Book Notes: Tess of the d’Urbervilles Plot
1 Tess of the d’Urbervilles Plot
1.1 Tess’s Relationships
1.1.1 Be sent to work for the d’Urbervilles by her parents
1.1.2 Meet Alec d’Urberville
Tess’s experience with Alec d’Urberville is a pivotal moment in the novel. Tess goes to work for Alec d’Urberville, a wealthy and manipulative man who seduces her. Initially, Tess is hesitant and resistant to his advances, feeling uncomfortable with his wealth, power, and manipulative personality. However, as she spends more time with him, Tess becomes more vulnerable and starts to develop feelings for Alec. She sees him as someone who can help her family and provide her with the security and stability she longs for. In this way, Alec takes advantage of Tess’s vulnerability and uses his power and wealth to manipulate her into becoming his mistress. Despite her reservations, Tess feels trapped and unable to resist Alec’s charm and seduction. Her experiences with Alec highlight the power dynamics at play in Victorian society and the challenges faced by women who were limited by their social and economic circumstances. Ultimately, Tess’s relationship with Alec leads to tragedy and sets the stage for the rest of the novel.
1.1.3 Become pregnant
Tess becomes pregnant by Alec and gives birth to a son, who dies soon after. This tragic event deepens her feelings of shame and guilt and further isolates her from her family and community. Tess is haunted by the memory of her relationship with Alec and the shame of being an unwed mother. She feels like an outcast and is forced to hide her past from those around her. When she returns home to her family, they are initially supportive and sympathetic but soon become more critical and judgmental, seeing her as a burden and a source of shame. This sense of rejection and isolation contributes to Tess’s growing sense of despair and hopelessness, setting the stage for the tragic events that will follow. Through Tess’s experiences, the novel explores the themes of social and economic inequality, gender roles, and the destructive power of shame and guilt.
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1.2 Tess’s Marriage
1.2.1 Marry Angel Clare
As Tess struggles to come to terms with her past and the shame that comes with it, she meets Angel Clare, a kind and idealistic young man who is studying to become a farmer. They quickly fall in love and plan to get married, with Angel believing that Tess is a pure and innocent woman who embodies his ideal of a perfect wife. However, as their relationship deepens, Tess becomes increasingly tormented by the secret she is keeping from Angel. She knows that she is not the virtuous woman that Angel thinks she is and fears that he will reject her if he finds out the truth about her past. This sense of guilt and shame pervades their relationship, with Tess feeling like she is living a lie and unable to share herself with Angel fully. The tension and anxiety in their relationship highlight the societal and cultural constraints on women during the Victorian era, where women were judged harshly for their sexuality and were expected to be pure and virtuous. Tess’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present and her love for Angel underscores the powerful emotional and psychological toll that societal norms and expectations can take on individuals.
1.2.2 Confess the past
On their wedding night, Tess finally confesses to Angel that she was once Alec’s mistress and that she has a child who died.
1.2.3 Be abandoned by Angel
Shocked and horrified, Angel abandons Tess and goes to Brazil.
1.3 Tess’s Tragedy
1.3.1 Return to Alec
Tess is devastated by Angel’s departure and feels like she has no choice but to return to Alec. She becomes his mistress again, but her heart is still with Angel.
1.3.2 Be forgave by Angel
Angel tracks Tess down and finds her living with Alec d’Urberville again. He is heartbroken but eventually forgives Tess for her past mistakes and agrees to take her away with him to Brazil.
However, their happiness is short-lived. On the journey to Brazil, Angel begins to feel uneasy about his decision to forgive Tess and struggles with his feelings of jealousy and betrayal.
1.3.3 Kill Alec
Tess, meanwhile, is haunted by the memory of her past and feels unworthy of Angel’s love. She worries that he will eventually reject her again and becomes increasingly anxious and depressed.
When they arrive in Brazil, Angel and Tess’s relationship continues to deteriorate. They struggle to adapt to their new surroundings and overcome the obstacles in their relationship.
Finally, Tess tells Angel about her past with Alec and reveals that she has killed him. Angel is shocked and horrified but still loves Tess and tries to help her escape.
1.3.4 Be arrested and executed
Despite their efforts, Tess is arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Angel is devastated by the loss of Tess and realizes the depth of his love for her, but it is too late to save her.
The novel ends with Tess’s execution and Angel mourning her death. He reflects on the unfairness of her fate and the tragic circumstances that led to the end of her life.
2 Conclusion
The novel ends with Angel mourning Tess’s death and realizing the depth of his love for her.
Overall, “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” is a tragic novel that explores the themes of social class, gender roles, and fate.