摘 要

《德伯家的苔丝》是托马斯·哈代的代表作。作为哈代悲剧作品的经典之一，这部小说奠定了哈代悲剧作家的地位。小说女主人公苔丝在她短暂的一生中追求幸福与爱情，但不幸的是，她先是被亚力克诱奸，之后又被克莱尔抛弃，最终因为杀死亚力克而被判处死刑。本文将从社会因素、个人因素和家庭因素三个角度入手探讨苔丝的死亡原因，从而揭露当时资本主义社会制度的本质。

关键词：《德伯家的苔丝》；社会因素；个人因素；家庭因素

Contents

1. Introduction................................................................................................................1

2. Demonstration............................................................................................................2

2.1. Social factors causing Tess’s death.........................................................................2

2.1.1 The influence of the capitalist social system.........................................................2

2.1.2 The abnormal and hypocritical moral values........................................................4

2.1.3 Moral prejudice against women at that time.........................................................5

2.2. Personal factors causing Tess’s death .....................................................................5

2.2.1 A girl of naivety and kindness...............................................................................6

2.2.2 A girl of self-sacrifice............................................................................................6

2.3. Family factors causing Tess’s death........................................................................9

2.3.1 Tess’s poor family ................................................................................................9

2.3.2 Tess’s fatuous parents............................................................................................9

3. Conclusion................................................................................................................10

Works Cited..................................................................................................................11

Bibliography.................................................................................................................12

Cause Analysis of Tess’s Tragedy in Tess of the D’Urbervilles

1. Introduction

Thomas Hardy (June 2, 1840 – January 11, 1928) was one of the most prominent British writers in the realism literature. In his lifetime, he wrote and published Desperate Remedies (1871), Under the Greenwood Tree (1872), Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873) and Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891) and so on. Among these novels, Tess of the D’Urbervilles is considered the most mature work.

The novel tells a story about the unfortunate destiny of Tess. In order to help her parents get out of the economic difficulties, she decides to ask Mrs. D’Urbervilles for help and then she gets a job. During the working time in D’Urbervilles, Tess is seduced by Alec and pregnant. After that，she is regarded as a woman who is not pure. To avoid the pressure of moral customs, Tess comes to the milk factory after her child dies. She meets a priest’s son—Clare and falls in love with him. Before the wedding Tess had intended to tell Clare what happened to her, but doesn’t find a proper opportunity. On the wedding night, Tess finally confesses her “sin” to Clare. Instead of forgiving Tess, Clare abandons her and goes to Brazil. Tess endures the pain of life and spiritual poverty silently, waiting for her husband to change his mind. However, her suffering is not over yet. Alec entangles Tess and shamelessly attempts to cohabitate with her. In order to support her family, Tess yields. Meanwhile, Clare changes his mind and comes back to Tess. Tess chooses to run away with Clare after killing Alec. Eventually, Tess is caught and sentenced to death by hanging.

In recent years, a number of scholars in China have been carrying on the research into Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Many of them focus on the study of artistic value of Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Some of them concentrate on studying the feminist consciousness. Others conduct the research on the allusion and imagery of the Bible which are quoted in the novel. Some scholars also pay attention to Thomas Hardy’s religious views in this novel. What’s more, several scholars study the artistic techniques portraying the tragic character.