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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Had to read for school. Very slow and quite hard to read because of its age.
Barely started; my prof scheduled us to read multiple phases in two days so I just didn't read it there was too much to get through in too little time.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I quite liked this book, I love the era and Hardy's style. The story of Tess is touching and engaging.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the things that shocked me reading Tess of the D’urbervilles was it’s poor reception it recieved from critics along with Hardy’s subsequent release of Jude the obscure; resulting in him abandoning prose altogether and embracing poetry instead. So going into Tess was quite interesting to say the least as I was constantly weighing up its classic reputation(among contemporary critics)and its reputation among critics of the time it was written. I then arrived at the conclusion favouring the former Tess of the D’urbervilles is a harrowing staple of victorian literature with one of the most tragic characters ever penned to page. It’s very rare you read a novel whilst bubbling with complete rage, be it at the hypocrisy of Victorian society and the double standards which the characters impose on our tragic heroine Tess, who constantly suffers again and again throughout the course of the novel because of this. Born from a poor rural family, Tess Durbyfield is a character who embodies innocence and purity both of which deteriorate as we watch our heroine slowly change as society taints her and robs her of her most valuable traits. We have her family her father of whom is presented first within the Novel, a hearty old man full of vigour, finding out the family are descendants of an ancient line known as the D’urbervilles, he sets forth wishing to claim what is rightfully theirs. Along with John we have the rest of her family Joan Abraham Eliza and Liza lu, making up Tess’s family. And we cannot mention Tess without her partner Angel Clare who’s character arc is one of the most fascinating and sickening in all of literature, his most valuable traits, much like Tess’s of honour, chivalry and purity are not just tainted but shattered as we watch the man ironically commit sin abhorrent to his prideful character as he leaves our heroine forlorn in a state of saudade. All in all without wanting to spoil the novel futher Tess of the D’urbervilles is a classic that should be read and endlessly re-read, as Tess’s journey is one to be followed and grieved by all.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I’d go with 2.5. Sure, it is critical of Victorian norms. Sure, it presents the rural and lower social orders. Sure, there are amazing moments such as the one at a certain spoiler-free monument. But, for me, the story was actually all over the place. And that amazingly symbolic moment at the end — it’s totally ridiculous and doesn’t fit in the plot of the story! I’m 0 for 3 on Thomas Hardy books, this being the lowest for me.
Tess is really the saddest novel. This was a reread of a favorite from high school lit, and it hit differently as an adult. I remember thinking that Tess had the worst plight of all women, I now think of variations of her story as pretty standard female experiences.
Part of me is impressed that a man in 1891 was able to capture the contradictions and difficulties of the female condition this well ... part of me is just mad for Tess. Either way, the writing is so beautiful that Hardy will always get five stars from me.
Part of me is impressed that a man in 1891 was able to capture the contradictions and difficulties of the female condition this well ... part of me is just mad for Tess. Either way, the writing is so beautiful that Hardy will always get five stars from me.