Tess of the

D’Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy's ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles' was

originally published in 1891 and first appeared serialized
in a British newspaper called ‘The Graphic’. The opening
phase introduces several major themes: the effect of
the past in the present, coincidence or fate, family, and
nature.

The theme of Heritage and the past and present is very

apparent and influential in the first phase. The
Durbyfields learning of their noble past sets the path
for the entire story and Hardy makes sure to waste no
time introducing this theme as it is integral to the book
and is reflected throughout, generally, as a great irony.
Past and present are also a theme that is seen
throughout the first chapter. Whether in the form of
legacy or just in descriptions, "her twelfth year in her
cheeks or her ninth sparkling from her eyes.” Tess has a
contemporary education and can speak Standard
English; her mother relies on superstition and folklore,
learns ballads by hearing them, and speaks the local
dialect. The newly built D'Urbervilles home is set in the
Chase, a primeval forest, and the use of the original
farmhouse in which generations of farm families lived
for a hen house also fuses past and present and is yet
another way that Hardy presents this theme.

Aisling Hennessy 
Fate. The belief that the order of things is already
decided. Fatalists believe that this is the case and they
have no control over determining their fate. Hardy
introduces this idea in the first chapter of the first
phase. Tess is the perfect victim of fate; she is kind
and pretty in a society of male idealism. She also holds
a self destructive sense of guilt after the accidental
death of Prince. She feels she is on par with a murderer
and this makes it easy for Hardy to introduce fate as a
main theme as Tess is so susceptible to its effects.
Though it can also been seen as coincidence, it is when
Tess’ father discovers that his family comes from the
oldest and (at the time) wealthiest families in England.
This ‘coincidence’ or act of fate begins the rolling ball
of Tess’ story. From the beginning Hardy uses recurring
themes to illustrate that Tess' death has been pre-
determined in a way that makes it seem like she hasn’t
got all the time in the world. It is not in the way of a
simple quote, but more of a feeling that spans the first
phase. It is presented almost as fate when prince dies
and which commences the web of circumstance that
encircles Tess. Hardy’s introduction to the notion of
Tess’ malevolent fate could also be seen as the power of
coincidence. Is it coincidence or fate that Tess’ father
is told that he is a representative of a noble lineage, or
is it fate that this was to happen? That’s the thing
about fate; you can never tell if it was supposed to
happen. It is very significant, whether it be fate or
coincidence of the timing of the parson’s impulsive
revelation. The fact that Durbyfields must take the
beehives to market early the next morning.

The theme of nature is presented quickly within this

book. The story begins in spring. New beginnings, new
stories. It is when the new Tess is born. It is when
Tess’ father takes a new look on life as he no longer

Aisling Hennessy 
sees himself as a Duberfield, but as a D’Urbervilles.
Tess was born in Marlott in the vale of Blackmoor “This
fertile and sheltered tract of country, in which the
fields are never brown and the springs never dry,. . . .
The hills are open, the sun blazes down upon fields so
large as to give an unenclosed character to the
landscape. . .” Hardy introduces the importance of
nature in the novel in describing Blackmoor. He gives
the reader a sense of infinite possibilities through the
imagery of "open hills" and "unenclosed fields." Tess’
birthplace is complete with water that provides the
nourishment necessary to keep a land eternally green.
Although the fields are expansive, there is a sense of
protectiveness apparent through the warmth of the
"blazing sun" and the notion of a "sheltered tract of
country."

Hardy introduces these themes and many more that are

recurrent (such as the colour red, that is first
introduced against the white of Tess’ dress) throughout
the first phase. He creates a world within the book that
he has laid the tracks for, that has rules and virtues
and injustice within our minds. It is through these
themes that Hardy is able to draw in the reader to
immerse themselves in Tess’ world. He introduces these
themes through repetition and subtle hints. He makes
the reader away of them from the very beginning and
continues to make their present felt constantly through
his opening. Through this, all the themes begin to
intermingle and become based upon each other.

Aisling Hennessy 