The First Phase Of Tess Is Entirely Anti-Pastoral

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‘The first phase of Tess of the d’Urbervilles is entirely anti-pastoral’. Discuss Thomas Hardy’s agenda in his narrative of ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles is clearly a matter of dispute. On one hand, there are a number of references that suggest the first phase of his novel was written with an anti-pastoral motive, outlining the flaws of the rural lifestyle. However, there seem to be conflicting references depicted the idealised and Acadian bucolic setting. Therefore it is evident how on the whole, Hardy has an anti-pastoral motive yet it is still evident how he admires some of the positive pastoral elements. The novel opens by describing the decrepit appearance of John Durbyfield, ‘the pair of legs that carried him were rickety and there was a bias in his gait’, clearly a negative portrayal of the rustic lifestyle. Furthermore, when the parson informs him about his supposed illustrious lineage, when he becomes aware about his supposed ancestry lineage, ‘you are the direct lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the D’Urberville’s’ he becomes ecstatic. His rapturous state upon hearing this news was clearly due to the possibility of ending his poverty-stricken lifestyle; an additional criticism of pastoral living. Hardy continues his anti-pastoral criticism in the first phase of the novel where he describes how ‘there were a few middle aged women’ present at the May Day dance yet ‘their faces were scourged with trouble’, highlighting the harsh rural lifestyle since this contrasts to a usual society where age is relative to appearance. Hardy continues in the same vein where he describes the tragedy of the death of the Durbeyfield’s horse, their source of their travel and livelihood. The entire family becomes devastated by this, especially Tess who holds herself responsible, ‘‘well as I killed the horse I suppose I ought to do something’ she

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