Tess as a Pure Woman Justify the Subtitle of the Novel
Introduction
Tess of the D’Urbervilles created a sensation when it was originally published. Several people think the book’s title is racist. They couldn’t comprehend how Tess could be described as a decent lady when her sexual and criminal transgressions were so severe. Hardy is also disappointed that his detractors have ignored the spiritual interpretation given by the subtle aspects of their own Christianity, even though he knows that it has been mentioned by his critics.
Poverty and helplessness
Tess has been regarded by Hardy as a genuine and innocent lady. Tess does not encourage Alec to make his loving progress in any way, as proven by previous incidents of temptation. She has always exhibited excellent modesty and a sacred mind and body. When Alec offers her strawberries, she reacts badly. She removes the kiss he gives her on her second ride in “The Slopes.” Instead of sitting beside him in the car, she resolves to walk the final few miles. Tess becomes more flexible under Alec’s hands as a result of her dependence on his mother, and Tess forcefully moves forward to become Alec’s concubine.
Alec’s expertise
Alec D’Urberville is a professional seducer who specializes in the field. His tactics confound Tess and jeopardize her defense security, even though he is unable to persuade her to surrender. It also appears that she was not fully aware of the physical exercise that it was groundbreaking. She wasn’t ready to engage with the guilty feeling, which she didn’t recognize. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She subsequently reprimands her mother.
Utilization of opportunity by Alec
Tess’s mental defenses are moderately eroded by Alec, but he is definitely willing to submit. Tess, for example, gets physically exhausted one day when she returns home after a quarrel with Alec, one of her friends. She’s exhausted beyond belief. She wakes up at five o’clock every morning and works hard all day, as is her normal routine. She ends up walking three miles to Chase Harborough, waiting three hours for her neighbors without eating or drinking, and finally walking one mile home because of the argument that evening. It’s about one o’clock in the evening when she’s getting back home. Tess relaxes on the dark woodland floor as she falls asleep naturally. Alec views this chance as ideal enough to seduce her. She isn’t in a position to fight him physically or mentally, and she doesn’t understand what he’s doing until it’s too late, even when Alec seduces her.
The strangeness of society’s unnatural code
Mrs. Tess is Tess’s mother. Tess’ sadness elicits a natural response from Bindeyfield; “Tis Nature after all, and what do please God!” she exclaims. Sex, she claims, is a natural activity for children. Hardy emphasizes the neutrality or innocence of Nature throughout the novel, and we see her development to womanhood, her “luxuriance of aspect,” and “fullness of growth.” Nature is neither malevolent nor kind. Nature has no proclivity for good or ill. Tess is, in this sense, a good girl. In the crude, brutal sequence of events, a passionate girl’s physical capitulation is inevitable and innocent. Tess had a big heart and never gave it away. Her heart was mostly unconcerned about what was transpiring. As a result, Hardy takes advantage of several situations to highlight the peculiarity of society’s manufactured, unnatural rules. Tess is tormented by her knowledge of guilt. However, Hardy believes that society’s conventional views have deceived her.
Murder of Alec
When it comes to Alec D’Urberville’s murder, Tess’ purity is a more difficult subject. She murders him on purpose and with knowledge. The destruction of Tess was brought about by Alec, who was instrumental. Her happiness has been completely destroyed by his actions, which have caused her immense suffering. Tess begins to doubt that Angel Clare will ever return, as well as the irresistible notion that Alec is her only truly wedded husband. That bodily claim can only be dissolved by Alec’s death, and she can only reject her actions by murdering him.
Critics’ opinion
Although some critics believe Tess did not have sex with Alec during this time, there is some ambiguity as to why she stayed “a few weeks” after her first seduction. Yet, the argument that sex continued even after the initial seduction is founded on Hardy’s language for expressing this viewpoint. She would have fled immediately if she hadn’t initially surrendered.
Conclusion
Tess is morally and spiritually pure, according to us. The term “pure” can be used unconditionally to describe the soul, and it has a spiritual connotation. The body is not what matters; it is the soul that is crucial. Purity should not be interpreted in a restricted manner. Tess has a greatResponsibility, and she regularly considers her choices. In The Chase, her inner voice warns her about the hazards of relocating to a new family. His final capitulation to Alec is beyond his comprehension. The sorrow of her family eroded all of her determination and energy, and she was not her actual self.