| On its discussion on Thomas Hardy and his noted novel Tess of the D 'Urbervilles, the thesis is an effort to read Hardy from post-structuralist approach, and an attempt to connect his work to modernism.The paper consists of four chapters-introduction, a review of literary criticism on Tess of the d'Urbervilles, art and aesthetics, the narrative technique and the significance of the technique of the novel The introduction to Thomas Hardy and his life initiates the problem of how to read Hardy or how to interpret Hardy as a man and (Hardy) as an artist As it is shown, Hardy throughout his life lived a life of tension and struggle, compromised between the necessity to live practically and his wish to fulfill his ambition in literature- the same anguish which we find reproduced, and which characterizes Tess's life in Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The paper continues to argue that the strong sense of the tension, the need to describe it might have accounted for the intense feeling evoked for the female character.The First Chapter, on a review of literary criticism of Tess of the D 'Urbervilles, takes a general brief review on how the book was rejected or received in history, how its later reception in literature brings with it a shift of attitude and a change of situation, from the attempt to probe its unity and coherence, to the receptive attitude to search for alternative readings and multiple interpretations. In addition, in the discussion of the relationship between the novel and literary criticism, a perception is achieved that the reading of Hardy and his works is a matter of process, for it is subject to reshaping and refashioning when diverse literary approaches are applied to them.In order to pave way for the major discussion and account for its reasonableness, the paper proceeds to the discussion on Hardy's art and aesthetics. According to some critics, Hardy himself claims a highly personal and idiosyncratic view and perception on beauty. Rather than recording faithfully the reality of life faithfully, Thomas Hardy rejects realistic approach and appeals to a reconstruction of reality by means of distorting and twisting in order to bring out hs essentially striking features to impress. The ideology insisted and carried upon in this way leads to the art practice in Hardy's works, including Tess of the D 'Urbervilles.The major part that forms chapter three on the study of narrative technique in Tess of the D 'Urbervilles is divided into six sections, devoted respectively to the questions on plot organization and overall structure(3.1), characterization(32), visual technique(33), perspective(3.4), a new generic variation(3.5), language(3.6), thechapter takes an extensive look on the artistic practice of the novel as a whole in an effort to identify and bring out evidence to support its post-structuralist positioning.The first chapter is on plot and overall structure; by articulating some basic patterns underlying the structure, with the focus on the "phase conception" implemented throughout the novel, the paper points to how Hardy relies on the play of pattern to subvert the fundamental conception connected with it and eventually creates a singular effectThe second chapter on characterization; dissociation of body from will in Tess, partly brought about by her misfortune and the people she meets, by her family and by her dilemma of existence caught between two men - Hardy makes it clear-is also a situation which has to do with Tess's responsibility. The paper goes on to argue how Tess's inconsistency and vulnerability is also where the poignant beauty of her characterization lies.The next section on visual technique represents Hardy's highest achievement in art. To evoke the sympathy for hiss female protagonist, Hardy visualizes the message he intends to transmit like a painter. One is exposed to a set of images, the images of red color, of text-emblem painted by itinerant preacher. These images, insistently stressed, are taken up now and again to reinforce the sense of tragedy and powe...
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