Reckless Parents
Posted by Golda on September 08, 1998 at 13:07:21:
In response to I want to growl at Tess' parents, written by Kay on September 07, 1998 at 15:33:28
] Maybe Joan Durbeyfield was overly optimistic and only looked at the bright side, but she expresses her misgivings to her husband at the end of Chapter 7, but never lets on to Tess what might happen. She should be arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or child abuse, or something.
] And "Sir John" should develop a backbone, get off the booze and back to work to rightly support his family.
I believe that Tess' parents were totally responsible for what happened to Tess. They were both thoughtless and selfish people IMHO. Joan Durbeyfield must have known about the dangers facing a young, beautiful country girl with no money and protection.
Some of you out there with the psych degrees please correct me, but in a modern day analysis, wouldn't Tess' behavior be described as typical of the eldest child in a dysfunctional family (child of an alcoholic)? She does whatever she can to keep the family together and keep the peace; she worries about money (thus, she opts to deliver the beehives). She puts her own safety second. Alex D'Urberville gave her bad vibes from their first meeting, yet she stays for the job and the inevitable rape.
I think Joan Durbeyfield recklessly gambled with her daughter's safety and future, and that she knew exactly what she was doing. And I blame Joan more than her husband John. He is such a n'er-do-well that he never does anything. He's out of the loop in all the household decision making except how to foolishly spend the little bit that they have.
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