Tess of D'urberville

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Besides the discussion on characterization, it is crucial to review the similarities and differences between Tess and Joan in order to further investigate on underlying themes of the story. The two characters act as a symbol that reflects Hardy’s criticism on the society at Victorian times.

Both characters conform to the social norm of men dominance that shed light on the theme of injustice on women. It is obvious of Tess’s sufferings after being raped and loss of her child yet no action is made to uphold justice for her. The fact that Alec assaulting Tess where “upon her eyelashes there lingered tears” (P.77), she should be given justice by charging Alec with criminal offense. Instead of fighting for justice, Tess chooses to remain silent and bare the disastrous consequences on her own. Similarly, Joan advises Tess to not reveal her past to Angel in later part of the novel. Joan’s encouragement reveals that parents conform to social norm that men are free to escape from crimes and not bearing responsibilities. As a mother, Joan does not seek right for her daughter but instead she focuses on the climbing of social class. They bear the tradition value that women have no right to speak up for themselves hence are significant in reflecting the suppression on women of the society. Both characters are pillars that uphold the imbalanced power distribution between men and women in Victorian society hence manifesting one of the dominant themes in the novel which is patriarchy society. The suffering of Tess is an explicit example of how women are doomed and suppressed under patriarchal values of Victorian society while Joan is the upholder of male dominance.

However, there are noticeable differences in Tess and Joan’s values towards marriage and class. Tess is hard-working and seldom do readers see her complaining about her laboring work. She does not see marriage as a tool to climb up the social ladder but as a product of true love. Her refusal to marry Alec is a demonstration on her concept that she marries for love. Yet, Joan whines about her work on “how I've got to teave and slave” (P.87) Joan yearns to climb to higher social classes so as to escape from rural living. She exploits her daughter’s beauty as a tool to tempt men of wealthier families like Alec in order to climb into luxurious goods. Tess is a social symbol of women suffering while Joan is a symbol of traditional values. Tess’s innocence and purity make her a victim of the society under the dilemma of fulfilling her family wishes and upon her own desire. Joan’s yearning also reflects class immobility in Victorian society that it is immensely difficult for lower classes to move upward. The only way to move upward is through marriage hence reinforcing the theme on suppression of women once again. The immobility of classes indirectly makes women the victims in the society being exploited using their beauty and youth. Hardy uses such to criticize on both class immobility and exploitation of women.