《德伯家的苔絲》悲劇成因探析

III1IntroductionHardyoftenwantedtostatetheinherentinevitabilityofthistragicstorythroughthemagicalsignsofdeathandcursesofdeath.Amongthem,TessoftheD'UrbervillesisthemostclassicVictorianworkinhisheart.Attheendofthe19thcentury,theItalianBritishcompanyrapidlyrecoveredanddevelopedafterthethirdindustrialRevolution,andhasgraduallybecomethelargestmanufacturingpowerintheworld.Withtherapiddevelopmentoftheindustrialrevolutionsociety,italsobroketheneworderofsociallifeinthetraditionalruralcommunitiesinEngland,andfurtherbrokethetraditionalnewmethodsandoldpracticesofsocialsurvivalformedbetweenfarmersandwomenintheruralandpastoralareas.ThomasHardy,puzzledtoseethechangesintheperiod,publishedtheGermanfamilyofTessin1891.ThebookdescribesthemultipleeffectsofindustrializationandurbanizationontheancientruralWessexregion,andtheresultingsocialandhumanproblems.Ontheotherhand,duetothechangeofsocialstructure,thechangeoftraditionalethicalvaluesandthechangeofruraleconomicstatus,thematerialcivilizationandspirituallifeoftheoriginalagriculturalcommunityarealsodestroyed,sothatthetraditionalmoralconceptsandpatriarchalbeliefsincreasinglytendtodisintegrateintheoriginalruralarea.However,thefeudalpatriarchalsystemitselfcannotbefullyrunandconstruction,thewholecapitalistsocietysurfaceseemstobethrivinganddeveloping,butithastendedtobebroken,disorder,chaos.Therefore,thestandardDivorceAct,officiallypassedbytheBritishgovernmentin1857,alsoincludedadoublestandard.Thehusbandandwifecanonlybeunilaterallyprosecutedforherhusband'sadultery,butthehusbandandwifecanalsobeprosecutedforthehusbandunderspecificcircumstancesofbetrayal,domesticviolence,incestorothersexualabuse.Evenifahusbandandawifecannotbecondonebyherhusband,thewifecanbecondoneforheradultery.Thesedoublestandardsalsoreflecttheimperfectandimperfectsociallegalsystemandethicalbeliefsatthattime.

2LiteratureReviewTessofthed'Urbervilles,writtenbyHardy,haslongbeencommentedonandhasbecomeaclassicrecognizedbytheworld.TheauthorhasdevotedallherlovetoTess,andtheauthorreallyshapedherasanidealmodel.Tessisnotonlybeautifulbutalsokind-hearted,andsheisasimpleandlovelypeasantgirl.Herunfortunateexperiencehasalsomadecountlessreaderssigh.Whilepeoplelamenthertragicfate,theyhavealsomademanydiscussionsonthecausesofhertragedy.ForeigncountriestendtothinkthatTessisavictimoffate,whiledomesticcountriestendtothinkthatTess'stragedyisasocialtragedy.Inrecentyears,manydomesticresearchersbelievethathertragedyisatragedythatcombinesfateandsociety.Thischapterwillgiveabriefintroductiontotheauthorandthenovel,andsimplysortoutandsummarizesomestudiesonTessoftheD'Urbervillesathomeandabroad.2.1TheintroductionofThomasHardyThomasHardy(2June,1840–11January,1928)wasanEnglishpoetandnovelist.HeisanEnglishwriterspanningtwoeras,whocontinuedanddevelopedtheVictoriantraditionofEngland,andstartedLondoninthetwentiethcenturywithhisoutstandingpoetry.Duringhislifetime,hepublishednearly20novelsandeightpoems,totaling918.HismainworksincludeWessexPoemsandTessofFamily,andwonthehighestculturalachievementawardoftheBritishGovernment.ThomasHardycamefromthehomeofadecliningruralaristocrat,andthenaturalenvironmentofhisnativeDorsetbecamethemainsourceofhiscreation.Hehadpublishedmorethan20worksbeforehislifetime,butbecauseofhisownexperience,hisnovelsarealwaysfatallytragic.ThomasHardywasanimportantcriticalrealistnovelistintheVictorianperiodattheendofthe19thcentury.HewasalsothelastnovelistintheVictorianperiodwhohadaprofoundinfluenceonEnglishliterature.Atthattime,TheBritishsocietywasintherisingstageofcapitalisteconomy.OutofHardy'sloveforthetraditionalagriculturalsocietyinhishometownandhissympathyforthepoormasses,hisnovelswereoftenfilledwithstrongpessimism.Hisworksreflecttheprofoundchangesinsocialeconomy,politics,morals,customsandthetragicfateofthepeoplecausedbycapitalism'sinvasionofruraltownsinBritain.2.2TheintroductionofTessoftheD'UrbervillesTessoftheD'UrbervillesissetinthelateVictorianera,asmallvillageinsouthernEngland.Tess,theheroine,camefromapoorfarmer.Herfatherwasalazy,conceitedpeddler,completewithonlysevenbrothersandsisters,whohadtoliveonanoldhorse.Tess'stragedywasnotsomuchfromtheaccidentaldeathoftheoldhorseasbecausethemotherofPharaohdeBvillelearnedthathisancestorshadbeennobles.Theearlydeathoftheoldhorsemadeitmoredifficultforthefamily,undertheoppressionofthehugedebtoftheTessfamilyhadtogototheD’Urberville’sfamily,andtheso-calledthefamilyonlyboughtthenobletitleofD'Urbervilleswithmoney.SheleavesafterbeingdefiledbyplayboyAlex,andgivesbirthtoasonwhodiedshortlyafter.Later,becauseofherfamilylivelihood,shewenttoaremoteplaceinamilkcowfarmandbegantoworkascowmilkworkers.Withthem,shefellinlovewithAngie,andatthesametime,Angiealsobegantoyearnforaquietandhappyfamilyfreelife.Onhisweddingbirthdaynight,theyconfessedtoeachotherabouttheridiculousthingstheyhaddoneinthepast.TessfinallyforgivesAngie,whohashadanaffairwithothers,butendsupbetrayedTess,whowasbrutallyrapedtodeath.AlthoughTessstilldecidedtobeastrongerandmoreindependentwomanandgotoworktosupportherfamily,hermother'ssuddenillnessleftthefamilyintoamajorpredicamentagain,soshewasforcedtoserveasAlex'smistressagainandaccepthishelp.Angieafteralotofhardshipsheslowlyrealizedthatthroughhisownsecretheart,lookbacktofindTessistoolate,TessafterknowingAngiebacknewsfeelheartintothoroughlydespair,killedtheraydecidedtoescape,aftertheendofhismostfreeandhappylifetwoyearslater,shefinallywasnotarrestedinprison,andintheendofthestory,TessalsoexpectAngiecanlivewithhersisterafterherdeath.2.3RelevantStudiesonTessoftheD'UrbervillesatHomeandBroadTheenthusiasmforHardyathomeandabroadhasneverdiminished.InChina,accordingtotheresearchstatisticsofscholarLiuMaosheng,China'sresearchonHardy'snovelshasbegunsincetheearlydaysoftheRepublicofChina.Theresearchduringthisperiodwasmainlydividedintofouraspects.Thefirstaspectisthestudyofthetragicthoughtembodiedinthenovel,andtheresearchresultsinthisaspectincludeZhangShijun'sTheTragicSystemofHardy'sCharacterandEnvironmentalNovels,WuXimin'sTheStructureoftheSubjectandMultipleMeaningsandNieZhenzhao'sHardy'sRealismandTragicThought.Thesecondaspectistheattentiontothemodernthemeofthenovel,whichincludesYanXuejun'sOntheModernThemeofHardy'sTragicNovelandZhouXiumin'sOntheModernSpiritofHardy'sTragicNovel.ThethirdaspectisthestudyofTheCreativeThoughtandCreativeArtofHardy'sNovels,andtheresearchresultsinthisregardincludeWuDi'sOntheIntentionofbirdsinHardy'sCreation,TheWonderfulCombinationofLiteratureandMusic:OntheMusicalityofHardy'sLiteraryWorks,DingShizhong'sAMicro-ExplorationoftheStructureofHardy'sNovels",etc.ThefourthaspectisthestudyoffeminismandreligiousviewsembodiedinHardy'snovels,andtheresearchresultsinthisregardincludeMaXian's"OntheNewFemaleImageinHardy'sNovels"andWangGuiqin'sHardy'sPerspectiveonWomen'sView.Inrecentdecades,thenumberofmonographsonHardy'snovelshasbeenmorenumerous,suchasZhangZhongzai'sThomasHardy-ThoughtandCreation,NieZhenzhao'sThomasHardy'sNovelStudies,WuDi'sHardy'sNewTheory,etc.Inthepastdecade,ChinahaspublishedthousandsofpapersonTessoftheD'Urbervilles,ofwhichthemainresearchisdividedintothefollowingaspects.ThefirstaspectisthestudyoftheartistictechniquesinTessoftheD'Urbervilles,suchasWuJun'sABriefDiscussiononTess'sCreativeTechniquesandZhangQi'sObscurityandIncongruity-TheEmbodimentofHardy'sAestheticConsciousnessinTess.Thesecondaspectisresearchusingtheperspectivesofneo-feminism,comparativeculture,adaptation,etc.Forexample,ZhengDanyan'sTheLackofFilmTess-ComparisonwiththeOriginalDebe'sTess,ZhengDonglin'sTess,victoriannewfemalefigure-Hardy'sDebord'sTessandsoon.ThethirdaspectisthestudyofthecausesofTess'stragedy,suchasZouHong'sTheDestructionofaPureWoman-AnalysisofTess'sTragedy,YaoPeizhi'sTessoftheD'Urbervilles-ThePerfectEmbodimentofHardy'sComprehensiveTragedyandsoon.Inrecentyears,thestudyofTessoftheD'Urbervilleshasgraduallyshiftedtothestudyofadaptation,comparativeliterature,translation,evolution,andsoon.ButthroughoutthestudyofTessoftheD'Urbervilles,thestudyofitstragiccausesaccountsforthemajority.ManyscholarsbelievethatthecauseofTess'stragedyisTess'sself-respectingcharacter,hypocriticalreligion,bourgeoishypocriticalmoralstandards,andHardy'sownsenseofdestiny.IntheWesternliteraryworld,fromthe1970s,theresultsofHardy'sresearchhavebeendiversified,butingeneral,therearetwomaincharacteristics:OneistoshowinterestinHardy'slifeandbiography,andreorganizeHardy'srelevantmaterials,suchasMichael.IttookMilligertnearly20yearstowritehismagnificentseven-volumeThomasHardy'sEpistles(1988),ThomasHardy'sNotes(1994)andEmmaandFlorenceEpistles(1996),thesecondistocontinuouslyapplynewideas,newmethods,andnewperspectivesinthetheoreticalcommunitytoHardy'sresearch.Inrecentyears,thetheoreticalcommunityhasbeguntostudyHardy'snovelsfromnewperspectivessuchasecology,feminism,andculturalcriticism.Fromtheabovepointofview,itcanbeseenthatmanyscholarshaveanalyzedfromtheaspectsofsociety,characterandtragicfate,andfewhaveconductedin-depthdiscussionsfromthecomprehensivecauses.

