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![Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy - [Wordsworth Classics] - by Thomas Hardy](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/36m8ko1s3warzdwnm3ge3deckuc9)
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is yet another one of those books that I heard of but never read before. I finally decided to give it a try, and I was very surprised by what I found. Admittedly this is a very difficult book to get through, but it is exceptionally good at portraying its message and in providing meaningful imagery. It is a depressing book, but I don't think the book is any worse because of that, since the tone is intentional and definitely gets the point across.
I have to say, I really admire this author for what he did in the novel. Here is a man tackling the sexual roles of men and women and actually portraying the unbalance in a good way. I could always get the sense that the men were being condemned for what they did to Tess, and the treatment of her always felt wrong or tragic. There are many things about this book that can be rage-inducing, but I believe it's meant to be that way. The author wants to show that the double standard is wrong.
I also found the author's portrayal of religion to be very interesting. How characters viewed religion, how they behaved because of those views, the final scene with Tess at Stonehedge were all very good. It's pretty hard to miss the imagery and meaning he puts behind these things, especially when there are characters named Sorrow and Angel in the story.
Overall, I think this is a very good book. I feel like it should be more exposed in schools. Especially with the issue of double standards. I think there is a lot that can be discussed, and a lot that can be questioned and put into a new perspective.
I have to say, I really admire this author for what he did in the novel. Here is a man tackling the sexual roles of men and women and actually portraying the unbalance in a good way. I could always get the sense that the men were being condemned for what they did to Tess, and the treatment of her always felt wrong or tragic. There are many things about this book that can be rage-inducing, but I believe it's meant to be that way. The author wants to show that the double standard is wrong.
I also found the author's portrayal of religion to be very interesting. How characters viewed religion, how they behaved because of those views, the final scene with Tess at Stonehedge were all very good. It's pretty hard to miss the imagery and meaning he puts behind these things, especially when there are characters named Sorrow and Angel in the story.
Overall, I think this is a very good book. I feel like it should be more exposed in schools. Especially with the issue of double standards. I think there is a lot that can be discussed, and a lot that can be questioned and put into a new perspective.
I hate this book. Simply because of how it ended. Some people love it, but that ending destroyed my heart.
english literature a level made this more interesting than it would have been if i’d just read it. tess was boring tho
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Still one of my favorite classic novels. So depressingly wonderful.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once again robbed of a happy ending by obscenity law.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Murder
I was in love with Tess by the end of the book and feel sure that Hardy was.
She really had a shitty deal but remained true to herself; a poignant contrast to the stifling conventions and empty moral codes of the late Victorian era in which she lived.
Its message is timeless. Well done Hardy!
She really had a shitty deal but remained true to herself; a poignant contrast to the stifling conventions and empty moral codes of the late Victorian era in which she lived.
Its message is timeless. Well done Hardy!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can see where this book might have been valuable in its time, but I'm not sure it still holds that value.
Tess is "a pure woman faithfully presented" but I don't like the implication that that must entail being largely unwilling to stand up for oneself, lacking confidence, and being willing to serve and/or die for a man who is unwilling to treat one with respect. I wish Tess had been a stronger character; as written, she was extremely frustrating. Certainly her circumstances were challenging but it felt like her response to everything was along the lines of "poor me, I'm so unworthy, I want to die." It sadly made it hard to cheer for her.
On top of that, the prose was frequently exhausting. I saw another review joking that Hardy must have been constantly pulling out a thesaurus to swap in more complicated words, and I'd have to agree. Many of the sentences ended up being so convoluted that it was unclear what they were saying at all.
Tess is "a pure woman faithfully presented" but I don't like the implication that that must entail being largely unwilling to stand up for oneself, lacking confidence, and being willing to serve and/or die for a man who is unwilling to treat one with respect. I wish Tess had been a stronger character; as written, she was extremely frustrating. Certainly her circumstances were challenging but it felt like her response to everything was along the lines of "poor me, I'm so unworthy, I want to die." It sadly made it hard to cheer for her.
On top of that, the prose was frequently exhausting. I saw another review joking that Hardy must have been constantly pulling out a thesaurus to swap in more complicated words, and I'd have to agree. Many of the sentences ended up being so convoluted that it was unclear what they were saying at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape, Murder