What is the tragic flaw of Tess?

What is Hardy’s idea of tragedy that can be formed from the story of Tess in Tess of the d’Urbervilles?

«What is Hardy’s idea of tragedy that can be formed from the story of Tess in Tess of the d’Urbervilles?» eNotes Editorial, 25 Feb. 2013, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-idea-have-you-formed-hardys-conception-110641. Accessed 8 May 2023.

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Tess of the d’Urbervilles was a highly controversial novel, so controversial, in fact, that after the public reaction (to Tess and to Jude the Obscure), Hardy gave up prose fiction altogether and wrote exclusively poetry for the remainder of his career. Tess does truly have a tragic end based on her Aristotelian tragic flaw. Tess’s tragedy is precipitated by other circumstances beside her own inner flaw. From a brief examination of these narrative elements, we can infer something of Hardy’s idea of tragedy.

Based upon what may be inferred through Tess’s story, for Hardy tragedy required first an Aristotelian good, intellectually and morally elevated heroine who was governed by one flaw in thinking, perceiving, or behaving that led to her downfall, perhaps, for Hardy, downfall many times over. Tess’s flaw is that she is naive and gullible. These combine to make her easily influenceable thus easily manipulated.

Circumstances that affect the precipitation of tragedy center mainly around three other characters: Angel Clare, Vicar Clare, Alec Stokes-d’Urberville. Their significance is described briefly below.

Angel Clare: Arrogance of superior intellect though softened under a kind and generous spirit. Given to extreme emotional reactions to adversity (e.g., his «eight-and-forty hours» of «dissipation» upon being disappointing about his future education). Influences Tess to higher intellectual thoughts. Influences Tess to betray her own wisdom through relentless pursuit. Reacts emotionally in the extreme and in accord with his childhood teachings when he rejects Tess after her confession (which she had learned not to to dread because of his own confession).

Vicar Clare, toward Angel: Staunchly adamant in old fashioned practices and narrow perspectives on good and right. Denies Angel a university education at Cambridge because Angel declines to be a clergyman. Angel becomes somewhat hardened in his own heart and somewhat bitter, both of which affect his behavior toward Tess.

Alec Stokes-d’Urberville: Cold, arrogant, demanding, unfeeling, unintellectual; no compunction about forcing his desires on Tess. He represents the standard of male mentality and behavior in the traditional England Hardy is criticizing.

[Tess] «And you had used your cruel persuasion upon me … you did not stop using it—no—you did not stop! . And at last I believed you and gave way!»

Hardy’s idea of tragedy starts in accord with the Aristotelian model of heroic qualities and ends in accord with the Shakespearean Renaissance variation demanding consequences so severe that they must end in the death of the principle character. Note that Hardy’s idea of tragedy incorporates women’s lives as principal tragic heroines as freely as Shakespeare holds to principal tragic heroes (Macbeth, Hamlet, etc). Some points that can be inferred about Hardy’s idea of tragedy are:

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1. good but flawed heroine.
2. external influences beleaguering heroine.
3. fate, coincidence, accident confounding heroine’s best efforts and intentions.
4. inability to separate moral necessity from human necessity; distrusting common sense thus acting wrongly; common sense represented by the «Fool» in Tess, Tess’s mother.
5. final abandonment of personal belief when influenced, in the extreme adversity, by oppositional immoral, inhumane forces (i.e., Alec).
6. circumstance, fate, accident, coincidence breaking down heroine’s reason and moral judgement as conflict between moral necessity and human necessity creates insupportable grief and despair.
7. fatal ending of just desserts brought about by tragic unforeseeable circumstances mixing with tragic flaw.

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The Downfall of Tess in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is considered to be a tragedy due to the catastrophic downfall of the protaganist Tess. From the early days in her life, her father John had begun to destroy her, which then led to
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Tess’s downfall began with her experiences with her father. She grew up with a father who drank excessively and did not give her any type of guidance or support. His …show more content…
When the time comes for
Tess to return to Marlott, he begs her to stay and gives her mahy flowers. This, to some extent, foreshadows how Alec will not give up on having her for himself.

Tess’s first real horrific life experience comes about on the night when Alec and Tess are returning from Chaseborough. Upon realizing that she is vulonerable and weak he takes the opportunity to seduce her. The consequence of this is her unexpected pregnancy, which results in the birth of Sorrow. She is so depressed and upset she does not tell Alec about the outcome of that night and leaves Tantridge.
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The Fatal Flaws of Tess of D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

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