Tess & Angel
Punished for a purity she never lost
The peasant Tess, raped by a young gentleman, is rejected on her wedding night by Angel Clare when she confesses her past; by the time he returns repentant, she has killed her abuser and walks toward the gallows.
01Why it matters
Hardy's novel is a furious indictment of the Victorian double standard toward women.
02The conflict
Moral hypocrisy and the past that hunts Tess.
03The iconic moment
Tess's arrest at dawn among the stones of Stonehenge.
04What survived
"Tess of the d'Urbervilles"; several film adaptations.
05Frequently asked questions
Who were Tess & Angel?
The peasant Tess, raped by a young gentleman, is rejected on her wedding night by Angel Clare when she confesses her past; by the time he returns repentant, she has killed her abuser and walks toward the gallows.
Why is the story of Tess & Angel famous?
Hardy's novel is a furious indictment of the Victorian double standard toward women.
How does the story of Tess & Angel end?
Tess's arrest at dawn among the stones of Stonehenge. "Tess of the d'Urbervilles"; several film adaptations.
Is the story of Tess & Angel real?
Tess & Angel is a work of fiction.
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