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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sexual hypocrisy, ingrained female passivity, and social hierarchies are all in Hardy's firing line in this absolute masterpiece.
Hardy is certainly a fine storyteller, even keeping the narrative moving in parts of the novel where several chapters span only several days, most notably in the gentle bucolic wooings of Angel and Tess. At almost 500 pages, I never really felt that it dragged at any point, and apart from a handful of paragraphs describing agricultural machinery, there were no pointlessly periphrastic prose or desultory dialogue.
The prose is exquisite, wrought with symbolism (the wounded pheasants spring to mind) and, without looking it up, I'd say that Hardy was very likely influenced by the Romantics, or at least has a passion for pathetic fallacy as a tool for getting his characters' emotions across.
Characterisation is wonderful, from Tess to Angel to Alec, and more minor characters like Izz Huett, Marian, and Joan Durbeyfield. Nobody feels superfluous, and even the less believable plot points - like all four dairy girls harbouring a burning love for Angel - serve a purpose.
This was my first Hardy, and I'm keen to try more. Definitely one of the more readable Victorian classics, and thoroughly recommended!
Hardy is certainly a fine storyteller, even keeping the narrative moving in parts of the novel where several chapters span only several days, most notably in the gentle bucolic wooings of Angel and Tess. At almost 500 pages, I never really felt that it dragged at any point, and apart from a handful of paragraphs describing agricultural machinery, there were no pointlessly periphrastic prose or desultory dialogue.
The prose is exquisite, wrought with symbolism (the wounded pheasants spring to mind) and, without looking it up, I'd say that Hardy was very likely influenced by the Romantics, or at least has a passion for pathetic fallacy as a tool for getting his characters' emotions across.
Characterisation is wonderful, from Tess to Angel to Alec, and more minor characters like Izz Huett, Marian, and Joan Durbeyfield. Nobody feels superfluous, and even the less believable plot points - like all four dairy girls harbouring a burning love for Angel - serve a purpose.
This was my first Hardy, and I'm keen to try more. Definitely one of the more readable Victorian classics, and thoroughly recommended!
What a beautiful and tragic story, and what a beautiful writer Hardy is. Someone told me they didn't like Hardy because his dim view of the world, but he made the tragic so sweet. All the beauty and attractiveness of Tess is the source of her downfall - her innocense is infuriating but forgiveable, and Angel's self righteousness is forgiveable but infuriating. In the end she is happy and that was as much as could be hoped for. I loved this book.
Such a tragedy! Such a sad life was that of Tess! I felt like it took forever for the story to engage my interest, and I admit to having to re-read portions of it to understand the language, but I think that had little to do with my desire to see where the story lead. The langauge was flowery & the descriptions so lengthy in detail I almost wanted to skip forward passed them. Then the forward movement of time between some parts was frustrating as well. With all that said, I understand this was written in a different time & space and so I can appreciate it for what it is. A sad tale, a tale of warning to young girls, and an utter tragedy at its core.
Well I’m unsure where to start. So I’ll start here,
The language that Hardy used throughout this book to describe the English landscape, the passing seasons and each of the characters captures something that is nothing short of beautiful.
I loved this story, I loved the way it was written. Never have I wanted to be at a dairy in the English valleys.
The essence of this book, and the lens in which it looks at female oppression, societal judgement of women and the consequences of someone else’s wrong put upon Tess magnifies the deep rooted resentment towards women being free and being their own person.
The language that Hardy used throughout this book to describe the English landscape, the passing seasons and each of the characters captures something that is nothing short of beautiful.
I loved this story, I loved the way it was written. Never have I wanted to be at a dairy in the English valleys.
The essence of this book, and the lens in which it looks at female oppression, societal judgement of women and the consequences of someone else’s wrong put upon Tess magnifies the deep rooted resentment towards women being free and being their own person.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
i knew nothing about this going in and umm it is so sad ???? it is SO sad godddd
every single man in this book deserves to suffer
whyyy did angel clare have such a pretty name lmao
every single man in this book deserves to suffer
whyyy did angel clare have such a pretty name lmao
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this at school when I was 14 or 15. I'm still angry. I hate all the men in it.