Book review

Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles is a powerful tragic classic that leaves a lasting impression. Set in 19th-century rural England, it tells the heartbreaking story of Tess Durbeyfield, a pure and hardworking young woman destroyed by fate and social injustice. Forced by her family’s poverty to visit her wealthy “cousin” Alec d’Urberville, Tess becomes a victim of his cruelty, losing her innocence. Later, she falls deeply in love with Angel Clare, an educated man who claims to value spiritual purity. However, Angel abandons her on their wedding night when she confesses her past, trapped by the rigid moral standards of Victorian society. Tess’s tragedy is not her fault but a product of her time: the hypocritical moral codes that punished women for losing chastity while excusing men’s misdeeds, and the rigid class system that left the poor with no escape. Hardy’s subtle criticism of these injustices runs throughout the novel. What moves me most is Tess’s unwavering kindness and dignity amid suffering. Even after repeated betrayals and hardships, she remains compassionate and resilient. This masterpiece is more than a love story—it’s a profound critique of societal hypocrisy and a tribute to the human spirit. Short yet impactful, it makes readers grieve for Tess and reflect on the injustice of a world that crushes goodness.