An Analysis of Causes for Tesss Tragedy 《德伯家的苔丝》悲剧成因探析.doc

An Analysis of Causes for Tesss Tragedy 1. Introduction 1.1 A brief introduction to Hardy 1.1.1 Hardy and his life environment Son of a mason, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was born in Drossier, southwest of England, the area that later became the famous “Wessex” in many of his novels. It was from his parents that Hardy gained all interests that would appear in his novels and his own life: his love for architecture and music, his interest in lifestyles of countryside, as well as his passion for all sorts of literature. He was a great critical realist in the late 19th century—the Victorian Age, during which great changes had happened in the history of western civilization. As is well known, a great social reformation took place in Britain. The various social factors including religion, politics, science, influenced people and tried to transform their mentality. Capitalism was highly developed and stretched to the vast countryside, and the British people were struggling for a bright future bravely and difficultly. It was during this special period that Thomas Hardy inherited and developed the Victorian literature, producing a lot of great novels. 1.1.2. Hardys philosophical idea—fatalism and his novels In his life, Hardy has written many novels. His major works are The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Caster Bridge (1886), Tess of the DUrbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1896), the latter two considered masterpieces. Hardys novels are all set against the glum and frightful Dorset landscape (known as Wessex in the novels), whose physical harshness reveal people’s indifferent, though not malicious mood. The characters of his novels, for the major part of the poorer rural classes, are sympathetically and often humorously portrayed. Their lives are ruled not only by nature but also by rigid Victorian social conventions. Hardys style is accordingly roughhewn, sometimes awkward, but always commanding and intense. His thought had been adequately expre