Tess of the d' Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

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Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Some critics have said that fate conspires

against Tess, and that she is not responsible

for the things which happen to her. She

herself says, "I am more sinned against than sinning." Do you agree or disagree? Support

your answer with evidence from the text.

As a person who believes that many things are un-avoidable, no matter how careful you are to avoid them, I believe that Tess's life was tragically destroyed by the hand of fate. It is obvious through the words and actions of Tess that she only wanted to have a calm, normal life. However, it seems that she was chosen, for whatever reason, to be on the receiving end of continuous hardships.

From the very beginning of the novel, Tess receives "the short end of the stick" in almost every scene. She is one of the girls who doesn't get to dance with the strange young man before he returns to his brothers.

Although they exchange looks at each other, he runs off into the night without a word spoken between them. This is our first glimpse of Tess, and even before we learn more about her, we know that her family is not well off and that her father seems to be a bit of a drunk. Next, she is, to a degree, railroaded into going to claim kinship to the d'Urbervilles.

"OeWell, as I killed the horse, mother,' she

said mournfully, OeI suppose I ought to do

something. I don't mind going and seeing

her, but you must leave it to me about

asking for help."

Tess was very reluctant to go to the d'Urberville house and ask for help, but for some reason, her parents chose her. At the d'Urberville's house, Alec first harasses Tess when they go horseback...