Tess of the d’Urbervilles vs. The Mayor of Casterbrige
Tess of the d’Urbervilles vs. The Mayor of Casterbrige
The two novels, The Mayor of Casterbrige and Tess of the d’Urbervilles have many similarities. Thomas Hardy wrote both of the novels in the late 1800’s, placing the story lines in similar settings, his imaginary land of Wessex. The two main characters in these books, Tess, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Michael, in The Mayor of Casterbridge, also share something else in common, that also contrasts at the same time. Tess and Michael both live a poor life at the beginning of the novel and experience a fall and then encounter a rise during the middle chapters; then they fall again towards the end, but Michael’s rise and falls are because of his own actions, where as Tess’ are because of the actions of other people around her.
Both Tess Durbeyfield and Michael Henchard, the two main characters of these novels, are introduced as regular poor folk, living in Wessex. As both novels progress, important events occur to make these characters fall even lower than they already are. The difference is who is actually responsible for the character changes. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Tess’ rise and falls are caused by the actions of others around her. At the beginning of the novel, Tess lives with her father, John, her mother, Joan, and her younger brothers and sisters in a small shack like cottage. Tess’ family is not very wealthy, but in the first chapter, John finds out from Parson Trigham of their unsuspected noble ancestry, the d’Urbervilles. This is the spark that lights the flame to Tess’ first fall. Upon hearing this great news John goes to Rolliver’s Inn to celebrate and prepare for his journey the next morning. This does not affect Tess yet, until John is unable to wake up the next morning, so she takes responsibility for his journey to the market. On her way her carriage crashes with another and their horse, Prince, dies. Tess feels accountable for Prince’s death although it was actually her father’s irresponsibility for drinking too much the night before.
“It was a relief to her tongue to find from the faces of her parents that they already knew of their loss, though this did not lessen the self-reproach which she continued to heap upon herself for her negligence…Nobody blamed Tess as she blamed herself.” Tess (page 28)...