Home > Tess of the d'Urbervilles Summary & Study Guide > Essays and Criticism > Accident and Coincidence in Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Accident and Coincidence in Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Essay examining the ways that Tess's fate mirrors the destruction of the agricultural class in England.
The plot of Tess of the d'Urbervilles turns on a succession of accidents and coincidences. Again and again Tess's tragic fate depends on some disastrous mischance. One or two of these may seem possible—after all is full of mischance—but heaped on top of each other they produce a final effect of gross improbability. Does this matter? Are we to see them as blemishes on an otherwise fine novel; or are they such a pervasive part of it that they must either condemn it or form part of its success.
At its face value the novel suggests not only that these accidents and...
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- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Introduction
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Summary
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Overview
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Thomas Hardy Biography
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Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the First: The Maiden, Chapters 1–4: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the First: The Maiden, Chapters 5–11: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Second: Maiden No More, Chapters 12–15: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Third: The Rally, Chapters 16–19: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Third: The Rally, Chapters 20–24: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Fourth: The Consequence, Chapters 25–29: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Fourth: The Consequence, Chapters 30–34: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays, Chapters 35–44: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Sixth: The Convert, Chapters 45–52: Summary and Analysis
- Phase the Seventh: Fulfillment, Chapters 53–59: Summary and Analysis
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Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Quizzes
- Phase the First: The Maiden, Chapters 1–4: Questions and Answers
- Phase the First: The Maiden, Chapters 5–11: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Second: Maiden No More, Chapters 12–15: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Third: The Rally, Chapters 16–19: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Third: The Rally, Chapters 20–24: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Fourth: The Consequence, Chapters 25–29: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Fourth: The Consequence, Chapters 30–34: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays, Chapters 35–44: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Sixth: The Convert, Chapters 45–52: Questions and Answers
- Phase the Seventh: Fulfillment, Chapters 53–59: Questions and Answers
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Themes
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Style
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Historical Context
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Critical Overview
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Character Analysis
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Essays and Criticism
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Suggested Essay Topics
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Sample Essay Outlines
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Compare and Contrast
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Topics for Further Study
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Media Adaptations
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: What Do I Read Next?
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Bibliography and Further Reading
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Pictures
- Copyright
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