Was Tess of the D’urbervilles Blameless or Partially Responsible for Her Fate?

Tessie’s victimization at the hands of the towns people allows her to be a semi-symbolic character, which will lose her life due to a cruel death by stoning. They did this all for the sake that there may be a fruitful crop for the coming harvest season. Surprisingly, even Tessie’s closest friend was mentioned as finding a stone so big that she had to lift it with both hands. Mrs. Hutchison was tardy to the biggest event of the year. She desperately hoped that she

Tess woke up in the middle of the night with Ivy not there.Tess walked down the spiral staircase and saw a sliver of light coming from Ivy’s office. Tess walked in and saw pictures of the men that were killed and a picture of her father, the one that died before she could meet him.Ivy explained why she had the pictures of these men hanging in her office and Tess was astonished. “I left you there, and it broke me. It shattered me, and I didn't know how to go back.” Family will always do what's best for

Does deviating from one’s gender norms inevitably doom one down a spiral of moral corruption? Tim O'Brien, author of “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and Ernest Hemingway, author of “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, certainly seem to hold this view, as evident by the fates of the major female characters in their respective works. The deviance of the major female characters in both works appears to corrupt not only themselves, but also pollute their partners, causing them to suffer injury or harm as a result. The degree of injury ranges from negligible, like Fossie’s demotion and broken heart, to fatal, like the bullet that rips through Macomber’s skull. It begs the question, are these stories meant to serve as cautionary tales for their female readers, or possibly for their husbands, so they may recognize gender deviance and stop it in its tracks before their wives transform into Margot Macomber or Mary Anne Bell? This essay will analyze what such characters say about pervading views of women, both in society and in literature.

The women described in the Lais of Marie de France often commit traditionally sinful deeds, such as adultery, murder, and betrayal. However, with a few exceptions, the protagonists often end up living happily with their beloved for the rest of their lives. The Lais advocate for situational judgement rather than general condemnation of specific acts, which can be seen through Marie de France’s treatment of sinful heroines.

of day is was also a beautiful and a romantic time of day for them

The Scarlet Letter is a tale dominated by the themes of sin, guilt, and shame, as well as the internal conflict between individuality and social conformity. Many of the novel’s characters experience, in their own personal ways, the struggles associated with these topics. Of all of these characters, however, it is Arthur Dimmesdale - The Scarlet Letter’s angst-ridden antihero - who most completely embodies tragedy and human fallibility.

My response has been inspired by a study of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Attwood (Section XIV-Salvaging, Chapter 45 and Section XV- Night, Chapter 46). I shall demonstrate my understanding of the text of these chapters in the form of a memoir by rewriting the chapters from another character’s perspective i.e. Serena Joy’s perspective. Though memoirs are written for non-fiction literature, I noticed the features of memoir in this novel. Serena Joy is one of the important character, of the novel, at the top social level permitted to women. The intended purpose of this Written Task 1 is to know and understand Serena Joy’s perspective (Wife of a Commander), who was a singer and advocate for “traditional values” in the old world before Gilead and now the state took away her power and public recognition. This text starts from the point when Serena Joy comes to know

In this statement, Davis implicates that the lives of the three commoners and the events that occurred can be very similar to that of the elite class in France at the time. Right from the start, Davis establishes her motives which discloses the notion that she is writing this story with her motive in mind instead of looking into historical facts and considering all aspects of the event. Her entire narrative fills the gaps with opinions solely placed to persuade readers of Davis’ own viewpoints, creating a skeptical review of the rest of her writing.

Today we see women making subconscious heroic decisions everyday that are a self-less deed that benefits their family and their beliefs. In the primary texts of The Turn of the Screw and The Handmaid’s Tale, women are presenting possibilities of heroic choices. It is despite the fact that these heroic choices are causing more harm than good from their bravery. This essay argues that in The Turn of the Screw the Governess’s maternal instincts is her heroic ability in a job that leads to death. The innocence of the Governess is however underestimated since her awakened insanity leads to the departure of Flora. On the other hand in The Handmaid’s Tale Offred’s use of language is a small piece of freedom that is heroic to the gender

Taking Daisy with appreciation and without alarm, we also re-read her character and re-evaluate her moral status. We (the readers) seem to meet James’ sophistication with out own, by agreeing on a mixed interpretation of Daisy: she is literally innocent, but she is also ignorant and incautious. (1)

Moreover, the town who originally made Tess feel like an outsider was shown from the start. The fact that she is late to the lottery and yet still eager is the first sign of showing that she did not fit in with her community. Even though the town treated her tardiness in an abundant way, several people did not and felt the need to say a comment, “in voices just loud enough to be heard across the crowd, ‘Here comes your Missus Hutchinson,’” (433). Another example that displays how the town acted in not so nice way towards Tess and her

The society was still not satisfied with this punishment and chose to pass their negativity on to their offspring. "Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast…as the figure, the body, the reality of sin" (83). The mothers of the children in the community would point her out and tell their children not to be like her. They would use her as an example of the consequences of being an individual and going against society's rules. "Children too young to comprehend wherefore this women so be shut out from the sphere of human charities… coming forth along the pathway that lead town ward; and, discerning the scarlet letter on her breast, would scamper off with a strange, contagious fear" (85). The fact that the community went to so much trouble to never let her forget what she had done, and the fact that she accepts societies condemnation, says she does not run away from her problems. As much as the community tries to totally ostracize her from everything, both physically and mentally she still sticks with it and that shows how she willingly accepts the consequences of her past decisions.

When terrible things happen to good people there are two paths that can be traveled: forgiveness can be offered, or vengeance can be pursued. Madame Defarge from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, takes the latter of these two options and religiously lives by it, seeking revenge on the cruel heartless aristocracy plaguing France with famine, poverty, and oppression; however, the reasons behind her malice force the reader to understand why she performs such hateful acts during the French Revolution. Madame Defarge, though intelligent, is consumed by her hatred and has transformed into something just as bad, if not worse, than the members of the aristocracy.

Lowry, an anonymous person criticizes her and her book to contain murder similar to abortion and Euthanasia by lethally questioning, “What is your point? What kind of message are you putting in the innocent minds of young people who read your book? Visions of murder I do not find appropriate for my children or any children—even adults to read. Are we to be entertained by murder which is immoral and sinful?” Wortis questions the originality of the author of the letter given his or her confusion of the plot, failure to recognize Jonas’s horror to the possibility of the baby’s murder, and Jonas’s motivation to save Gabriel.

It had blocked his acceptance of the Church; it blocked his acceptance of Tess.” The use of the simile suggests the depths of Angel’s beliefs and views of women’s position in society and how they should present themselves. She tells the truth and he rejects her which is hypocritical as he sees her virtue and purity in conventional