Tess of the d'Urbervilles Overview

Introduction to the d'Urberville Family

• Parson Tringham and John Durbeyfield discuss the d'Urberville family's noble lineage, tracing it back to Sir Pagan d'Urberville, who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror.
• The d'Urberville family had ancestral roots in Normandy, holding manors in various locations.
• The family was recognized as Knights of the Royal Oak for loyalty during the reign of Charles II.

The d'Urberville Family History

• The d'Urbervilles were part of twelve knights supporting the Lord of Estremavilla in Normandy.
• The family owned manors across different locations (Kingsbere, Sherton, Millpond, Lullstead, Wellbridge).
• The d'Urbervilles earned prestigious titles and honors during the reign of Charles II.

The d'Urberville Family Tree

• Sir Pagan d'Urberville came from Normandy with William the Conqueror.
• Sir Pagan d'Urberville was a knight.

John Durbeyfield's Reaction

• After learning about his family's lineage, John Durbeyfield is filled with pride.
• He orders a horse and carriage to be sent for him.
• He asks his wife to stop doing the washing.
• He offers a shilling to the youth.

Key Terms

• Lineal representative: a direct descendant of a specific family member.
• Genealogist: a person who studies family histories and lineages.
• Local historian: a person who studies the history of a specific region or area.

Introduction to the Vale of Blackmoor

• The Vale of Blackmoor (Forest of White Hart) is a historically and topographically significant region in the northeast surrounded by hills and mountains; known for its fertile and sheltered landscape.
• The landscape is characterized by contrasts, with a bold chalk ridge and small fields, narrow lanes, and a languorous atmosphere.

The Club-Walking Ceremony

• The May-Day dance (club-walking ceremony), a traditional event, involves women in white gowns carrying peeled willow wands and white flowers.
• It's a processional march around the parish, honoring May time.

The Women's Club

• The women's club in Marlott is a centuries-old votive sisterhood maintaining traditions of white gowns, peeled willow wands, and white flowers.

Key Figures

• Tess Durbeyfield: a young, beautiful woman with a striking appearance.
• John Durbeyfield: Tess's hard-working father, proud of his family history.
• The women of the club: participants in the club-walking ceremony.

Physical Description of Tess

• Tess Durbeyfield was described as having a vibrant, pouty mouth and a youthfulness that appeared in her aspect.

The Dancing on the Green

• This event took place on a Whitsun holiday.
• Featured three brothers: a curate, an undergraduate, and a less dedicated student.

Aftermath of the Incident

• A local event where a student tripped Tess, and she did not dance afterward for a time.
• The student expressed remorse and inquired about Tess's name.

Key Terms

• Dialect: a regional or social variety of a language.
• Whitsun holiday: a Christian holiday, celebrated the seventh Sunday after Easter.
• Curate: a clergyman who is responsible for a church or churches; a priest
• Undergraduate: a university student in their early years
• Desultory:lacking a definite plan or purpose

Introduction to the Durbeyfield Family

• The family is described as being of lower social class; struggling financially.
• The family discovers an ancestral connection to the wealthy d'Urberville family.

The Family's Plan

• The Durbeyfield family develops a plan to send Tess to claim kinship with the d'Urbervilles to potentially improve their social status and financial situation.

Key Characters and Their Roles

• Tess: the eldest daughter who was sent to claim family ties with the d'Urbervilles.
• John Durbeyfield: The father of the family, often absent, and irresponsible.
• Joan Durbeyfield: The mother of the family who determined to improve family social status.
• Abraham: the youngest son
• Mrs. Rolliver: the owner of the local pub, Rolliver's Inn.

Key Events

• The Durbeyfield family discovers their historical connection with the d'Urbervilles
• The family develops a plan to send Tess to claim kinship with the d'Urbervilles.
• Tess is sent to the d'Urbervilles to claim kinship and potentially improve the Durbeyfield family's social status.
• The family gathers at the pub to discuss their plan.

