Four Walls

Critical Study of Tess of D'Urbervilles Evolutionary Meliorism Instead of viewing himself as a pessimist, Hardy regarded himself as an “evolutionary meliorist” (Bailey 569). In a conversation with William Archer, Hardy claimed that his “practical philosophy had been melioristic (rather than pessimistic) and that his books had been a plea against man's inhumanity to man — to woman, and to the lower animals” (319). According to The American Heritage Dictionary, meliorism refers to “The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort” (n.p). Meliorism also refers to “The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition” ( https://www.yourdictionary.com/meliorism). In other words, Hardy believed that the human plight can be improved through consistent, dedicated effort.

Realism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles summary   • The novel authentically portrays the challenges, anxieties, and the social milieu or social conditions prevalent in the Victorian era. E.g – a) Tess’s plight b) Financial challenges encountered by the Durbeyfields and Izzy, Marian and Retty c) The social privileges enjoyed by the rich such as Alec. • Third-person narrative • Life-like characterization- portrays believable human behavior Credit goes to Ma'am Saima Najib .

Gender Disparity highly Evident in Victorian Society Tess of D'Urbervilles There was a wide difference between men and women in Victorian society in terms of societal expectations. Moreover, in the Victorian era, there were different moral standards for both men and women.  The term disparity refers to difference or inequality. The various forms of gender disparity in Tess of the d’Urbervilles are discussed below: 

Evolutionary Meliorism in Victorian Society  in the Tess of D'Urbervilles Instead of viewing himself as a pessimist, Hardy regarded himself as an “evolutionary meliorist” (Bailey 569). In a conversation with William Archer, Hardy claimed that his “practical philosophy had been melioristic (rather than pessimistic) and that his books had been a plea against man's inhumanity to man — to woman, and to the lower animals” (319). According to The American Heritage Dictionary, meliorism refers to “The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort” (n.p). Meliorism also refers to “The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition” ( https://www.yourdictionary.com/meliorism). In other words, Hardy believed that the human plight can be improved through consistent, dedicated effort. 

Overview of  Pessimism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles  According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary , pessimism refers to a “feeling that bad things will happen or that something will not be successful” (1129). A pessimistic worldview implies that the worst will happen or that evil will ultimately prevail over goodness. Following are some of the instances in Tess of the d’Urbervilles that reinforce a pessimistic worldview.

An overview of Exploration of the Fatalistic Philosophy Highlighted in Tess of d'Urbervilles   According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary , fatalistic refers to a belief in the notion that “events are decided by fate and that one cannot control them” or prevent “them from happening” (558). A person who terms himself as a fatalist believes that the circumstances of one’s life are beyond one’s control and hence, it is fate rather than free will that determines the outcome of one’s actions or the course of one’s life. In his essay, Thomas Hardy’s Philosophical Outlook , Andrzej Diniejko claims that Hardy was a fatalist “who was aware that man's life is controlled by some inexplicable external force, which he sometimes calls” fate ( http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/diniejko3.html ). David Cecil also maintains that Hardy’s novels highlight, “A struggle between a man on the one hand and, on the other, an omnipotent and indifferent Fate…That is Hardy’s interpr...