论造成苔丝悲剧的原因

【标题】论造成苔丝悲剧的原因【作者】周云芸【关键词】苔丝悲剧；

社会；

法律；

宗教；

性格【指导老师】张亚军卢静【专业】英语【正文】

I.Introduction

A.ABriefIntroductiontotheAuthor

ThomasHardy

(1840-1928),anovelistandpoet,isoneoftherepresentativesofEnglishcriticalrealismattheturnof19thcountry.HewasbornandbredinDorset,anagriculturaldistrictinthesouthofEngland.Sonofanarchitect,hestartedouttofollowhisfather’sprofession.AfterstudyinginDorsetandtheninLondon,hereturnedtosettledowninhisnativeplace.Archttecturedidnotreallyinteresthim,andeveninhisLondondaysheturnedtoliterature.

HepublishedhisfirstnovelDesperateRemediesin1871.UndertheGreenwoodTree,publishedinMay1872,wasbetterreceived.FarfromtheMaddingCrowdwaspublishedin1874andquicklybecameabest-seller.HisearlynovelsdescribethesimplerurallifeinthesouthofEngland

.TheReturnoftheNative

(1878)establishedHardyasamajorwriterinhistime.Itinitiatedhispessimisticthemes.TheMayorofCasterbridge

(1886)presentsatragedyofthecharacter.HepublishedhislastandmostrenowedtwonovelsTessoftheD’Urbervillesin1891andJudetheObscurein1898.Theirpublication,especiallythelatter,metwithallkindsofattacks.ThusHardylaiddownhisnovelist’spenandcontinuedtowritepoetryandtohisdeathonJanuary11,1928.

B.ABriefIntroductiontotheNovel

TessoftheD’UrbervillesisoneofHardy’smostfamousbooks,concernsthetragiclifestoryofabeautifulcountrygirl,TessDurbeyfieldwhoisadaughterofapoorvillagerofBlackmoorVale,whosefatherchangesbylearningthatheisdescendedfromtheancientfamilyofD’Urberville.TessiscunninglyseducedbyAlec,ayoungmanofmeans,whoseparents,withdoubtfulright,bearthenameofD’Urberville.Tessgivesbirthtoachild,whodies.Later,whileworkingasadairymaidshebecomesblissfullyengagedtoAngelClare,aclergyman’sson.OntheirweddingnightsheconfessestohimtheseductionbyAlec,andAngelhypocriticallyabandonsher.Misfortunescomeuponherandherfamily,andaccidentthrowsheroncemoreinthepathofAlecD’Urberville.Hehasbecomeanitinerantpreacher,buthistemporaryreligiousconversiondoesnotpreventhimfrompersistentlypursuingher.BecauseherhusbandisstillinBrazilandremainsunanswered,sheisdrivenforthesakeofherfamilytobecomethemistressofAlec.Clare,returningfromBrazilandrepentingofhisharshness,findsherlivingwithAlecinSandbourne.AtlastTessstabsandkillshimtoliberateherself.AfterabriefhalcyonperiodofconcealmentwithClareintheNewForest,TessisarrestedatStonehengeandhanged.

Thenovelconcernsthetragiclifestoryofabeautifulcountrygirl,brave,hard-working,sweet-naturedandinnocent.Yethertragedyisresultedfromtheeconomicconditionsaswellasthelegal,moralandreligiousstandardsofthesociety,foronlytheutterpovertyofTess’sfamily,thedoublemoralstandardsformanandwomanandthereligiousconceptofsinmakeitinevitableforhertogoworkonthefarmsandfallintothetrapsofAlecandtheaccusationsofAngelClareuntilherremorseandherbitternessoverherfateleaduptothemurder.Sheisavictimofeconomicoppressionandsocialinjustice.ThefollowingcontentswillanalyzethetragedyofTessfromexternalandinternalcauses.

II.TheInternalCausesofTess’sTragedytheFeaturesofHerCharacteristics

Tess’stragedynotonlyresultsfromtheexternalcauses,butalsotheinternalones.Andonlythroughtheinternalcauses,cantheexternalcausesbecomeoperative.Tess’stragedyisthetragedyofcharacter.Ontheonehand,Tessstrugglesbravelyagainstherdestinyandtheconventionalmorality.Shedesiresforhappinessandtruelove.Ontheotherhand,shecannotcompletelygetridofsocialconventionsandmoralbiasoftheday,whichmakesherbelievethatshehastopayforwhatshehassinned.Sheyieldstothearrangementofthefate.Thelatteristheweakpointinhercharacteristics.

