Chapter 37 of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

An analysis of the significance of chapter 37, to the novel as a

whole;

The setting of this chapter is within the D’Urberville mansion in the

Froom Valley. Hardy uses the previous chapters to introduce the

atmosphere within the mansion, making it apparent that there is an

ancestral past for Tess, which makes her increasingly uncomfortable

and it doesn’t help that Angel keeps referring to Tess as a

D’Urberville; ‘The long pointed features, narrow eye, and smirk of the

one, so suggestive of merciless treachery; the bill-hook nose, large

teeth, and bold eye of the other suggesting arrogance to the point of

ferocity, haunt the beholder afterwards in his dreams; The image of

the women is not one of beauty and it is surprising to the reader that

Angel should pick up on them as having similar features to those of

Tess. This hints that their honeymoon may turn sour, as previously in

the novel, Angel has always commented on Tess’s beauty.

Inevitably, Tess decides to tell Angel of her sin, which he cannot

accept; hence bringing the sourness hinted in an earlier chapter,

(chapter 10). Love survives on mutual trust, and since Tess has

broken that trust, Angel has difficulty dealing with her.

Within chapter 33, pg264, we discover Angels’ sleep-walking habits. A

fight occurred with Angel and a passing man, who was sexually

attracted towards Tess. Angel overheard words of the man and his

colleague and struck the man on the chin with the full force of his

fist. The man recovered himself and seemed inclined to go further, but

thought better of it. He apologised, claiming he thought Tess was

another woman he knew. Further on in the chapter, Tess hears a

disturbance in the attic above her, where Angel had retired. In her

anxiety, Tess rushed upstairs in case Clare was ill, being confronted

with a humorous tale, that Clare had been rein-acting the fight he had

earlier on that day. He mentioned that he has been occasionally liable

to these ‘freaks’ in his sleep, and told Tess she should not be

worried and think no more of it.

When the reader reaches Chapter 37, we find that Angel has abandoned

his love for Tess, after finding out about Tess’ past, and the

unforgivable night, in Angel’s eyes, that has brought so much despair

and ruin in Tess’ life.

‘Midnight came and passed silently, for there was nothing to announce

it in the Valley of the Froom.

Not long after one o’clock there was a slight creak in the darkened

farmhouse once the mansion of the d’Urbervilles. Tess, who used the

upper chamber, heard it and awoke.