Decisions
Posted by Constanza on September 08, 1998 at 14:36:32:
In response to As far from "Tess" as possible, written by Kay on September 08, 1998 at 11:03:38
I just finished "Phase the Fourth" last night and realized that "Tess" has all the hallmarks of a Greek tragedy. She can't fight fate or escape the ramifications of her past actions.
I wonder if any real power if decision is left to Tess at all. (I haven't read the whole novel, so I only have in view this First Phase).
It is almost a leif motiv with Hardy, that main characters are forced to act by external circumstances and that they actually have very little control on their own lives.
In this case in particular, it seems that as of the moment learnt of the D'Ubervilles her "fall" was bound to happen; any attempt of hers to avoid it is crushed down either by circumstances (the death of the horse) or just by other people's acts (mainly her parents). She is simply a helpless victim.
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