. . but a girl of simple life, not yet one-and-twenty, who had been caught during her days of immaturity like a bird in a spring" (p. 251).
Her pride, dignity and wish for independence play most important role in her life, and are present throughout the novel: "Tess's pride made the part of poor relation one of particular detest to her" (p. 40). When she goes away from Alec one of her last words to him are: "I have honour enough left, little as "tis, not to tell that lie. If I did love you I may have the best o" causes for letting you know it. But I don't." (p. 99). Even for her name's sake she scarcely wished to marry him. Her pride can also be seen earlier in the novel, when she tricks d"Urberville in order to get away from his gig, and her dignity in wiping away a forced kiss of Alec, which makes him say to her that she is "mighty sensitive for a cottage girl," and later in a novel, "One would think that you were a princess from your manner." .
After her tragic mischief, Tess is rebuked by her mother for having been so careless and not making Alec marry her: "Why didn't ye think of doing some good for your family instead o" thinking only of yourself?" But she is subdued by Tess's words: "How could I be expected to know? I was a child . . . Why didn't you tell me there was danger in men-folk? Why didn't you warn me!" (p. 104). It really was "Out of a frying-pan into the fire!", when she allowed d"Urberville to carry her off on his horse. Tess is not flawless. If she was, her story wouldn't be tragic, but pathetic. .
Almost at a leap Tess thus changes from a simple girl to a complex woman. She hopes to start a totally new life, but can never really escape the past. Her spirit is restored at Talbothays, where she finally tastes sweet independence, love for which is often stressed in the novel. D"Urberville even calls her "Miss Independence" in Chapter 10. Although religiously determined that she would never get married, she falls in love with Angel Clare.
