When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her ‘cousin’ Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891) by Thomas Hardy is a tragic novel that explores themes of fate, social injustice, morality, and the harsh treatment of women in Victorian society. The novel follows the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a poor rural family whose life is forever altered by a series of unfortunate events and societal pressures.
The story begins when Tess’s father, John Durbeyfield, discovers that his family is descended from the ancient and noble D’Urberville lineage. Eager to capitalize on this connection, Tess’s parents send her to the wealthy Stoke-D'Urbervilles to "claim kin" and seek assistance. This leads Tess to meet Alec D’Urberville, a manipulative and morally corrupt man who becomes infatuated with her. In a pivotal and controversial moment, Alec seduces or rapes Tess (Hardy leaves the nature of the encounter ambiguous), resulting in her fall from grace in the eyes of society.
Tess returns home in shame and later gives birth to a child, who tragically dies in infancy. Despite this, Tess remains resilient and seeks to rebuild her life. She eventually meets Angel Clare, an idealistic and forward-thinking young man who falls in love with her purity and simplicity. Tess, hesitant about her past, conceals her history with Alec but later confesses after they marry. Angel, unable to forgive her for something he sees as a moral failing, abandons her, despite his own past imperfections.
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Categories: Audio Drama Historical Fiction Literature