Everyone yearns for a sense of belonging, to be happy and find their niche in life. Some people do not achieve this dream, while others do. Some of the braver people do not give up easily, even when all odds are against them. Such is true for the protagonist in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. It can be seen that Tess is searching for and attempting to determine her place in society by; doing many wrong things to get her way, traveling, and by dealing with harsh situations. Tess believes that she belongs wherever, her true love Angel Clare is. She was determined to be with him, even if it meant doing wrong things. She conceals her past from him, denies her opinions and even commits murder, just to be with him. The novel takes place during the end of the Victorian era. During this time premarital sex was very taboo. Since Tess was not married when Alec raped her, she would be considered vile. Tess swears that "(she) shall ... marry him...(because) (she) can't bear to let anybody have him but (her)! Yet it is wrong to him and may kill him if he knows!"(Hardy 229). This proves that Tess realizes that Angel would think less of her if he were to learn that she

was not a virgin. Due to this, she kept the truth about her past from him, in fear that he might find someone else who is a virgin to love. This shows Tess' determination by keeping the truth to get what she wants. In order to be with Angel, whom Tess believes she belongs with, Tess denies her beliefs. This is ironic because Tess thinks she should be with Angel because he thinks she should be with him. During a conversation with Alec Tess claims that "(she has) been cured of the presumption of believing (things other then what Angel believes)"(Hardy 408). Alec clearly points out that "whatever (Angel) believes (Tess) accepts, and whatever he rejects (she) rejects, without the least inquiry or reasoning on (her) own part"(Hardy 409). This is the wrong way to find her place in society, however Tess does not understand that as "(her) mind is enslaved to his"(Hardy 409). Tess is not as innocent as she may appear. Her desperation to be with Angel drives her to commit murder. Tess kills Alec because "he called (Angel) by a foul name"(Hardy 492). Tess claims that "(the idea of killing Alec) came to (her) asa shining light that (she) should get (Angel) back (by killing Alec)" (Hardy 492). Tess refuses to give up on her quest to be with Angel, the man she believes her place in society is with.

As Tess moves from one town to another it can be seen that she is searching for her place in society. Tess first lives in the city of Marlott. There she lead a simple life. Howe

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Approximate Word count = 1002
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)