A.Tess’sPurity

Tessissimpleandpureonnature.ThecountrylifeofWessxwithprimitivecustommakesTess’spurenature.Sheisarealcountrychild,flashandnatural.Herhopeoflifeandfeelingiscontrolledbythepowerofnature.Herbeingseducedandthedeathofherchildbecomethegreatestdisaster.AndthenshestimulatesherselftoworkatthedairyfarmatTalbothays.Shepreferstoestablishherhopeintheactuallabor.Shetriesherbesttoblenchcitylifeandtherich.Hernatureandpuritymakeherescapefromthecustomandcivilizationwhichisdifferentfromcountrylife.Justbecauseofthat,sheislackofanystratagem.Herpurityexceedsanyone’sinstincttoprotecthimselforherself.ThiskindofpuritymakeshercannotbeartolivewithAlectoenjoythewealthylife.

Tess’sattitudestowardsloveexpressherpuritymostprominently.Herfaithfulnessandsteadfastnessreflectacountrygirl’ssublimevirtue.TesslovesAngeldeeplywhilehatingAlecwhoisloiteringaroundanddoingnothing,whichshowsTess’smoralfibreofpreferringmoralcharactertoluxuriousness,preferringlovetomoney.ShelovesAngelandregardshimasthegod.ShethinksthatshecannotstainClare’ssoulforbeingsecured.BecauseofherpurityandbeingloyaltoClare,shedecidestotellthetruthofthepasttohiminhopeofgettingforgiveness.ButAngelcannotacceptthefact.FromthenonTess’stragedyisfrombadtoworse.

ThepurityleadstothetragedyofTess.Itisdestroyedpitilesslyunderthesocialinsitituationandmoralrules.

B.Tess’sSenseofResponsibilityandSelf-sacrifice

Furthermore,Tessisofgreatresponsibility.Sheisoverburdenedwithresponsibilitiesforherfamilyandwhatsheloves.

“Ifshewasselfishandwilful,thetragedycouldbeavoidedorcouldnotdestroyheratleast.Tess’sself-respectisnotwillingtogototheso-calledrelative.”1ButafterthesuddendeathoftheonlyoldhorsePrince,shegoes,toshouldertheresponsibilityofmaintainthelivingofthewholefamily.Becauseofthesenseofresponsibility,TessunwillinglyvisitstheD’Urbervillesinthehopeofimprovingthefamilyfortunes.ThenshemeetsAlecwhichmakesherdisgusted.

“WhenAlecflirtswithherandkissesher,Tessisgreatwrathful.Asayounggirl,herdignityishurt.Shecannothaveworkedforthemandhasgonebackhome.Becauseofconsideringthelivingofthewholefamily,shegivesup.”2SheimputesthedeathoftheoldhorsePrincetoherowncarelessness.Shetakestheresponsibilityofrestoringthefamilyandexcludingthedifficulty.Underthesituation,shehasnothingtodobutgotoAlec’s,thenpureTessloseshervirginityinAlec’ssnare.AfterninemonthsTesscomesbackhomesufferinggreathumiliation.Later,whenherfamilycircumstanceistough,afterthedeathofherfather,theyareexpelledfromthevillage.SheshoulderstheburdenoftakingcareoffamiliestocometoAlecagain.Shegivesself-sacrificewhichmeansshesellsherselftoAlectoexchangethewholefamily’sliving.Thatishersenseofresponsibilitywhichdriveshertothegreattragedy.