3TheTragicEndofTessTessistheembodimentofbeautyinthenovel,whilethewholedarksocietyisaninvisiblecage,andeveryonearoundheractsastheexecutionerunconsciously.Onlythepassingofgoodthingscantouchthedullheartsofpeopleatthattimeandstirupalittlewavesinthesociety,andthepowerofliteraryworksisroughlythesame.ThischapterdiscussesthetragiccontentofTess.3.1TheTragedyofTess’sLoveTheheroineTessisabeautiful,strong,devout,hard-workingandrichfamilysenseofresponsibilityoftheruralgirl,sheisnotmucheducation,socialexperienceisnotdeep,hasasimpleandbeautifulvisionoflife.Alex,thefirstmaleprotagonistinthework,representsthevillain,whoisanewrichpeoplewhomakeshisfortunebysellingchocolate.Heisevil,sinister,eccentric,vainandlewd.However,heisabletopreachasapriestlater.ThesecondheroAngelrepresentsapositivefigure.Hewasborninapriest'sfamilyandwasinfluencedbyChristianteachingssincechildhood,withorthodoxandconservativethoughts.Angelalsohasanenlightenedsideinhismind.Hegaveupthecareerthatcouldmakehimapriestandwenttoadairyfarminthecountryside.Hestartedasamilker,learnedhowtomanagethefarmandgotalongwellwithfarmersatthebottom.FromthedescriptionofthetwistedandcomplexemotionalrelationshipbetweenTessandthetwomaleprotagonists,thenovelrevealstheinevitableoutcomeofTess'stragicfatestepbystep.Attheendofthenovel,Tessrealizesself-redemptionbymeansofdestruction,andwritesatragedyofhumanity.3.1.1Tess’sPureandTrueLoveLivinginEnglandattheendofthe19thcentury,whencapitalisminvadedandthesmall-scalepeasanteconomydisintegrated,Tesswasawell-looking,industriousandsimpleruralgirl.Inordertoalleviatethefamily'sfinancialdifficulties,shewasforcedtodefecttotheso-calledD’Urberville’sFamily,sothatshewasdeceivedbytheshamelesscapitalistAlexD'Urbervillesintoa"impure"woman.Shereturnedhometoraisethechildshewaspregnantwithhervirginityalone,butthechilddiedofaseriousillness.ThenTessgoesouttoworkandmeetsClay,whocomesfromapriest'sfamily,andthesincereClayimpressesTess,sosheagreestoClay'smarriageproposalandconfessesherpasttoherloverontheweddingnight,butClaycannotacceptTess'slossofvirginityandabandonsTessaway.3.1.2TessDiedForLoveAfterherhusband'sdeparture,Tess'sfatherdiedofillness,andinordertokeephermotherandsiblingsalive,TesswasforcedtobecomeAareDebo'smistress.WhenthedistraughtClayreturnstoher,theindignantTessstabsAlextodeathwithaknifeandescapeswithClay,buttheydonotescapethelaw,andTessishanged,endinghertragiclife.3.2TheTragedyofTess’sFateTesswasbornintoapoorruralfamily,andherparentswerepoorpeasantsatthebottomofsociety,withoutanysocialstatus.However,herfatherhadnosenseoffamilyresponsibility,andhermotherobeyedtheorderstoclingtoherhusband.Becausehewasborninsuchafamily,hisparentsdidnotunderstandtheworld,andthesevenbrothersandsisterswerestillyoung,sotheresponsibilityofassumingthefamilynaturallyfellonthekindandsensibleTess.3.2.1TessSuccumbedtothePatriarchalSocietyTesswasbornintoapoorruralfamily,andherparentswerepoorpeasantsatthebottomofsociety,withoutanysocialstatus.However,herfatherhadnosenseoffamilyresponsibility,andhermotherobeyedtheorderstoclingtoherhusband.Becausehewasborninsuchafamily,hisparentsdidnotunderstandtheworld,andthesevenbrothersandsisterswerestillyoung,sotheresponsibilityofassumingthefamilynaturallyfellonthekindandsensibleTess.3.2.2TessKilledAlacktoResistthePatriarchalSocietyBythetimeTessappearsinthenovel,thefamilyisonthebrinkofcollapse.Herfatherwasapeddler,lazyandvain.WhenheheardfromtheversatilepastorOflingAnnabouthisaristocraticfamilyhistory,hegotdrunkandappearedforeign.Themotherwasfirstamilkman,thenawasher,vulgarandshallow,anddidnotunderstandtheworld.Tesshassevensiblings,andtheheavinessofthefamilycastsashadowoverherfatefromthebeginning.Afterherfather'sdeath,theleaseonherfamily'shousealsocame,thefamilywassweptoutofthehouse,therewasnoplacetolive,andshehadtosacrificeherpersonalitytobecomeAlex'smistressinexchangeforthefamily'ssettlement.

