Introduction

Tess D’Urberville by Thomas Hardy is a tragedy. This novel talks about Tess, a girl of lower class
in industrial revolution, who must shoulder perpetual sorrow all through her life. It is caused by
many reasons that lead her fate to the tragic end.

One of the reason is the Alec D’Urberville character. At first Tess father was told by a parson that
he is the descendant of D’Urberville blood, a noblemen from French who fought against William
the Conqueror. He then declares it to his neighbors. After some difficulties that come to the family,
Tess’ parents push her to claim her nobility to the D’Urberville at Tantridge. There, she meets Alec
who will next influence much in Tess fortune

Characteristics of Tess and Alec are quite different and in opposite each other. Tess are innocent,
honest, patient, responsible and obedient; but as a round character, ahe has weaknesses in her
fatalism and self-blaming attitude. In contrast, Alec as the high class is a brave and opportunistic
man; However, he has evilness for his being sexual-oriented, hypocrite, and deceitful. The
opposition of both character finally clash and become the main conflict in the story since Alec is the
evil in Tess’ life.

Tess of the D’Urberville By Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles begins with the chance meeting between Parson
Tringham and John Durbeyfield. The parson addresses the Durbeyfield as "Sir John," and remarks
that he has just learned that the Durbeyfields are descended from the d'Urbervilles, a family once
renowned in England. Although Parson Tringham mentions this only to note how the mighty have
fallen, John Durbeyfield rejoices over the news. Durbeyfield arrives at home during the May Day
dance, in which his daughter Tess dances. During this celebration, Tess happens to meet three
brothers: Felix, Cuthbert and Angel Clare. Angel does not dance with Tess, but takes note of her as
the most striking of the girls. When Tess arrives at home, she learns that her father is at the tavern
celebrating the news of his esteemed family connections. Since John must awake early to deliver
bees, Tess sends her mother to get her father, then her brother Abraham, and finally goes to the
tavern herself when none of them return.

At the tavern, John Durbeyfield reveals that he has a grand plan to send his daughter to
claim kinship with the remaining d'Urbervilles, and thus make her eligible to marry a gentleman.
The next morning, John Durbeyfield is too ill to undertake his journey, thus Tess and Abraham
deliver the bees. During their travels, the carriage wrecks and their horse is killed. Since the family
has no source of income without their horse, Tess agrees to go to the home of the Stoke-
d'Urbervilles to claim kinship.

Alec is the Evil in Tess’ life.

 At Tantridge, she meets Alec d'Urberville, who shows her the estate and prepares to kiss
her. Tess returns home and later receives a letter from Mrs. Stoke-d'Urberville, who offers Tess
employment tending to her chickens. The travel from Marlott to Tantridge is related with the harm
of Alec sexual ambition, when Alec demands Tess to grasp his waist as the carriage tumbles down
the hill. Alec exploits moments of danger for his own sexual gain, presenting Tess with danger in
order to use her as a sexual object.

Alec's scold of Tess as "rather sensitive for a cottage girl" promotes the Alec’s tendension
that Tess may marry a gentleman. Alec thinks that Tess is only a girl from lower class that can be
one of his amusements, not his real wife although she has a distant family connection. (Chapter 8;
page 79) “You are mighty sensitive for a cottage girl !” said the young man

Alec has brought her to the house under false disguise; he has not brought her to claim
kinship with him and his mother, but rather for his own personal reasons. Her mother guessed that
Tess is no more than a servant for she does not know that Tess is a distant relation. (Chapter 9;
page 83) “Ah, you are the young girl to look after my bird” said Mrs. D’Urberville…

The rescue of Tess by Alec d'Urberville in the dance party show his bravery and seems to
be his gentleman behavior, yet even in this circumstances, he does not really intend to save Tess.
Car's mother realizes that Tess is in danger with Alec after she would be around Car. (Chapter 10;
page 96) “Out of the frying-pan into the fire”. In the next chapter, Alec is likely to bring Tess home
but he prolongs the journey. They quarrel in the way whether Tess can accept his attitude toward
her or not. Tess who is tired out then refuses to be with him for she wants to go home by herself. In
the Chase, an old wood, she gets asleep and Alec who at first let her separate, in fact return back to
Tess’ place. Knowing she is sleeping helplessly, Alec unexpectedly rapes her. It is the beginning of
Tess everlasting disaster. (Chapter 11; pages 101-102)

Bad Effects of Alec seduction to Tess

♦ Tess blames herself that the seduction is caused by her weakness and helplessness. When she
meets a man who quoting from a Bible, she wonders whether or not what she has done may be
forgiven, and seems to find the answer that she cannot in Christian teaching.

(Chapter 12; pages 108) “Pooh-I don’t believe in God said such things !” she murmured
contemptuously when her flush had died away.

♦ Her family reaction after Tess returning to Marlott is ironic. First she supported the idea that
Tess will be married to a nobleman, but when Tess at last is raped by Alec, she even scorn her.
Tess had obeyed her mother suggestion to go to Tantridge yet now she is angered for her
obedience.