C.Tess’sResistance

Tessisinadifficultsituation,butsheisnotweak.TessisthecounterthatherparentscanformanalliancewiththeD’Urbervillesclanbymarriage.ThistraderuinsTess’svirginityandshakesherbelief.Afterherunfortunateencounter,shebecomesacomplicatedwoman,andshenolongerenduresallthingssilently.ShestrugglesagainstAlec.Incommonpeople’seyes,sheisafallenwoman,butherattitudetowardsAlecisinviolableallthetime.Ifshedoesn’tresistAlec,instead,livingwithhimashismistress.ItonlycausesthetragedyofsmallpeoplebutnotthetragedyofTess,notthetragedyof

“afallenwoman”.Shegivesupthiskindofeasylife.Inspitethatherlifeisfilledwithdisaster,shealwaysshouldersitindomitableandnevermakesacomplaint.ShemeetsAlecagainwhenherlifebecomesmoreandmoredifficult,sheneverwavertowardsAlec’senticement.

“Shepassingsionatelyswungtheglovebythegauntletdirectlyinhisface.”3Thisisstrongresistance,Tesswillnotyieldtotheevil.Thenherfatherdiedandthefamilywasexpelledfromtheircottage.Inordertosupportherfamily,TesswasdriventogobacktoAlec.Butherresistanceneverended,heryieldingtoAlecistemporary.AtlastshekilledAlec,thisisinevitableresultthatshestrugglewithallevilforces.ThespiritofrevoltisamainpartonTess’scharacter,whichcausesherspecialtragedyatthattime.Tesshasbeenmadetobreakanacceptedsociallaw,butitisnotthoroughly.Inadditionthatshelivedinawickedsociety,herinsignificantpowercan’tfightwiththepowerfulevilforces.Sohertragedyisplaced.

AlthoughTessisnotonlyresigningherselftoadveristiesbutalsotopeople,Alec,Angel,shealsoexpressesheranger.WhenshebeatsAlecandwritesthesecondlettertoAngel.wecanfeelherwrath.Sheresistsallpressureandadversitiescomingfromthesocietyandlife.Unfortunately,thiskindofresistanceisdestinedtofailatthebeginning.

ThefeaturesofTess’scharacteristicsmakethisfiguremorecredible,andalsoleadherruinandhertragedyinevitably.

III.TheExternalCausesoftheTragedy

A.TheCauseofSociety

1.ThePovertyofPeasantsandUnjustLawofThatDay

TheVictorianperiodcoversgreatpartofthenineteenthcentury.ChronologicallyitroughlycorrespondstothereignofQueenVictoriawhoruledoverBritainfrom1837to1901.Duringthisperiod,theindustrializationwasaccomplished,theageofsteamenergy,machineryandlater,electricityarrived.Foratime,Britainbecamethe

“workshopoftheworld”.Largeamountsofprofitwereaccumulatedbothfromexpandingitsforeigntrademarketsandfromexploitingitshuge-sizedcolonies.Britainwasdevelopingintoarich,advancedindustrialcountryintheVictorianage.

Inthelate19thcentury,theeconomiccrisistookplaceinbourgeoisworld.Itledtothesocialchange,whichmademanypeasantslosetheirlandsandbecamepeasantworkers.Alargenumberofpeasantswerebankrupt.ItisthesamewiththeD’Urbervilles.Theylovethelandbuttheydon’tresisttheinvasion.Theirnarrowmindsandstupiditymakethempuzzled.Thesocietyissocruelthatitdoesnotgivethemachancetoliveormakethemdiscardtheirchildren.TesslivesinsuchanageofhistoricalrevolutionwhichmakesthetragedyofTessbeinevitable.Attheendof19thcentury,capitalismprevailedinthewholeEnglandthatmadebroadmassesofpeasantsgobankruptandthentheyhadtoliveinpovertyandgravesituation.ThedestructionofEnglishpeasantwascausedbycapitalism.Whenthesimpleandbeautifulrurallifewasgraduallydeclininganddisappearing,Englandwasmarchingfastintoanindustrialcountry.

Withthedevelopmentofcapitalism,socialproblemsbecameseriously,especiallytheconflictbetweentheworkersandcapitalistsbecamethefundamentalcontradictioninEnglishsociallife.In1834therewasthepassageofthePoorLaw,whichmadethousandsofpoorfreetoilersfornothingbuttheinhumanwork-houseandnever-adequatecheapfoodforabaresustenance.ThecontinuanceoftheCornLawmadebreadtooexpensiveforthepoorpeople.Thesevereeconomicdepression,massunemploymentandtheintensifiedexploitationofman,womanandchildlaborbroughtgreatmiseriestothepoorpeople.Tessisbornintothefamilyofapoorruraltradesmanatthattime.Thedeathoftheiroldhorse

“Prince”makesthewholefamilylosetheonlysourceofeconomyandtheyhavetoshiftfortheproletariat.TheimpoverishmentanddecayofsmallfarmersinruralEnglandisresponsibleforthetragiclifeofTess,whoisavictimofthesocialchanges.ItistheexternalforcewhichhasdrivenTesstotragicdoom.

