tess - Mindmap in A Level and IB English Literature

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Created by: Brig.hid
Created on: 28-01-19 10:21

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Hardy
- Illusion/blindness
  - the D'urbeville name - ignited the tragedy for Tess' family.
    - the Stokes blindly take the name, not knowing the consequence.
  - "Why didn't you tell me..?"
    - Tess' ignorance to the real world left her vulnerable - her mother is blind to this consequence
  - structural illusion
    - birds eye view + worms eye view place Tess both at the centre of our attention while also being a mere speck in the universe. we are deluded by Hardy's use of structure.
  - Angel is deluded by society - he cannot love Tess despite her doing no wrong.
- Materialism/social class
  - the burden of aristocracy
    - Tess' ancestry attributes 'slight incautiousness'
  - impermanence of home and loss of community
  - mechanisation of labour
  - Jack - comical view of the working class - this becomes his tragedy
  - greenhouse - the height of fashion - tess is immediately vulnerable in this environment
- Human condition
  - "We are on a blighted star"
  - erudite language - confused, unpredictable.
  - everyone accepts her sadness but does nothing
- Disempowerment of women
  - isolation and judgement deeply affects Tess
  - "she who you love is not my real self"
  - male perception
    - As a male writer, Hardy's writing is somewhat questionable - how accurately does he portray women?
      - The woman's instinct to hide
Hardy attacks social and moral conventions that condemn and victimise women
- defends the liberal idea of redefining purity.
- Disempowerment of women
  - isolation and judgement deeply affects Tess
  - "she who you love is not my real self"
  - male perception
    - As a male writer, Hardy's writing is somewhat questionable - how accurately does he portray women?
      - The woman's instinct to hide