(Chapter 12; page 109)

♦ Tess's return to Marlott becomes the subject of gossip in the town precisely because it is such a
shocking reversal of fortune for the girl. Although she left to claim kinship with a noble family,
she returns to Marlott in a lower social standing than before since she id unmarried but pregnant
with Alec d'Urberville's child. This scandal that shapes her own personal guilt leads her to
withdraw from society, finding refuge only in the natural habitat around her. Tess feels herself a
sinner for what occurred to her and that her personal pain and regret burden any social
opposition she may face.

(Chapter 13; pages 113) The people heads turned them again as the service proceeded; and at
last observing her they whispered to each other. She knew what their whisper were about, grew
sick at heart and felt that she could to church no more.

♦ When she gives birth, her baby adds her feeling of being a sinner. This child is the living
representation of her sin. Even the name that Tess gives her infant child, Sorrow, it represents
the result of her sin.

(Chapter 14; pages 125) Poor Sorrow campaign against sin, the world, and the devil was
doomed to be of limited brilliancy- luckily perhaps for himself, considering his beginning.

♦ After her baby’s death, Tess begins to realize that she is in the new life. She vows that there will
be no more talk of d'Urberville, and prepares to go to the Talbothays dairy where she has an
occupation as a milkmaid.

(Chapter 15; page 130) She would be able to look at them, and think not only that
D’Urberville, like Babylon, had fallen…

♦ In Tabolthays, she meets Angel, a quite different kind of man, compared with Alec. They are
then in love each other. But when Angel tells her that he wants to marry her makes a new
hesitate to Tess. Her past that burden is a secret that confuses and fears her whether it must be
told to Angel or not. Tess also worries about Angel if the news of their engagement becomes
public, as it is known that Tess is judged by the society as a castaway.

(Chapter 31, page 225-226)

♦ The confession of Tess about her past after her marriage to Angel changes his perceptions of his
wife. He feels that Tess is not that she used to be, so he cannot forgive her “sin”. Their
household becomes annoyed by her story. Then, Angel decides to leave her for some time with
the reason that he needs to go to Brazil for some purposes. At first, Tess want to be patient by
sending him letters but later she try to forget him because of his long absence that is considered
as neglect his wife.

(Chapter 35; page 264) “O Tess, forgiveness does not apply to the case! You were one person;
now you are another…”
Alec’s Reappearnce

Tess wonders why her husband has not written to her, for he had said that he would give
her information about the situation there.. She wonders whether he is ill. On a Sunday morning,
Tess leaves for Emminster. When Tess reaches the home of the Clares at Emminster, nobody
answers, for they are all at church. Tess sees Felix and Cuthbert, but fears that they should find her
before she is prepared to confront them. When the Clares reach their home once more, they find
Tess's boots which she has left there and appropriate them as charity. Tess views this scene as
evidence of her condemnation, and feels that she cannot return to the vicarage. Tess leaves
Emminster and reaches the village of Evershead, where she learns that a Christian man is preaching.
Tess finds this preacher giving a sermon on justification by faith. She recognizes the voice of the
preacher as that of Alec d'Urberville. (Chapter 44; page 335-344)

Tess feels that this change of Alec sexual orientation becoming religious is queer,
although there is a possibility that an evil man can convert into a religious one. Alec approaches her
and tells her that his duty is to save, and there is no person to whom he has a greater duty than Tess.
Tess asks him if he has saved himself, for charity begins at home. He says that he has done nothing
and that no amount of contempt will equal what he has brought upon himself. Alec mentions
Reverend Clare, who has been his religious inspiration since confronting Alec. She tells Alec that
she does not believe his conversion.. Alec tells Tess that he should not look at her too often, for
women's faces have too much power over him already.. Alec asks her who has taught her such
proper English, and she claims that she has learned things in her troubles. She tells him about
Sorrow, which shocks him. He asks Tess to swear on the Cross-in-Hand that she will never tempt
him by her charms and ways. (Chapter 45; page 354-354)

The Effects of Alec Reappearance

♦ The reappearance of Alec becomes the lasting hardship that Tess must experience. After a
separation with her husband, she now meets with the man who is responsible to her disastrous
past influencing all of her life until that time. Alec essentially blames her for her own troubles,
asking her never to tempt him again when she has done nothing to attraction Alec or even show
any interest for him. He sees that Alec has not yet changed since his attitude towards Tess and
not confessed his mistake.

(Chapter 45; page 350) “Well, women faces have had too much power over me already for me
not to fear them.”

♦ Alec shows his hypocrisy to Tess and carries on terrorising her. Some days after the meeting,
Alec comes to Tess workplace. He tells that he wants to marry her because her mother asked
him to marry after her death. He repeats many of the same actions that prefaced his seduction of
Tess, following her and using his monetary influence as charity to attract himself to Tess in
order to win her. Alec tries to avoid responsibility for his actions; when he discusses what
 happened to Tess, he does not blame himself for seducing her, but blames mothers who do not
warn their daughters that men can seduce. He also claims that Tess has caused his sinfulness by
tempting him, rather than accepting the blame for his low morals.