Lawisusedtoupholdjusticeandparity.WhenTessisinfringed,capitalisticlawbecomessoweak.

“LawdoesnotlookintotheinjuriesofTesswhichiscausedbyAlec,whileitletsthecriminalAlecatlargeandletapuregirlhavetosufferdevastatingresultalone.”4Furthermore,cynicalAlecscurrilouslyutilizesTess’sgoodnessofaspiringtosaveherhomelessfamily.HeforciblyoccupiesTessagainandmocksherironically.Alecisshowntobeanevil,dangerousfigure,luresTessforherpovertyandtheshortofsophistication,butasaresult,Tessisblamedandlivesindisgrace,whichiscausedbysocialinjustice.Alecisafraudaswellasamorallycorruptperson.HisviciousnessisrevealedcompletelywhenheseesTessatthefirsttime.Tessisinnocentandhasnoexperience,andherlivingenvironmentissodarkthatnoonecomestohelpandprotecther.SoAlectakesadvantagesofTess’shelplessnessandsetsatraptoseduceher.Anylawdoesnotprotecther.Whatshecandoistoburyhermiseriesandinsultsinherheartsilently.Later,Alecputshimselfintotheserviceofreligionforsometime,andheevenintendstosellthehouseandgoofftoAfricaasamissionary.ButhiswickednessreappearsinTess’slifeandtriesoncemoretowinheragain,whichshowsthatheisstillmightyinsensitivewiththeclericaldress.Alecdeceivesherthatherhusbandwillnotcomebackforever.Andheisalwaysseenasseparatefromtherurallifearoundhimandturnsaconvert

.Heevenpestersandthreatensher,

“Remember,mylady,Iwasyourmasteronce!Iwillbeyourmasteragain.Ifyouareanyman’swifeyouaremine!”5Finally,tosupportherfamily,shehastobeartheinsultandbeAlec’smistress,whichlaterpreventsherfromlivingahappylifewithClare.

Alec,therepresentativeofcapitalistpowerandviolencedarestodowhathedesires,notonlybecausehehasmoneyandpower,butalsobecausehisevilbehaviorisprotectedbythecapitalistlawandrules.IntheeyesofVictorianpeople,theyoungupstartsquireisnoble,whileTessisconsideredtolureAlecinordertoacquireAlec’smoney.WhenhemeetsTessunexpectedly,hisuglysoulisshownagain.HeordersTesstoswearthatshewillnevertempthimbyhercharms,heshirkstheresponsibility,butnobodycondemnshim.Itiscausedbysocialinjusticeandunjustlaw.Tessbearsallthatinjusticesilentlyallalong.

“Justicewasdone,andPresidentoftheImmorals,inAeschyleanphase,hadendedhissportwithTess.”6Obviously,sheisthevictimoftheunjust,hypocriticallaw.Atlast,Tessmakesresoluteresistanceinthethoroughlydespairingsituation.TesskillsAlecwhohasruinedherlifewrathfully.However,lawordersscoresofpolicementoarrestherandsentencehertodeath.

Accordingtothatwecanknowhowhypocriticallawofcapitalismis.Itisjusttheunjustlawwhichsafeguardsthebenefitofcapitalism,restrainsandruinscommoners.Tessisindustriousandkind,sheseeksforpureallherlife,andaspirestoliveonherownlabortobeofdignity.However,thedarkcapitalisticinstitutionandlawdepriveherrightofbeinguprightandpure.Tess’stragedydenouncesthelawofcapitalism.

