Tess of the d'Urbervilles By Thomas Hardy …A Victorian Era ( ) Novel

Thomas Hardy submitted the first third of the novel in 1889 for serialized publication (ya know, like Great Expectations, your favorite novel…) He received three rejections as a result of its “narrative content and moral emphasis” (Victorians were such prudes!)

Tess underwent major censorship before its first printing; censored scenes—provided in footnotes– will give insight into Victorian mindset (seriously, you’ll want to read the foot-noted, censored scenes; all the good “stuff” was taken out)

Major theme in the novel focuses on Fate Vs. Free Will Is what happens to Tess a result of her actions/decisions or something else? Hardy claims, “FATE!!” (which takes on a variety of definitions) Attend to the motifs that arise to help formulate your response to the question of fate vs. free will.

Novel Structure: The novel is divided into seven phases, the end of each marking a juncture in Tess' life, after which she will henceforth be different. The major plot of the novel follows Tess’ life, yet Hardy includes many identifiable sub-plots that have an interest of their own.

Like all Victorian era novels, Tess is a satire (the condemning kind, not the ha-ha kind) of the society— what elements of his society does Hardy expose? And more importantly, HOW does he do so? Tess is a dark tragedy, and Hardy clearly sympathizes with his heroine (Does he move the reader to feel the same??)