苔丝悲剧成因分析

Abstract

TESS of the D'URBERVILLES is one of the famous novels written by Thomas Hardy who is a critical novelist at the end the 19th century in Britain, which is a turmoil age. Thomas Hardy was an acclaimed poet in his time .The moving plot ,the unique writing style attract lots of readers and also many writers. The novel exposes the cruel contradiction between the corrupted capitalist society and the noble individual spirits, embodied in Tess.

This essay focuses on the causes of Tess's tragedy. Firstly, the essay gives an introduction about Hardy and his influence on Tess. Secondly it analyze the external causes of Tess's tragedy including the social background and other factors .Thirdly the tragedy also causes by the mixed effect of the heroine's characteristics.

By means of analyzing all the above factors, this thesis gradually portrays the tragic fate of Tess and the darkness of the social reality .All in all, the tragedy portrayed in Tess of the D'Urbervilles is really a social tragedy and this very tragedy has fully revealed a profoundly pessimistic sense of human subjection to fate and circumstance—Hardy's fatalism.

Keywords: Tess, Tragedy, Tomas Hardy, Causes

Contents

Abstract I

Contents I

1. Introduction 1

2. Tess’s Tragedy 2

3. External Causes of Tess’s Tragic Fate 3

3.1 The Social Causes 3

3.1.1 Hypocritical Capitalist Morals 3

3.1.2 Poverty and Decay of Farmers 3

3.1.3 Unequal Legal System 4

3.2 Alec and Angel’s Influence 4

3.2.1The Direct Murderer—Alec 4

3.2.2.The Accomplice—Angel 5

4. Internal Causes of Tess’s Tragic Fate 6

4.1 Tess’s Illusion and Submission toward Love 6

4.2 Tess’s Innocence and Obedience to Her Parents 6

5. Conclusion 8

References 9