Binary Oppositions In Tess’s Tragedy

As one of the most distinguished and prolific writers in English Literature,Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was well known for his novel Tess of the D’Urbervillespublished in1891. Regarded as a masterpiece of Hardy’s “Novels of Characters andEnvironment” series, Tess of the D’Urbervilles has successfully attracted critics’ andscholars’ attention for its tragic theme, writing style and controversial opinions.This thesis aims to explore the novel from the perspective of Binary Oppositionprinciple and it mainly focuses on how these binary oppositions be well organized inthe novel to generate text’s meaning and perform Hardy’s artistic writing skills. Byanalyzing the binary oppositions, the thesis exposes how people belonging to lowerclass endure miserable life in this turbulent Victorian era. Firstly, many conflicts willbe reflected via social and natural background. Through analyzing the sharp contrastsin binary oppositions, the thesis discloses peasantry class’s hardship at the macrolevel. In this part, how the heroine Tess’s body and spirit be ruthlessly destroyed isexplicitly revealed. Secondly, Tess’s contradictory personality will be explored. InHardy’s vivid description, Tess is a round character who harbors many personalitytraits rather than a flat one. Her cowardice burdens her excessive compromise tosocial evils. However, she will spare no efforts to protect people she loves at all costs.Researching this character in binary oppositions is indispensible to understand herbehavior and destiny in a shaky and unstable environment. Thirdly, the thesis comesto figure out how these two men—totally different from each other both exert theirinfluence on Tess’s life. By elaborating these two men’s relationship with the heroinein binary oppositions, it is clear that, Alec who pursues sexual pleasure and Angelwho concentrates on unrealistic spiritual love, together mercilessly send Tess to death.Moreover, Alec and Angel’s weakness and incapability to give complete love to Tessshould not be ignored.Through the analysis of these skillfully organized binary oppositions, aconclusion can be safely given that Tess’s doom would not be attributed tounpredictable incidents any more, it is social bias and class injustic e that ought to takeresponsibility. What’s more, the novel is not about the doom of Tess only, it is atragedy of all the people who pursue happiness under depression of the morbidmorality. Although Tess of the D’Urbervilles has already been analyzed and exploredin a variety of literary methods, the application of Binary Opposition is a totally new insight to interpret this novel comprehensively and dig out more profound meaningswhich vitalize the novel all through.