tess baptises Sorrow, Hardy elevates her to a height she has never reached before.

  - Hardy puts Tess on a pedestal, presenting her as being in a holy position, almost saint-like, incapable of sinning, thus, overlooking her past sins. It could be argued that this is his attempt to mould Tess to fit in with his subtitle as a "pure woman".

  - Moreover, his description of her as an "immaculate beauty" and his reference to religious language also puts Tess in the position of Virgin Mary, alluding that Tess is the epitome of purity, chastity and innocence and therefore, he does not condemn her for her sins. Whilst some may argue that Hardy is deluded in seeing Tess like this, others may argue that Hardy's view is understandable. Tess did not sin because she wanted to. Rather, she was coerced into sinning by several factors outside of her control: poverty, parental error and Alec.

  - "Singularly and tall" -> Tess as an independent, active and strong woman who manages to strive despite her suffering. We admire her.
• "A thick cable of twisted dark hair handing straight down her back to her waist."


  - Foreshadows her death by hanging.
• "She did not look like Sissy to them now, but as a being large, towering, and awful - a divine personage with whom they had nothing in common."


  - Hardy presents Tess as a character who is ongoing change. It is important to consider however, what type of change it is. Ironically, for once it is not a negative change. Rather, Tess' presentation juxtaposes her previous passive, powerless and victim nature of Tess. She is now a mature, independent and God-like character, worshipped by her siblings.

  - Her presentation is very supernatural; she is elevated to an immense extent. Perhaps could this be a reflection of her supernatural abilities to assert her power over Alec at the end of the novel? Typically, in a tragedy, we would expect the tragic villain to kill the tragic heroine. In Tess of the D'Urbervilles, the tragic heroine kills the tragic villain, restoring her noble position which is unexpected.

  - "Large, towering and awful" -> powerful, strong.
• "The disastrous night of her undoing at Trantridge."


  - Tess presented as a powerless and passive victim against her fate; her active efforts are futile.

  - One of the common patterns of a domestic tragedy is a tragic hero who lacks a noble position and is subject to becoming a victim of its fate and attempts to challenge their fate through their active efforts, but their active efforts are always futile. Thus, Tess is both a passive and active character.

  - Tess as a victim of Victorian norms. We begin to question the ethical nature of Victorian norms. Is it really ethical to condemn and ostracise Tess eternally when she was forced to sin?

  - The disastrous night foreshadows the disasters faced by Tess.
• "The silent reconstructive years for Tess Durbeyfield."


  - NOTE: This is one of the first sentences in Phase the Third - "the Rally". It helps readers anticipate Tess' attempt to escape her past in this phase and rebuild a future for herself away from that influence.

  - NOTE: Hardy rarely addresses Tess by her surname. When he refers to her, he usually calls her by her first name: "Tess". The only time when Hardy makes a reference to her surname is when she is forced to claim kin because of her lineage. Therefore, in calling her "Tess Durbeyfield", Hardy perhaps suggests that her efforts will be futile because she cannot escape her lineage and their past? Many characters also make a reference to her past, such as Mr Crick and Angel.

  - "Silent reconstructive years" -> metaphor for Tess' rebuilding and her change - her attempt to become a new person. TESS PRESENTED AS AN ACTIVE CHARACTER.
• "All my prettiness comes from her and she was only a dairymaid."

  - It is clear that Tess' beauty is inherited from Joan. This raises questions. We previously see Joan as a failed parent who is not mentally and emotionally present for her daughter and her other children, although she is physically present for them.

  - Considering Tess' beauty is inherited from Joan, and Tess' beauty is a nuisance to herself, it can therefore be argued that it is inevitable that Joan had likely experienced a past similar to Tess'. Thus, it is plausible to say that Joan's reaction to Tess' rape is not one as a result of parental error. Perhaps, Joan was in the same position as Tess too and is therefore trying to advise her daughter in the best way possible to prevent her further suffering?

  - It could also be argued that Tess' parents have an extensive focus on Tess' beauty - almost selling her for her physical appearance. However, it could be argued that Tess' treatment by her parents is not as a result of parental error, rather, it is a trauma response or something normalised amongst them - especially Joan - who would have likely been sold for her beauty too?

  - Tess as a character who parallels her mother; ironically becomes a dairymaid too.
• "How pretty she is!"

  - Tess' arrival to Talbothays-Dairy and her first encounter with the milkmaids.

  - Tess' looks are focused on in all of her life's journeys. Hardy puts Tess in a position where she is presented as being the epitome of beauty and innocence; almost like a deity/Greek Goddess.
• "A prize for any man."

  - Dairyman Crick's view of Tess.

  - Tess is being presented as a prized possession for any man, invaluable and expensive. Patriarchal attitude -> women as prized possessions?