Themes

• Social class: the story highlights the differences between the wealthy d'Urberville family and the struggling Durbeyfield family.

The Family's Financial Situation

• The Durbeyfields face financial struggles, relying on farming and small trades.
• Their financial hardships are obvious and prevalent in their need to deliver beehives to retailers before the Saturday market.

The Journey to Casterbridge

• Tess and Abraham undertake a challenging journey to Casterbridge.

The Conversation Between Tess and Abraham

• During their journey, Tess and Abraham discuss their family's social status and their potential connections to a wealthy lady in Trantridge as ways of improving their lot.

The Themes of Social Status and Poverty

• The family's financial difficulties are a recurring theme.
• Their attempts to gain higher social standing are connected to their ancestry and potential ties to the wealthy d'Urbervilles.
• The family's social status and their poverty lead to significant hardship.

The Accident

• A tragic wagon accident involving the Durbeyfield's horse, Prince, results in significant financial repercussions.
• The accident further exacerbates the already challenging family circumstances.

Consequences of the Accident

• The family's primary source of income is lost.
• Their haggling business becomes disorganized.
• Their financial situation declines even further.

The Family's Reaction

• The family members experience emotional distress from the accident.
• Family members feel overwhelmed and worried with Tess being the main focus.

Definition of Key Terms

• Haggling business: a type of petty trade.
• Knacker: someone who sells animals, often parts or whole carcasses, to slaughterhouses or other businesses.
• Tanner: a person who works with animal hides.
• Penury: extreme poverty or destitution.

Tess's Relationship with Her Mother

• Tess is anxious about her mother's behavior (going to the pub).
• Tess is responsible and concerned about her family's well-being.
• She is impetuous and often emotional.

Family Dynamics

• The Durbeyfield family is characterized by struggles and lack of direction.
• The parents' decisions and actions often have negative consequences for the children.

The Family's Social Status

• The Durbeyfield family has lower social status; financial difficulties and lack of social connections.
• The discovery of the family's connection to the d'Urberville family is seen as a possible means to improve their social status.

Rolliver's Inn

• The local pub.
• A gathering place for villagers.

The Accident and its Consequences

• The accident has a significant impact on the Durbeyfield family, exacerbating their financial difficulties.
• The loss of the family's horse, Prince, poses additional burdens and complications.

The Family's Financial Situation

• The family's financial hardships are evident and play a key role in the story.

Tess's Journey to the d'Urberville Mansion

• Tess travels to the d'Urberville estate after discovering her familial connection to the family.

The d'Urberville Family

• The d'Urbervilles are a wealthy and aristocratic family.
• Their origins and history are sometimes suspect.

Tess's Thoughts and Feelings

• Tess is overwhelmed by the grandeur of the d'Urberville mansion, questioning where she will fit in within this grand household.
• She feels uneasy and hesitant about potentially gaining kinship with the d'Urbervilles.
• She is uncertain about the morality or validity of claiming this familial connection.

Tess's Options

• Tess is faced with several difficult choices concerning how to handle her familial tie to the d'Urberville family.
• Option to work for the d'Urbervilles or stay in Marlott.
• Try alternative employment or family support.

The Role of Social Class

• The d'Urbervilles are wealthy and aristocratic, contrasting with the Durbeyfields' poor working-class status.
• Social class distinctions are important in the story's themes.

The Potential Consequences

• The potential implications of Tess's decisions in the face of social and financial expectations for both her and family members.

The Decision to Leave

• Tess's decision to leave is met with mixed feelings from her family.
• Her mother is ecstatic by the prospect of a potential marriage into a wealthy family.
• Her father is less enthusiastic.

Preparations for Departure

• Tess's mother helps her prepare for her journey to the d'Urbervilles.
• Her appearance signifies that her departure could change her fate.

The Journey Begins

• Tess's journey to the d'Urbervilles is fraught with both the challenges and expectations of travel
• She is accompanied by her mother and younger siblings, who walk until the spring cart arrives.

