Tess of the D’Urbervilles: Themes

Alternate question: Discuss various themes in Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Table of contents

• Injustice and Fate
• Women and Femininity
• Social Criticism
• Nature and Modernity
• Justice and Judgment
• Marriage
• Sex Theme
• Fate and Free Will

Injustice and Fate

The theme of fate is one of the major ones in Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Tess is a generally good person and doesn’t deserve even a tenth part of the misfortunes that happen to her. It is more of a fate than her own responsibility: Tess is sent to Trantridge against her will, she doesn’t want to be with D’Urbervilles. Her rape is, definitely, not her fault. It seems that the poor woman becomes a chewing toy of the ill fate. She didn’t do anything bad do anyone but she keeps suffering for nothing. This raises the eternal question: why do good people live bad lives and why the world is so full of injustice?