  - Tess as a deceptive character; link to the importance of virtue and chastity within women. In calling Tess a "prize", it could be argued that Mr Crick was also deceived into believing that Tess fits in with Victorian social norms.

  - Ironic; she is not a "prize" according to the typical social norms. Victorian readers would be enraged by Mr Crick's view as they know of her past. Considering her past, to the typical patriarchal and misogynistic, or religious Victorian reader, Tess is worthless.

  - Presented as bringing benefits to men; irony, she causes suffering in Alec's and Angel's life.
• "The woman pays"

  - The title of Phase the Fifth. In giving this name to Phase the Fifth, Hardy helps the readers anticipate the punishments faced by Tess as a fallen woman living in sin. However, we also question the morality of this title and Victorian norms. Why is Tess punished for a sin she was forced to do?

  - Tess as a victim of social conventions. Some may argue that Angel must pay for his sins too.

  - Link to Adam and Eve; women being blamed for the downfall of men.

  - It is clear that throughout the novel there is a society vs. Tess stance; society puts social norms on a pedestal and weaponises them against women.

  - Even though the crimes of Angel, Alec and Tess are equal, the punishments aren't. It can even be argued that Tess' crime is the least serious as it was outside of her free will.

  - Increases tension. We are curious to see how she will pay.
• "I will obey you like a wretched slave."

  - Tess to Angel upon hearing his disappointment and his evident loss of love towards her after confessing the truth.

  - Tess as a passive, powerless character under male control. She is arguably in the same position as she was at the beginning of the novel, passive to Alec.

  - Tess is presented as an ideal wife. Despite her mistreatment, she follows her duties as a dutiful, obeying and submissive wife, instead of riding herself off her duty, showing her true love. Perhaps she is in a sense of desperation and shock? Perhaps she accepts being Angel's servant because she cannot accept a life without the man she loves the most.

  - Follows Victorian social conventions of a woman for once.
• "I am glad to live with you as your servant, if I may not as your wife."


  - Structurally important: Tess sends Angel a letter of desperation about her situation, after encountering Alec and being tempted by his offer.

  - Although typically Tess would have accepted Alec's tempting offer, in writing a letter to Angel and urging him to make a return, and allow her to be his "servant", Tess takes on the position of an active, powerful character, attempting to change her fate and prevent herself from being tempted by Alec.

  - A true testimony of love; she is willing to sacrifice her marital relationship just to prevent herself from further sinning.

  - A devoted wife.
• "O, you have treated me monstrously Angel, I do not deserve it."


  - The relationship dynamic begins to be questioned. Tess takes on an atypical stance in her relationship. She is given the position of a powerful woman whose power transcends her husband's as she begins to question Angel of all his actions. She is no longer an obedient and dutiful wife, rather, she is the complete opposite; their boundaries are blurred and we no longer know who the most powerful is in the relationship.

  - Tess is passive and has a say in the situation, she does not accept her fate as she is visibly angry at Angel and challenges him for the injustices she has faced.

  - Tess presents the general plight of women, sacrificing themselves for the errors of men.

  - Tess is in a moral dilemma which could have been avoided if Angel did not have a deluded view of her innocence.
• "He has come between us and ruined us, and now he can never do it any more. It came to me as a shining light that I should get you back that way."

  - STRUCTURALLY IMPORTANT: Tess kills Alec after Angel's return. Thus, it can be argued that it is Angel who persuades her to act out of character, and therefore, she is still innocent. She was influenced to become a murderess, it was not out of her free will.

  - Some may argue that Tess' murder of Alec is a declaration of love for Angel, a testimony of her faithfulness and fidelity. Although she incriminates herself, the outcome is romantic. It is the couple's way of rekindling with each other and remain together as lovers.

  - It could also be argued that Tess further incriminating herself and becoming a sinner could have been prevented should Angel not have returned or should he have never dreamed about Tess killing him or that "it would have been different if he was dead".

  - We begin to question if it will now be different for the couple.
• "O Angel - I wish you could marry Liza-Lu. She is so gentle and sweet, she has all the best of me without the bad of me."


  - Controversial; as the novel progresses we begin to realise that Tess challenges many social conventions, not just the social conventions of purity and chastity. She challenges ecclesiastical law that forbids a man from marrying his sister-in-law (LEVITICUS), even if his wife is deceased.

  - Tess is a very controversial character; religious laws do not apply to her. She had sex before marriage, is a murderer and disobeys Biblical law, thus, she begins to be further despised by the Victorian or Christian reader.

  - It is odd that Angel is rewarded with the marriage.

  - Tess is insecure about herself, she makes Angel aware that there is a better version of her.

  - Once again, social injustice -> the woman suffer and the man doesn't. Angel is not punished at all for what he has caused Tess to do. DOUBLE STANDARD.