A Comparison Of Tess Of The D Urbervilles And Return Of The Native

Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Return of the Native, by Thomas Hardy, identify modern concepts of British culture from the late 18th century onwards. The tragic female heroines of the novels, Tess Durbeyfield and Eustacia Vye, redefine the culture of British society by challenging social constraints and values. Hardy demonstrates the dynamic of sexual power through the significance of the female body and the body as an identity. Additionally, Tess and Eustacia desperately crave a freedom which seems entirely out of reach. Tess longs for the freedom to choose her own lover yet she knows she is a tragic product of her past. Similarly, Eustacia’s obsession with leaving Egdon Heath is exclusively dependent upon whom or what will help her finally leave the land she so passionately despises. However, Hardy brilliantly establishes the idea that although both women may not have the freedom to make the decision they personally want, they still have a choice. Nevertheless, both Tess and Eustacia constantly make the wrong choices. In a society that condemns women’s choices that step outside of social boundaries, Hardy must maintain a sense of stylistic neutrality. He cannot defend nor criticize Tess and Eustacia. Hardy weaves ambiguous scenes, dialogue, and imagery throughout both novels to illustrate the idea that human nature and fate tend to be at a cross-purpose with one another. Additionally, the social and cultural restraints make life difficult for those who do not “fit” into the preset standards. Life is easier for those who are submissive to the expectations of society. Hardy defines culture in terms of the rigidity of British social morality in relation to the demise of Tess and Eustacia as women who challenge the oppressive constri...

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...e role they play in society are not only called into question, but also allow us to interpret the meaning of such roles in different society’s and circumstances. Tess and Eustacia are confined to a point of rebellion. Neither women “fit” into what society has pre-written for them. Tess stands out because of her exquisitely charming beauty and Eustacia is condemned for her seductive nature. Only those women who subscribe to societal standards seem to both metaphorically and literally survive. Perhaps Tess and Eustacia were fated for their tragic endings. Hardy leaves room for the reader to interpret what may have happened had they attempted to change their paths. However, what makes both novels so beautifully tragic is the ambiguity and uncertainty inherent in the idea that although we can draw our own conclusions about Tess and Eustacia, we will never truly know.