How Does Tess Of The D Urbervilles Affect The Status Of Women

In the novel “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” the main character, Tess, is consistently portrayed as an intellectual yet victimized woman during the Victorian era. Most of the events that transpired were intended to be an obstacle and a demise to her reputation. However, Thomas Hardy continues to show her intellect and responsibility despite her conflicts and struggles. These oppositions, though provocative, still display her purity through her superior ability to comprehend and analyze her surroundings. Towards the end of the story, Tess finds herself confronted by the love triangle between her, Angel, and Alec. Angel finally comes back to Tess, where she finds herself torn but ultimately sides with Angel. She feels that Alec has a powerful hold over her and the only way to escape from his possession would be to murder him. The act of killing him would definitely describe her as impure; homicide goes against her religious beliefs and virtues. This contradicts Tess being a pure woman. However it would have been a possibility to simply walk away from Alec, when Angel returned, Tess still felt emotional ties with Alec. She thought that Alec would be detrimental and a hindrance to her marriage. Being that Tess was a woman, it is considered to be even more of a heinous felony compared to a

During the Victorian era, having sex out of wedlock simply defines a woman to be impure. Women had few or no rights during this time, and so Tess is unable to defend herself and reputation against the ill-fated event. In chapter eleven, Tess is taken advantaged of by Alec, who is in lust with her and disregards what will become of her after his rash decisions. Misfortune continues to follow her after the violation, nine months later a bastard child is birthed. Unfortunately, her baby falls sick and dies. Though it is also considered impure for her to conceive a child out of wedlock, Tess treats her sick infant with procedures of a woman with integrity by baptizing the