Feeling Sympathy for Tess in Tess of the DUrbervilles Essay -- Tess o

Feeling Sympathy for Tess in Tess of the DUrbervillesI think that throughout the novel doubting Thomas brazen uses numerous differentproficiencys that lead his readers to feel sympathy for Tess. Throughreading Hardys Tess of the DUrbervilles I have realised that it isinvaluable that the readers of any novel interpret with and feelcompassion for the main character. In writing Tess of theDUrbervilles Thomas Hardy is very successful in grabbing theattention and sentiments of the reader and then steering theiremotions so that they feel empathy and understanding for the characterTess. Hardy does this from the very first time we are introduced toTess.The first time we see Tess is at the Womans Walking Club Festival,Hardy describes her as a fine and handsome girl, with a mobile peonymouth and large innocent eyes (Chapter II), a small minority wouldlook long at her in casually passing and grow momentarily fascinatedby her freshness (ChapterII).This description of pure beauty andinnocence captures the imagination of the readers and we begin tobuild a affinity with the character. The beauty and goodness thatwe see in Tess draws us to her, and engenders a feeling of affectionfor her, in this way Hardy is preparing us for later in the agree whenwe see Tess suffering, and feel sympathy for her. Hardy is principal usto feel sympathy for Tess by using her attractiveness and personalqualities.From the first scene in which we meet Tess, Hardy leads us to feelsympathy for her by giving the impression that we (as readers) areslightly overlooking Tess a place in which this technique is used iswhilst Hardy is describing the effects of her appearance on others.Hardy describes the more extraord... ...herselfto save Angels dignity. All this evidence leads us to the conclusionthat Tess is a natural victim, trodden by society Every day itseemed more was expected of Tess and every day seemed to throw uponher young shoulders more and more of the worlds burdens (Chapter VI).I conclu de that although Thomas Hardy uses many different and variedtechniques to lead us to feel sympathy for Tess he pays particularattention to portraying Tess as a natural victim. Hardy alike spends agreat amount of time (particularly at the beginning of the book)building Tess character and building a relationship between Tess andthe readers. This is an effective method of leading the audience tofeel sympathy for Tess because the reader is more likely to like andconsequently, feels more compassion and sympathy towards Tess later inthe book when she is suffering.