In this blog post, we will explore the literary world and plot of Thomas Hardy and his masterpiece, ‘Tess’, to examine the work’s literary significance.
Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) was a leading novelist and poet of the late Victorian era.
He reached the pinnacle of late Victorian British literature as a novelist and was also highly regarded as a poet. Using his hometown of Dorset in southern England as the primary setting, he published 14 novels—including ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’, and ‘Tess’—as well as several short story collections and poetry collections.
The defining characteristic of Hardy’s literature is his depiction—with a tender gaze and deep nostalgia—of how rural human relationships and humanity gradually crumble as they are swept away by the fierce tide of the era: mechanized civilization and industrial capitalism.
Born the son of a stonemason, Hardy worked at an architectural firm in London after completing his secondary education. Although he initially aspired to be an art critic, he gradually embarked on a career as a writer while studying literature on his own.
Above all, the hallmark of Hardy’s literature lies in his ability to organically combine compelling narratives, poetic atmosphere, and vivid, captivating characters to create a meticulously crafted structure.
His masterpiece, ‘Tess’, was published in 1891 and is regarded as one of the defining masterpieces of the late 19th century in the history of the English novel.
The original title of ‘Tess’ is ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’, and it bears the subtitle ‘A Pure Woman’.
Through Tess, the female protagonist—who, though unable to actively resist her circumstances, possesses a sensitive nature and a strong conscience—Hardy profoundly depicts the beauty of pure humanity that is fading away in the midst of the era.
After learning that her ancestors were from a distinguished family, Tess—whose father is a drunkard consumed by empty vanity, whose mother is kind but overly naive and even ignorant, and who has younger siblings to care for—goes to work for a wealthy family of distant relatives in hopes of escaping poverty, only to ultimately lose her virginity.
Having unwittingly lost her virginity and given birth to an illegitimate child, Tess begins working as a milkmaid on a remote farm in search of a new life after her child passes away. Angel, the pastor’s son whom she meets there, is like a savior to her. After his persistent courtship, Tess eventually marries him, burdened by guilt over her inability to hide her past.
However, on their wedding night, Angel—whom she had believed would accept her completely—is deeply shocked upon hearing Tess’s confession. Although he, too, had confessed his own past mistakes, he had hoped that Tess, at least, would be a woman of unblemished purity; ultimately, unable to accept her, he leaves her.
Years later, Angel realizes that the love Tess had intended to offer him was far purer and more genuine than so-called “impurity,” and he returns to her. However, driven to the brink of despair by poverty and suffering, Tess ultimately murders Alec, and as a result, she herself is sentenced to death.
Ultimately, looking back on the life and death of Tess as portrayed by Hardy, we encounter the tragedy of a woman who, even amidst so-called “impure” social values, desired only to live as a pure human being. Tess, a victim of the prejudices and hypocrisy of her time, continues to resonate deeply today, prompting us to reflect anew on human dignity and social justice.
