- A description of Sorrow. He is presented as being a 'child of a child' emphasising Tess' innocence, naïveté and lack of powerlessness in her preventing her rape because of how young she is.
- Exploitation of Tess is made evident; not only is she exploited by Alec through her rape, but she is also exploited by her parents for selling her body for financial stability despite still being a child.
- Poverty as a form of evil; poverty requires Tess to exploit herself and abandon her morals. This is acceptable for the poor people as they would go through any means to reach their end goal of financial stability.
- In focusing that Sorrow is a "child's child", Hardy elevates Tess. Not only is she a victim of rape, but she has the strength to carry an unwanted pregnancy as a child. This is the ultimate testimony of strength. Despite being passive, Tess is still powerful. She begins to be admired by us as readers.
- He also elevates her by focusing on her innocence and childhood because of the actions of hers that are to follow. She is able to take on a God-like/saint-like role by being brave and is able to baptise her child.
- She has faced a lot as a child but does not give up - ACTIVE.
