Tess Of d’Urbervilles

939 Words4 Pages
Although Tess’s tragedy is primarily caused by events over which she has no control, it is impossible to argue her suffering was a result of an adverse, abstract “Fate” Tess of d’Urbervilles is a novel by Tomas Hardy which was first published in 1891. It is regarded as one of the most influential and well-received books in the world of literature. Tomas Hardy’s fatalistic outlook of life is incorporated in this novel. Although Tess’s tragedy is caused by circumstances beyond the control of Tess which determines her destiny. Fate which happens by chance, accident, coincidence, luck and environmental forces continually work against Tess vastly impacts her future. Tess’s life was tragically destroyed by the hand of fate. Her social status, her accident with the horse, the forest encounter with Alec and the resulting pregnancy, the death of her father, the eviction of her family, and so on all weave her into a web from which there is no escape. Fate, something that is unavoidable and befalls on a person; some might perceive it as fate, and or destiny. The power of fate is difficult to understand, it is a man’s struggle against the will of nature and amongst other forces. Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of d’Urbervilles is considered a fatalist. Fatalism is a view of life which insists that all action everywhere is controlled by nature of things or by a power superior to things. Fate is something that is beyond human control, the power or agency supposed to determine the outcome of events before they occur; destiny as said in the dictionary. Due to Tomas Hardy’s fatalistic outlook of life, Hardy presents the character of Tess as having a variety of forces working against her efforts to control her destiny. Fate approaches Tess in a great variety of forms. Fate is present throughout the novel through chance and coincidence, nature; and time. Hardy incorporates
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