2.HypocriticalReligionandConventionalMoralBias

Inthecapitalisticsociety,religionwasstillatoolforthebourgeoisietodominatepeople.Thereligiousconceptofcapitalismpermeatedeveryone’ssubconsciousness.AlthoughTessisnotapiousdisciple,sheisstilldeeplyaffectedbyreligion.Whenherbastardisdyingsherealizesthatthebabyhasnotbebaptized,whichwillpreventhimfromenteringtheparadise.Atthattimesheaspirestogetbaptizedforherbabyfromaclergyman.However,herfatherlocksthedoortopreventtheclergyman’scominginordertoenshroudtheshame.Shehasnochoicebutto

“murmurincoherentsupplicationsforalongwhile”.7Finallyshedoesitbyherselfimitatingthebaptizinginthechurch.BecauseofTess’sresistance,shecannotbesubjugatedtoreligionthoroughly.Herpainfulexperienceandlessonmakeherrealizethatreligionishypocritical.Whentheclergymanrefusestopresideoverthefuneralforherbaby,shesays:”Iwillnevercometoyourchurchnomore.”8

TesscomesfromEmminstermeetingAlec.Atthattime,Alecrepentsandstartsanewtobeaclergymanpreachingtothepeasants.

“InmarchofthesesolemnwordsofScriptureoutofsuchamouth”9whichmakesTessdisgusted.AndalsoshereprimandsAlecrightinhisface.InordertogetTessagain,Alecusestheconceptofreligiontocheather.HegivesuptheGodandtenetastogetTessagain.HealsoclaimstoofferhelptoTess.Tessseriouslyqueriestheessenceofreligion.However,Tesslivesintheshadowofreligionandexplainsheradversitiesunceasingusingreligiousconcept.ShefellsguiltywhenseeingpeoplewritingthewordsofBibleonthewall.Itmakesherfeelguiltybecauseoflosingchastity.Itillustratesthatthebourgeoisiecheatsandfoolspeopleusingreligionjustinorderthattheycangettheircontemptiblepurposesunscrupulously.

ThehypocriticalreligionmakesAngelbelieveTessisawomanwhoisexteriorpurebutinteriorlicentious.Moreover,heputsTessintoAlec’shandagaintoleadsthetragedydirectly.HypocriticalreligiondestroysTessandmakesherliveinthedespoticreligion,beingafflictedandlackingofself-confidence.ReligionmakeshersuffergreatmentalpressureandalsodrivesTessintothenetoftragedyinmentalgradually.

Tessisavictimofconventionalmoralbias,thetitle

“apurewoman”expressesHardy’ssympathyfortheheroineTessatthepointofhumanitarianism,andchallengesthestandardsofconventionalmoralandsocialattitude.HardyindignantlydenouncedthecrimesofVictoriansocietywhichshacklesTess’smind,affectedherphysicallyandmentally.

Inthesocietyofmalesupremacy,awoman’svirginityistheprivilegeofherhusbandaccordingtotheconvention.Itmeansthatsheisnotpureifloseit.Theonlywayistomarrythemanwithwhomshehassexualbehavior,nomatterthewomanlovesthemanornot.However,manneedn’tovertakethisresponsibility.Becauseofit,thewholelifeofTesswassurroundedbythedisasterandunfortunatethings.Atfirst,herparentscouldnotunderstandthisfoolbehavior,accordingtotheconvention:anywomanwouldmarrythemanwhohadseducedher.Theyareshamedthattheirdaughtergivesbirthtoachildwithoutgettingmarried.Inthevillage,shehastobearthesarcasticcommentsanddiscriminationfromthegossips.Peoplethinkthatitisanoffenceagainstdecencyifthiskindoffamilylivethere.ThepoorpeasantslookdownuponTess.

AngelClare,theyoungestsonofapoorparson,istherepresentativeofthesocialconventionsandmoralbias,andalsothedirectoppositeofAlec.Angellooksdownuponthematerialdistinctionofrankandwealth.Hegoestothecountrysideandstudytheagriculturalskills.HelovesTessandtreatsTess

“equally”whichmakesTesstrusthimandfallinlovewithhim.Ontheotherhand,affectedbyhiseducation,Angelalsoexistssomefeaturesinherentinintellectual,suchashesitation,hisidealsdivorcefromreality,helacksofthecourageofbreakingthoughtraditionalvalues.Becauseofhis

