Deconstruction Of Tess' Traditional Image

As one of Thomas Hardy's greatest works, Tess of the d'Urbervilles has become a beloved classic, cherished by generations of readers. Tess is one of Hardy's most well-developed heroines and is noted as one of the greatest women in the annals of English literature. The contradistinctive characteristics that define Tess make her an interesting case. For she is both: pure and tainted, conservative and sensual. It would appear her single character reflects a composite collection of Hardy's (most notable) female characters. In juxtaposing the incommensurable traits that comprise Tess d'Urbervilles, this work seeks to shed new light on Hardy's heroine and rejects her as a tragic figure. Although she can be viewed as an autonomous and strong heroine, who chooses martyrdom, there seems to be a weaker side to her. She falls to be the victim not only to the pressures of society, but also to her own self-destructive nature. In other words, Tess exemplifies the destructive effects that society's pressures and conventions can have upon a fragile and otherwise unstained woman. For the aforementioned reasons, Tess is often seen by readers as a tragic heroine who is a victim of the evils of society and her uncontrollable, self-destructive ego.However, by taking on an ethical perspective and a more critical look at Tess'character, this paper intends to reveal the root of Tess'"tragedy"as nothing more than a product of her own short-comings and morally questionable character. This paper finally concludes that her tragedy is nothing more than a series of self-inflicted calamities. Her inherently weak and morally flawed character inevitably leads to her death.