TESS AS A "TRAGIC HEROINE".
Tess of the D"Urbervilles is generally regarded as Hardy's tragic masterpiece, and certainly it is his most ambitious tragic novel. This novel, subtitled "A Pure Woman" was first published in 1891 to a mixed reception. For Hardy himself, the haunting and tragic figure of Tess was the character who meant the most to him.
This novel is basically the story of a country girl, Tess whose fate is tragic and in the end she becomes a "tragic heroine".
The book reveals Tess's life, how the first-presented innocent girl turns into a tragic heroine. .
Love plays an important role in Tess's life because love does not mean happiness to her but it causes her tragedy. Her life is a series of misfortunes which slowly destroys her personality. .
The first misfortune is of Tess's family when their horse dies in a fatal accident. The death of the horse can be interpreted as the symbol of "change", her life changes into a series of tragedy. Tess blames herself for loosing the family's means of livelihood. Tess's sense of responsibility for her family is one of the book's most important elements. At almost every stage of her life, her actions are influenced by this fact. This affection for her family leads to get in contact with the concupiscent, dishonest and cruel young man, Alec. He is attracted by her eyes. Her innocence and naivety allows her to be seduced by this dishonest man. Her honour is slightly blown upon because she is expecting a baby. .
In the course of the novel as well until this point we can always find hints of foreshadowing of what is to come: the misfortunes and the tragedy. For instance Tess mentions the possibility of the pregnancy and the fact that Tess regards herself as a "murderess"- which she actually to become. .
She herself baptised the child "Sorrow" just before he dies. I think she gave this name to her child because she was not really happy about him.