Unexpected Events

• A sudden event disrupts the expected journey.
• A second vehicle appears, causing her to pause, introducing uncertainty and change to the narrative arc.

The Meeting with Alec d'Urberville

• The meeting between Tess and Alec d'Urberville is a crucial point in the narrative.

The Walk Home

• Tess is hesitant when Alec offers her a ride home, but declines, opting to walk with a group of work colleagues.

The Incident with Car

• The scene describes a chaotic encounter and a physical conflict between Tess and a woman.

Key Events, Themes, Symbolism

• Key story events related to characters and interactions including discussions, conflicts, and decisions.
• Highlighting the struggles of the lower class and wealthy.
• Relevant symbols and their significance

The Private Little Jig

• A social gathering and dance.

The Music and Dance

• Fiddlers using different techniques during the dance.

The Artisan's Beliefs

• The artisan's ideas on spreading religious messages.
• The artisan's impact on Tess's perspective, causing her emotional distress.

Tess's Reaction

• Tess's deep emotional response to the encounter with the artisan and the situation she faces.
• Her struggles are significant.

Tess's Home Life

• Tess confronts challenges at home.

The Baptismal Service

• Tess performs a Baptism for her child's future.
• Her decision and the Vicar's response concerning the baptism impact the story.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Baptism: a Christian spiritual practice.
• Illegitimacy: a child born outside of marriage.
• Hell: a place of eternal damnation.
• Christian burial: a Christian funeral service.

Tess's New Life

• A new beginning for Tess where she relocates near her family's ancestral land.
• She finds work as a dairymaid.

Tess's Journey

• Difficulties faced by Tess during her relocation.
• Transportation options and logistical considerations.
• Description of the landscape during her journey.

Tess's Emotional State

• Tess's emotional state is described in relation to her current situation and future prospects.

The Social Stigma of Unwed Motherhood

• The community's judgment and gossip regarding Tess's situation.
• How the women in the community react to her.

The Power of Nature

• Tess finds comfort and solace in nature.

The Benedicite

• Tess chants the Benedicite, an ancient hymn or prayer.

Arrival at the Dairy

• Tess arrives at the dairy, noticing various aspects of its setting.
• She is welcomed based on this new stage, but the situation is not wholly resolved.

The Milking Process

• The specifics of the milking process at the dairy farm.
• The types of cows at the farm and their characteristics.

The Importance of Milking

• The significance of milking for the farm's function.
• The role of songs during milking.

Dairy Farm Statistics

• A snapshot of the farm's essential statistics.

Challenges on the Dairy Farm

• Practical challenges faced by workers at the dairy farm.

The Dairyman's Story

• The story of how the dairyman, William Dewy, avoided a confrontation with an angered bull.

The Dairy Farm Household

• The characters, roles, and interactions of the crucial people involved.

The Reverent Mr. Clare

• Mr Clare's role as the clergyman and his family background.
• Introduction to Mr Angel Clare (clergyman's son), reflecting on how he will shape Tess's future.

Angel's Early Life and Education

• Information about Angel Clare's upbringing and aspirations.
• His early experiences and how they've shaped his choices.

Angel's Career Aspirations

• The various careers Angel considered as alternative paths given his background and his dissatisfaction with the life planned for him.

Life at Talbothays Dairy

• Angel Clare's daily routine and observations at the dairy farm.

Key Characteristics

• Description of Mr. Angel Clare's key attributes or traits.

Relationships

• Angel's relationships with other characters and how they contribute to his experience and development.

The Disintegration of Stereotypes

• The disintegration of stereotypical perceptions of farm workers as observed by Angel Clare.

Explore the characters and themes in Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles'. This quiz covers the Durbeyfield family dynamics, the quest for social status, and the significant interactions involving Tess and Alec d'Urberville. Test your understanding of identity and societal roles within the novel.