Men did not fall into these two basic categories as women did. They had control over their lives and the lives of their wives. The law as well as society saw them as strong and invincible. The men could be forgiven for their sins because they were "slaves to their catabolic purposes and sexual appetites-. (Ziemba) They were regarded in a much higher light than women, so they were able to get away with many more things. The Victorian concept of purity did not apply to them. .
Alec thought nothing of it when he took advantage of Tess. This was because he was taught that women were frail and were able to be taken advantage of. Because of this type of thinking, Alec cannot be blamed for what happened any more that Tess could. He was just relying on what society had taught him. The same society which by today's standards Tess was misled and made a victim.
Adultery, an act taken very seriously by Victorians, had a very serious punishment for women. However, if a man were to take part in the same act, he would receive a much lighter punishment. A woman who committed adultery on her husband could be divorced and labeled as fallen. She would be looked down upon, because she rejected the care of her husband. Society would not find a means of accepting her, so she would have trouble finding work and money and thus would become a victim to whomever she found to work for. .
Tess was not taught about the way that society dealt with adultery. She thought once Angel had confessed his adultery, she was free to confess hers. She did not know that adultery was accepted in men but rejected in women. "O, Angel - I am almost glad - because now you can forgive me!- "No, it cannot be more serious, certainly because tis just the same!- This statement made by Tess reflects that she was nave in thinking that Angel could forgive her for the same crime that she committed. This crime for men was only punishable to such a degree in Victorian England society.
