This book by Thomas Hardy is one of the beautifully tragic novels of the Victorian Era. Some might say that it is depressing as Hell (I quote that from my work colleague). In summary, this novel is a great read if you're looking for something complete and incomplete - something pretending to be pretentious - something that may just provoke more thought than you intended it to.
Characters:
The eponymous protagonist - Tess, is the central and most three dimensional character in the novel. We also have Alec and Angel who are beautifully villainous characters. But Tess embodies the mobility of tragedy in a world filled with classism and cruel intentions. The life of a woman - misbelieved, misinterpreted and mistaken - is told in a poetically absurd style that makes us feel as if we are stuck in a Shakespearean tragedy told through the narrative of a story. It keeps bringing us back to the fact that this woman is tragic and helpless in a society that pins her up like a puppet, only for her puppeteers to take advantage of her strings. A crafted, yet crafty character who ends up turning her own fate and then losing all sense of control of it. She is both in control and out of control at the same time.
Themes:
Obviously, the most complete theme is tragedy. The best part of this "complete" theme is that it is completely incomplete. We are left like a pendulum stuck in motion between the separation of good and bad in a world where gender and class are the pinnacles of gossip, oppression and evocative intrigue. The tragedy is word-of-mouth and acts of the people on the outskirts of those involved, which makes it weave like a spider web, from the inside outside. Then, like a spiral of a phobia - from the outside to the inside. Ultimately, it all ends up in Tess's hands - whether she can control this tragedy or not - it will still happen.
Storyline:
The entirety of the storyline destroys its own senses of ambiguity at the end of the novel. This is a symbolic moment as the same tragedy is encountered by Tess and notably symbols and signposts this sense of losing control. This manic hysteria of misunderstanding and misinterpretation - and this is the very essence of the novel. Gossip and intrigue are caused by misunderstanding and the lack of knowledge in the states of gender and the hierarchal perspectives on the class system. Revolving around these primary concepts of gender, class, intrigue, gossip, wealth, love and hatred - we can only assume that only the worst can come up for Tess and her self-respect.
Verdict:
I give this book a 8 out of 9
100% for characters: Tess is a beautifully dramatic character that embodies a catharsis of a denouement in a world completely out of control when it comes to gender and class. A violent world erupting with sadness has only one character that seemingly takes it all like a storm strikes thunder
2/3 for themes: Even though the themes of this book are beautifully written and ever so poetic - the tragedy is seemingly shortcut, just like this sent-
100% for storyline: Seeing as this is my best friend's favourite book she'll probably kill me if I write anything bad about it. Just please, read it!
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