Tess of the D'Urbervilles

“Tess Durbeyfield at this time of her life was a mere vessel of emotion untinctured by experience.”

This quotation occurs early in the novel, when Tess’s character is first being introduced and established. The quotation sets up why Tess is vulnerable: She is sensitive, sheltered, and innocent, and she feels things deeply. The quotation foreshadows later events in her life—and Tess’s development in response—by contrasting her innocent status at the start of the plot with what is to come.

“If the heads of the Durbeyfield household chose to sail into difficulty, disaster, starvation, disease, degradation, death, thither were these half-dozen little captives under hatches compelled to sail with them.”

This quotation criticizes Joan and John Durbeyfield and their failure to live up to their parental responsibilities. Their children are utterly dependent on them, and therefore the choices that the Durbeyfield couple makes impact not just themselves but also these “little captives.” The quotation uses an extended metaphor in which the Durbeyfield parents are captaining a ship, with their children confined aboard and at the mercy of their parents’ choices. This quotation reflects Hardy’s belief that individuals should seriously consider the prospects and quality of life that they can offer to their children.

“Her face was dry and pale as though she regarded herself in the light of a murderess.”

This quotation occurs after the death of Prince the horse and reveals how Tess blames herself for the accident. Tess’s view of herself as “a murderess” foreshadows that Tess will eventually kill a human being. The connection also establishes the role of fate in the novel, as seemingly small events gradually lead to larger and more tragic consequences.