Tess of the d'Urbervilles Group

Question:

proverbs31
proverbs31
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the theme of the novel, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles"?

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Posted by proverbs31 on Wednesday November 21, 2007 at 2:05 PM and tagged with tess of the d'urbervilles, themes.

Answers:


  1. blazedale

    eNotes Editor

    There are a few different themes, but if you had to pick just one, I would say: Fate and Chance.

    So much of the novel revolves around the idea of fate, chance, etc. and what that might mean to life in general. Most of the events are set in motion by fate, and then change due to chance.  

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/urberville/themes

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    Posted by blazedale on Wednesday November 21, 2007 at 2:42 PM


  2. renelane Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Another theme in the novel is that of knowledge versus ignorance. Tess and Angel struggle with their parent's unwillingness to accept change and progress and, therefore , this causes a lot of friction between them.

    Tess, who has had formal schooling, is not only in possession of a greater intellect than her mother, but also has a much better sense of right and wrong.

    Angel is different, because, with the exception of himself,  he is in a family of scholars. Angel has common sense, and is able to see that for all his family's "real" education, they are not always wise in their choices.

    Both Angel and Tess see their parent's as choosing to be ignorant, or at the very least, unwilling to move with the times, and their relationships suffer for it.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/urberville/themes

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    Posted by renelane on Wednesday November 21, 2007 at 3:02 PM

  3. sevomshaban
    sevomshaban Student
    College - Senior

    the theme of the novel is but innocent surrender to doomed destiny and she is not that much brave to change her situation. although she is sincere towards people,she is naive and flimsy in dealing with diabolic fellows.she is a leaf in fatal storm of incidence that results in her sympathetic death.

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    Posted by sevomshaban on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 11:09 AM