Fate plays an important role in creating almost inescapable circumstances in Tess Durbeyfield's life. For the first 16 years of her life, Tess and her family live in a middle class state of affairs in the town of Marlott. Her father John Durbeyfield is not in good health. He has little interest in working, and spends most of his time drinking. Upon returning to his home one evening, Durbeyfield meets a man named Parson Tringham who informs him that the Durbeyfield family is the "lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the D'Urbervilles, who... came from Normandy with William the Conqueror."

This news suddenly changes Durbeyfield's view on his family's lifestyle and he immediately decides that his family should be living as his knightly and noble ancestors once did. The family sends their eldest daughter, Tess, to see if the Du

Tess displays a strong will to recover. New hopes for a bright future emerge upon meeting the respectable Angel Claire. Angel is immediately attracted to Tess' physical beauty. However his delusions of Tess being without imperfection, "What a fresh a fresh and virginal daughter of Nature that milkmaid is!" will result in a painfully agonizing relationship between them. When Angel eventually learns of Tess' past involvement with Alec, he abandons her almost at once without consideration that she was a victim of abuse, "Tess, forgiveness does not apply to the case! You were one person; now you are another."

Angel also obsesses on Tess'appearance, "How very lovable her face was to him. Yet there was nothing ethereal about it. And it was in her mouth that this culminated. Eyes almost as deep and speaking he had seen before, and cheeks perhaps as fair; brows as arched, a chin and throat almost as shapely; her mouth he had seen nothing to equal on the face of the earth. To a young man with the least fire in him that little upward lift in the middle of her red top lip was distracting, infatuating, maddening."

Tess is also a victim of the times. This shows the injustice in societies laws. Tess endures pain caused by men of the Victorian era. Religion, politics and morals change along with the people and their social structure. However, women's roles remain pitifully oppressive. They do not enjoy the same independent, carefree lifestyles that men seemed to have. Instead they are bound to live through their men.

Alec does not show Tess any respect; he is seductive, manipulative and forceful when he pursues her. He simply takes advantage of her by making her feel guilty and helpless. Alec is calculating and takes each and every opportunity to pray on the misfortunes of Tess. Tess reluctantly must seek help from Alec in order to assist her family. Alec behaves shrewdly, "Let me put one little kiss on those holmberry lips, Tess: or even on that warmed cheek, and I'll stop...on my honour, I will!" She unwillingly gives in, 'Will nothing else do? Very well.' "He drew rein, and as they slowed he was on the point of imprinting the desired salute, when, as if hardly yet aware of her own modesty, she dodged aside. His arms being occupied with the reins there was left him no power to prevent her maneuver." He retorted cruelly, 'Now, damn it, I'll break both our necks. So you can go from your word like that, you young witch, can you?"

Only after Tess has reluctantly submitted to being Alec's wife does Angel rush back to forgive her for the past, "Tess!" he says huskily, "can you forgive me for going away? Can't you...come to me? How do you to be...like this?" She replies, "It is too late." She tells him she has succumbed to Alec's persuasion and he has won her back. She has extreme hatred for Alec for telling her that Angel would never return. "Both men stand fixed, their baffled hearts looking out of their eyes with a joylessness pitiful to see."

Alec (Stock) D'Urberville meets Tess. Her parents fantasize of Tess coming home with a commitment of marriage from Alec, the man they assume to be a gentleman, and instead he rapes her of her dignity. Alec seduces Tess in the forest of Chase, "He knelt and bent lower, till her breath warmed his face, and in a moment his cheek was in contact with hers. She was sleeping soundly, and upon her eyelashes there lingered tears." This leads to the notion that Tess is no longer a pure woman by the standards of Angel.

Angel wants Tess. However, he does not

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Approximate Word count = 2393
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)