Tess : A Pure Woman
There are many different ways that the "purity" of Tess can be examined. These range from scrutinising her actions, the way that Hardy characterises her to the way that he contrasts her to the other characters in the novel. In the Victorian context in which Hardy was writing, it is rare for such a "common" and rural character to be shown as pure. Hardy seems to acknowledge this and self-consciously pits Tess against the society that has wronged her so much, it is this that makes the question of whether or not she is a pure woman such a crucial question in the novel.A crucial area in which Tess's 'purity' is discussed is in the infamous rape scene. It is debatable whether this is rape or consensual sex, Hardy deliberately leaves an element of ambiguity in this passage. Due to changing attitudes towards sex what would have been seen as sensationally graphic in Hardy's time seems to leave many questions unanswered for a modern reader. Between pages 70 and 72 there are many examples of Tess not wanting to be alone with Alec. "He settled the matter by clasping his arm round her as he desired" and the mention of the druggist's bottle also suggest that Alec was preparing Tess for the rape. If these quotes
Sorrow is christened, in the convention of traditional christenings, yet Hardy is critical of Church practice. Alec is often smoking a cigar, he gives Tess roses while both Tess, at the time of the rape, and the "beautiful white hart" are "virginally white". A less extreme example comes on the journey home from Trantridge to Blackmoor on page 44, "Then she fell to reflecting again, and in looking downwards a thorn. At the time Hardy was writing the primacy of Christianity in English society was heavily under threat. Hardy also suggests that the guilt that Tess feels after the rape is simply due to a "social law", not due to any rational "law known to the environment", implicit in this statement is a criticism of the moralistic nature of Victorian Christianity. I believe that Hardy is consistent throughout the novel with his assertion in the epigraph that Tess is a pure woman. If Hardy was of the Aristotelian view of purity the fact that Tess shows great intelligence would go in tandem with her "purity". If Tess was raped this supports Hardy's assertion that she is "A Pure Woman" as it shows her determined to lead a pious life despite this tragic event early in her life. As far as this debate is concerned I believe Hardy intended for the reader to see that Alec raped Tess. Hardy could well be making a statement that it is often Tess's spirituality that gets her into trouble. Shortly before the death of Prince Tess sees her father's vanity and pride for what it is, looking past the visions of wealth that preoccupies the rest of her family. The most explicit example of Tess being shown as superior, spiritually, to organised Christianity is at the christening of baby Sorrow. There is an argument, however that claims that Tess was not raped.
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