Abstract

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is the greatest representative work of Thomas Hardy, a famous and productive novelist and poet in English literature. It tells the tragic life story of a beautiful country woman, Tess Durbeyfield. For more than a hundred years now, it has been warmly welcomed by the readers. The thesis intends to analyze the causes of Tess’s tragedy from the following three aspects: intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors and the author Hardy’s factors, which will help readers learn more about the social background of the Victorian Period and much better comprehension of Thomas Hardy and his works. Meanwhile, as a modern woman, we can obtain some beneficial enlightenment from the novel and learn how to become a better woman.

Key words: Tess; tragedy; intrinsic factors; extrinsic factors

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1.Introduction5

2.The Analysis of the Intrinsic Factors of Tess’s Tragedy7

2.1 The fantastic appearance of Tess7

2.2 The double character of Tess8

3.The Analysis of the Extrinsic Factors of Tess’s Tragedy9

3.1 Factors of others ’ influence.9

3.1.1The influence of Alec D’ Urberville .9

3.1.2The influence of Angel Clare .10

3.2 Factors of environment.11

3.2.1Family environment11

3.2.2Social environment12

3.2.2.1Social status.12

3.2.2.2Social customs and ethics13

3.2.2.3Social legal system.14

4.Hardy and Tess’s Tragedy.15

4.1 Hardy’s fatalism and evolutionary meliorism15

4.2 Hardy’s pessimism.16

5.Conclusion.17

References.19