In Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urberville, a combination of society, parental influence, individualism, and indecision eventually lead to the downfall of Angel and those around him eventually. Moreover, society and heredity are not the primary factors of the catastrophe. Instead, in many critical instances Angel chose individualism and sometimes was drained into a perpetual state of indecision that brought about great pains to Tess and himself.

*** Clare's parental influences are far from the heartless dogmatism of convention and carry much individualism and compassion (how, explain more about his earlier teachings :o). Therefore Clare's combination of parental hereditary and individual thought results in a confusion and indecision. *** As Hardy has shown us, Clare parents are not particularly adamant against remedying this disgrace that has already happened unlike Clare's un-accepting brothers and acquaintances. He also describes Mr. and Mrs. Clare as particularly sensitive to the needs of such a hurt woman...considerably needy. Mr. and Mrs. Clare the elders uphold responsibility in addition to strict morals and honor. Charity is stil

*** Meanwhile Clare was meditating verily. His thought had been unsuspended; he was becoming ill with thinking; eaten out with thinking, withered by thinking; scourged outof all his former pulsating, flexuous domesticity. He walked about saying to himself, "That's to be done 'That's to be done?' and by chance she overheard him." (256) "'Think of years to come, and children born to us, and this past matter getting known" or it must get known. Blackmoor Vale and The Chase, even the yonder side of it, are not such uttermost parts of the earth that nobody ever comes from or goes to them from elsewhere. Well, think of these wretches of our flesh and blood growing up under doubts which they will gradually get to feel the full force of with their expanding years.'" (257) *** This is an instance where Clare does seem to cave-in to the pressures of society. He is anxious and paranoid about the consequences of this crisis. *** "Yet Clare's love was ethereal to a fault, imaginative to impracticability." (258) *** With these natures, corporeal presence is sometimes less appealing than corporeal absence; the latter creating an ideal presence that conveniently drops the defects of the real." (258) *** In fact Clare is literally given the idea to abandon his dear Tessie" by her innocent words: "'It is quite true, all of it; it must be. You must go away from me.' 'But what can you do?' 'I can go home.' Clare had not thought of that.' 'Are you sure?' he said. 'Quite sure...'" If Tess hadn't been so resolute as to volunteer to be abandoned, Clare would have been perpetually pondering an escape but never really reaching one while living with her.

Therefore it is reasonable to deduce that Angel himself must have been thought about the virtue of charity beyond chastity. (you need to show that he did) Angel reflects his parents' tendency for compassion eventually. He is an odd blend of naivety and indecision. His indecision is show by how he sways back and forth forgiving and not forgiving Tess as well as "loving" or not. Though "you seem like an unappreciative peasant woman, who has never been initiated into the proportions of things," (246) can be interpreted as Angel invoking convention, there are by far more instances where Angel demonstrates naivety (ignorance) and indecision. He swore not to reproach Tess though his hasty actions hurt her plenty. Clare is often found as he pauses "contemplating" (242) over the unfortunate turn of events. Angel can "[look] upon her as a species of imposter; a guilty woman in the guise of an innocent one," (243) while shortly following up with "not deceitful, my wife." (246) *** The reason Angel could not answer Tess's innocent inquiry of whether he still loved her (246) was because of his indecision. In fact, this demonstrates his indecision for he had not the resolve to answer either "yes" or "no". *** Another aspect of Angel that heavily reflects his personality, he simply despises aristocracy. (why? :o)This despising is an independent motion and not a convention-driven thought. Therefore Angel can be independent from convention though it took just the right environment. His aversion towards a

Some common words found in the essay are:
Angel Angel, Scribes Pharisees, Tess Clare, Angel Clare's, Tess D'Urberville, Vale Chase, Victorian England, Angel Clare, Tess Instead, Meanwhile Clare, parental influence, *** ***, plan procedure 256, 316 *** ***, societal influence, particularly sensitive, clare individualistic, sound judgment, angel's parents, standard judgment, activities endeavor plan, endeavor plan procedure, 258 ***, conventional standard judgment, 316 ***,
Approximate Word count = 2115
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)