“noblevirtue”,TessopenshermindtohimandtellshimallherpaststorywithAlecontheirweddingnight,thinkingthatAngelwouldforgiveherasshedoesforhim.Buthedisappointsher.AfreshandvirginaldaughterofnatureisherfirstimpressiontoAngelClare,buttraditionalbiasandvirginismmakethebeautifulTessdisappearinhisheart.Hesays:

“forgivenessdosenotapplytothecase.Youwereoneperson,nowyouareanother.Differentsocietiesdifferentmanners.”10Thesewordsreflecttheessenceofthisproblem.Tessisahumblepeasantwoman,howcanhernotioninthesamebreathwithhim.Apparently,whatcauseshimtorejectherisnothisnaturalfeelingbuttheresidueofprejudiceleftbyhisupbringing.HethinksthatAlecshouldbeTess’shusband,regardlessthatitdoesnotexisttruelovebetweenTessandAlec.ThenheleavesherandgoestoBrazil.Withherhusband’sconventionalbias,Tessfallsintothedifficultpositionagain.Infact,sheshouldbesympathiedandunderstoodbythepeople,butinotherpeople’seyes,sheisafallenwoman.Undertheactionoftraditionalmoralbiasinmalesociety,winkatthebrute,forcethevictimshoulderstheresponsibilityandsuffering.Hisintellectualrefinementdropsaway.Theweaknessandflawsofhispersonalityareexposedherecompletely.HecannotacceptTess.Heconsidersherasa

“fallenwomen”.Hestilljudges

“purity”withtheconventionalvalueandmoralstandardthatareimplantedinhimwhenheisaboy.Heistheslavetothecustomandconventionality.WhenTess,needinglovemorethanherself,hascompletelygivenherselfovertohim,heabruptlywithdrawsandcrushesher.TheinjuryheinflictsonheristhereforemuchmoreseverethananythingAleccouldhavedone.

AlecinjuresTessphysically,hisviolationmakesTessfallsintotheabyssofmisery.AngeldoesmoreguiltthanAlec,hismoralprejudiceandcold-bloodedattitudeaffectsTessmentally.ThelossofchastitydoesnotkillallTess’sdesireforloveandhope,butAngel’sdesertionandherhopelessnessofloveforAngelmakeherlosecouragetolive.BothofthemcausethetragedyofTess.Fromanotherpointofview,thesetwomen’srepressandpersecutiontoTessreflectthecapitalistsoppressthelowerclass.Tess’sfinestqualityliesinherresistance,andthecourageoffightingagainstunfairsocialsysteminthistragedy.AngelClare,ontheonehand,heisacriminal.Ontheotherhand,heisalsoavictim.Withthefixedsocialideologyandconventionalmoralbias,hispursuingfortheperfectloveisblindnessandstubbornarrogance,whichbringstheunhappinesstoherwifeandhimself.

B.TheCauseofTess’sParents

SincetheIndustrialRevolutioninthesecondhalfofthe18thcentury,theindustrialcapitalistshavebeguntoplayamoreimportantroleandviedforpoliticalpowerwiththeoldaristocracy.Tesslivesinthetransitionalperiodfromtheoldsystemtothenewone.Theideaof

“respectingaristocracy”stilldominatespeople’sthought,andaffectedtheirlife-styleatagreatextent.JohnDurbeyfield,suchapoorandfrustratedhaggler,fellssoexcitedandproudwhenParsonTringham,theantiquarytellshimthatheisthedescendantofthefamousD’Urbervillesfamily.Inhismind,anoblenamecannotonlychangetheirpoorcondition,butalsoownsarespectablestatus.Tessisbornintothefamilyofapoorruraltradesman,whosefatherisaddictedtodrinkinganddoesnotworkhard.Hermotherislikeachildandneverthinksaboutthefuturewhoisignorantofworldlyaffairsandadmiresvanity.ThisnewsmakesthecoupleofDurbeyfieldfillwithunrealisticthoughtofbeingrichandgreatrenown.Fromthenon,theymayadd

“sir”beforehisname,itisgloryforhim,andthenhebecomesindolentandsluggish.Hehasneverdonemoreworkthanwasnecessarytokeephisfamilysuppliedwithmeagerfoodandhimselfwithbeerbutfromthatdayonheceasesd