The Suspense in Chapter 56 of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

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The Suspense in Chapter 56 of Tess of the D'Urbervilles Chapter 56 builds up the suspense all the way through as it involves a very important part of the story. The consequences of this chapter lead to the end of the story and Tess's death. Alec and Tess have been living together as husband and wife. Alec has helped support Tess's family and convinced her that angel has left her for good. Angle has just come to see Tess and try and get her back. She sends him away and tells him he is "too late" as she is with someone else and she didn't think he was coming back for her. Angle then leaves and the chapter begins with Tess returning to her room in the boarding house where Alec and Tess are staying. Right form the start of the chapter Hardy lets you know that Mrs. Brooks isn't usually nosey. He says "Mrs. Brooks was not a person of an unusual curios turn of mind" This straight away starts to build up suspense. It makes you wonder what will happen to make Mrs. Brooks be nosey. He also doesn't tell this chapter from the main characters point of view. As you hear this chapter in third person you miss bits of what is going on which creates suspense as you have to wait till after the event to find out what happens. Hardy starts to build up tension when he talking about Tess and Angel's conversation. While this conversation is taking place Mrs. Brooks is in the next room so she can't hear the whole conversation. She could only hear "Fragments of the conversation". He also doesn't tell you what made her interested enough to start listening to the conversation in the first place. The passage does tell you that both Angel and Tess aren't very happy. They are described as "Those two wretched souls" what the passage doesn't do is tell you for what reason they are described in this way. Also it was an interesting situation from Mrs.

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