(Chapter 46 page 356-368)

♦ In the other chance, Alec says that Tess’ marriage is over, but Tess answers that she has no
husband at the time. Alec threatens Tess that he will be her master again. It means that Alec
actually try to make Tess as what he did in the past. He offers help to her and the family but
rejected. The absence of Angel and the financial problem are the way to start his effort again to
get her.

(Chapter 47; page 374) “Remember my lady, Iwas your master once! I will be your master
again . If you are a man’s wife you are mine!.”

♦ After the death of John Durbeyfield, Alec's attempts to help Tess appear more harmful , for
Alec uses them more explicitly as a means for domination. He states that he will help her
whether she likes her or not. Tess herself realizes that Alec’s aid will be dangerous for her.

(Chapter 50 page 394) “O Alec, I wish you wouldn’t give me anything at all. I cannot take it
all from you! I don’t like-it is not right!”

♦ Tess once again shoulders the burden of her family's troubles in, as the disreputable status of
her family because she blames herself that her past causes Joan Durbeyfield to lose the contract
to the family house after John Durbeyfield's death. Tess’s seduction by Alec has made her
family fate like that. Tess has always taken responsibility when her family has faced hardship,
yet she always blames herself. Here Tess actually is the reason for her family's hardship. The
recurrence of past sins is also evident in this chapter in Tess's worry that Alec is her husband in
a more physical sense than Angel, a worry that also illustrates the differences between the
carnal, physical Alec and the spiritual, intellectual Angel.

(Chapter 51; page 403) It was not her husband, she had said. Yet a con ciousness that in a
physical sense this man alone was her husband seemed to weigh on her more and more.

♦ The explanation of the d'Urberville coach foreshadows a tragic end to Tess Durbeyfield and is
closely related the events of Tess's seduction by Alec. The legend states that a beautiful woman
falls victim to a villainous d'Urberville while traveling, reminds Alec's attempts to seduce Tess
while traveling by coach. However, at this point the conflict between Alec and Tess has not yet
reached the point of serious violence.

(Chapter 51; page 398-399)

♦ The offer that Alec d'Urberville makes guaranteeing that he help the Durbeyfield family is
perhaps the one act of charity that Tess finds difficult to reject, for in this situation she
 condemns her family to the same suffering she has felt. However, this does not necessarily
indicate that Alec's offer is pure. He remains intending to take Tess as his own once more.

(Chapter 51; page 401-403)

♦ When Angel appears in front of Tess, he is rejected because Alec had won her back. She says
that that she also hates Alec for he lies to her that Angel would never come back again. Tess
feels that Alec is the cause of all her hatred.

(Chapter 55; page 424-425)

Ending

Tess admits that she hates Alec now, for he lied to her about Angel. After Angel leaves, Tess
returns to her room and begins to cry. Alec finds her, and after a heated argument Tess stabs Alec in
the heart, killing him.

After rejected, Angel leaves town, he finds Tess following him. She admits that she has killed Alec,
and the two continue along together to escape. They remain at a deserted mansion before continuing
northward to find a boat out of England. They rest at Stonehenge; there Tess, who realizes that she
will finally be captured, asks Alec to marry her sister, Liza-Lu, after she is gone. As Tess sleeps a
party of men surround Angel and Tess to capture her and arrest her for Alec's murder. Tess is
executed for her crime, while Angel does her bidding and presumably marries Liza-Lu. In the end,
Alec’s evil to Tess is over but it also finishes Tess’ life in the world.

Closing

The causes and effects influenced by the character Alec D’Urberville in the novel
becomes the essential circumstances that lead Tess to the tragic end. The causes by Alec’s evil
effects Tess life in her private, her family, her marriage, and the society. Her fatalism and self-
blaming attitude prolonge her hardship.

The Alec’s evil to Tess symbolizes an unanimous power of the high class that has capital
in the industrial revolution era. While, Tess as a fatalist represents the lower class which is helpless
with the situation. In general the capitalists push down the peasants who do not have ability to avoid
the use of machine in the age.

For the story itself, the Alec’s evil in Tess’ life is influental in the story plot. The cause
occurs in the introduction, raising action, and climax while the effects come in the next parts.
 Afterall, the function of Alec as a character in the story is mainly concerned with
Tess’fate. His characterstics that are in opposite with Tess’ raise conflicts between them because
thet ALec is the strong and Tess is the weak make the man behave unpleasant attitude towards her.
In conclusion, Alec as the evil becomes one of the most important factors that affects Tess’ destiny
and conflicts occuring in the novel

Source:

Tess of the D’Urberville; 1891; Hardy, Thomas; Collins London and Glasgow, United Kingdom

Internet source; 7 June 2003; www.classicnotes.com

 Alec is the Evil in Tess’ Life

Tess of the D’Urbervile by Thomas Hardy

Submitted as a final paper

For the lecture “Prose Analysis”

Lectured by: Dra. Nani Sukarni, MA

Drs. Hendarto R., MA

Name : Ahmad Thomy Hanafie

NIM : C0300013

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF SEBELAS MARET
SURAKARTA
2003