'She looked absolutely pure. Nature, in
her fantastic trickery, had set such a seal of maidenhood upon Tess's
countenance that he gazed at her with a stupefied air :”Tess- say
it is not true! No, it is not true!”'
Tess Durbeyfield wakes up to her
father's new found but long lost ancestry and the poor peasant family
has a hope now that their turmoils may indeed end with this
revelation. The girl who was in her teens sets on a journey to
find kinship in the rich d'Urbervilles, she being one of the
descendants of the decayed aristocratic family.
In lieu she finds betrayal, her maidenhood is violated before she has had a chance to learn about the dangers a woman faces from the other sex.
In lieu she finds betrayal, her maidenhood is violated before she has had a chance to learn about the dangers a woman faces from the other sex.
"Doubtless some of Tess d'Urberville's mailed ancestors rollicking home from fray had dealt the same measure even more ruthlessly towards peasant girls of their time. but though to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children may be a morality good enough for divinities, it is scorned by average human nature; and it therefore does not mend the matter."
Before she could come to terms with what had happened, she loses her heart to another man with the hope of finally rejoicing in her new life and leaving her past behind.
The chain of events that follow will
surely shock you and may even leave some of you numb. The one-sided
definition of morality which is only applicable to the fairer sex is
questioned every now and then. Tess lived through all these
advertisities, but never wished for revenge.
But, the step she finally
took was not only drastic but is still unacceptable in the society we
live in.
Amidst the emotional dilemma, the tale
is of a woman who displays a strong moral character. She is meant to be a representation of 'A Pure Woman'.
One of Hardy's best works, it is must read for serious as well as non-serious readers. It' ll help you come to terms with what was the conditions of women a century ago and how it is still the same today...they are not even human beings for some.
One of Hardy's best works, it is must read for serious as well as non-serious readers. It' ll help you come to terms with what was the conditions of women a century ago and how it is still the same today...they are not even human beings for some.
RATING
5/5
Once you are through you will surely agree that this book deserves no less.
No comments:
Post a Comment