Tess of the D Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Introduction:

First I say thank you that you took the pains this morning to come despite these rather unfortunate weather conditions for a seminar. I know it's too hot but don't worry we'll be trying to increase the heat with our discussion which is mainly concerned with sex.

Today we're going to deal with the male characters in 'Tess'. Right at the beginning I'd like to confront you with one or two questions, hoping that those who have read the novel can give me some interesting answers. Finally then I'd like to present you my interpretation of the circumstances, with some additional questions. Maybe after the presentation you'll come up with some questions yourself which I hope I can answer and discuss.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Characteranalysis of the Main Male Characters Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare

Seninarquestions :

1. How do you personally see Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare?

What strikes you most in these two characters?

2. What differences do you see in the techniques of both male characters in seducing Tess?

3. How do you see Angel in his relationship to his family and Alec to his mother?

Do you think that these relationships have any influence on their dealing with Tess?

4. What kind of role does responsibility play for both male characters regarding Tess?

5. Why does Alec after his conversion force Tess to swear that she'll never tempt him again?

Do you think that Tess played in any way an active part, to provoke Alec to seduce her?

6. How is the role of the unconsciousness understood in the novel?

7. It has always been claimed that Tess is the victim of the male sex - how do you see the suggestion that Angel and Alec are victims of the female sex, if you consider their fate?

8. Do you think that the novel has a happy ending?

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES BY THOMAS HARDY CHARACTERANALYSIS OF THE MAIN MALE CHARACTERS ALEC D'URBERVILLE AND ANGEL CLARE

In order to compare these two male characters with each other and see how they develop (if at all) we have to look at them separately in their relationship to Tess:

1.How do you personally see Alec d'Urberville ? What strikes you most in this character?

If we take a look at the novel (P.79/second par.) we get a clear description: ' . . . when a figure came forth from the dark triangular door of the tent. It was that of a tall young man, smoking. He had an almost swarthy complexion, with full lips, badly moulded, though red and smooth, above which was a wellgroomed black moustache with curled points, though his age could not be more than three- or four - and twenty. Despite the touches of barbarism in his contours, there was a singular force in the gentleman's face, and in his bold rolling eyes.'

We can easily see that this is the stereotype picture of a typical villain. It is almost a caricature. He has all the attributes of the socalled 'sensual character', which is not bad in general but in this case is fatal for Tess. Notice that Alec bears some similarities in his sensual outward appearance to the girl, which can't be interpreted as pure coincidence. We shall see later to what extent he resembles her in other features of his character.

The famous psychoanalysis by Freud would immediately say that the black moustache stands for virility and the red and smooth full lips signify his lust for indulgence. Alec is almost always presented with a big cigar in his mouth which can of course be seen as a phallussymbol. With his 'touches of barbarism' the 'singular force' and 'his rolling eye' he appears as the incarnation of the picture of Dorian Gray.

Alec d'Urberville and Women

In order to understand Alec's behaviour, we have to consider what Tess represents for him and the picture he has of women in general: He sees Tess as the embodiment of his fulfilment of his own desire: something, that is belonging to him. She cannot, in his conception, exist apart from him nor have any being apart from his being. For she is the embodiment of his desire.

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