Tess of the D’Urbervilles (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- First Published: 1891
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Philosophical realism
- Time of Work: Late nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Long fiction, Philosophical realism
- Subjects: Sex or sexuality, Murder or homicide, Nineteenth century, Social issues, Rural or country life, England or English people, Lower classes, Ethics, Fate or fatalism
- Locales: Wessex, England
Characters Discussed
Tess Durbeyfield, a naïve country girl. When her father learns that his family is descended from an ancient landed house, the mother, hoping to better her struggling family financially, sends Tess to work for the Stoke- d’Urbervilles, who have recently moved to the locality. In this household, the innocent girl, attractive and mature beyond her years, meets Alec d’Urberville, a dissolute young man. From this time on, she is the rather stoical victim of personal disasters. Seduced by Alec, she gives birth to his child. Later, she works on a dairy farm,...
[The entire page is 1381 words long]
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