4AnalysisTragicFactorsofTess’sFateTessoftheD'UrbervillesisarepresentativeworkbyThomasHardy.Theprotagonistofthenovel,Tess,isawomanwhoconstantlystruggleswithfatebutendsintragedy.Tessisakindwomanwhoisfilialtoherelders,concernedaboutherfamily,andlovingherhusband,butshedoesnotescapehertragicfateintheend.IntheWest,thetragicapproachisusuallyexpressedbydepictingthetransformationofapersonwhowouldotherwisehaveapositivemindsetandfallintoatragicanddifficultsituation.Theemotionsevokedbythistechniqueareserious,sad,andevenexciting.ThenextstepofthisarticlewillanalyzethecausesofTess'stragedyfromseveralaspects.4.1PersonalFactorsTheformationofTess'stragedy,inadditiontosocialandotherobjectivefactors,isalsoindelibletoherowncharacter.Herpersonalitycontrastedsharplywiththeunequalattitudestowardswomeninsocietyatthattime.ThusalsocausedTesstostepbysteptoatragicend.Specifically,thepersonalreasonsforTess'stragicfateinclude:theSelf-esteemofTessandtheSelf-dedicationofTess.4.1.1TheSelf-esteemofTessDespitetheinfluenceofvariousexternalfactors,Tess'smiseryisalsolargelyderivedfromherownpersonality,thinking,andconsciousness.Innocence,kindnessandresponsibilityareTess,butalsoimportantfactorsinTess'stragicfate.SinceinnocentTessdoesnotknowhowtodefendherself,Alextookadvantageofherinnocence.Despitethelure,TesseventuallyfailstoseethroughhistrickandfallsintothetrapsetbyAlex.Atthesametime,Tess'sstrongsenseofresponsibilityalsopromptedhertotakeonthefamilyresponsibilities.HermiserablelifebeganwhenherfatherwenttoAlextoseekajobopportunitytosolvethefamily'sbusinessproblems.Moreover,Tess'sspiritofrebellionwasalsoincompatiblewiththesocialistvaluesofthetime.Asawoman,shewasusuallyseenasaman'ssubordinateinthecommunity,butTess'srebelliousspiritdidnotconsistentwiththecommunityvaluesofthetime.Specifically,WhiteTessisabeautiful,kind,filial,honest,braveruralgirl.Sheisvirtuousandpureinherheart.SheseemedtobetheidealwomanforHardy.HerfatherMa'sdeathfellonhishead,forasmallfamilylifecanhelplesslycarrytheburden,tofindAlex.InherrelationshipwithJalay,althoughshekeptthenecessarypsychologicalpreparedness,shestilltrustedhimsonaivethatshewasrapedandlosthervirginity.Andforthesurvivalofthefamily,shealsotookawomantothefarmtodosomeheavywork.Whilebeingamilkeronthefarm,shelovesClaire.Claire,whodidnotlikecheating,finallychosetoaccepthisconfessedpast,andshealsopleadedwithhisunderstanding,althoughhermotherurgedhernottotalkaboutbeingraped.Thesadrealityisthatalthoughshedidnotintheendreallyforgivetheday,butitdoesnotmeanthattheangelwillcompletelybelieveinher,sheisstillabandoned.Thesecondseriousinjurymakesherwholebodytotheinsideandoutsidebothsidesofthecollapse,coupledwiththewholehumanworldtoherspit,sothatshecanonlyfallinthedeeperanddeeperofthistragedy.4.1.2TheSelf-dedicationofTessTesshadlivedinsuchasocialenvironmentforseveralyears,anditwasdifficulttogetridofitsinfluence.InHardy'sdescription,althoughherdesiretogetherdueeconomicthoughtspiritualfreedom,tohappywaythroughherownefforts,shealsotriedtoresistthehypocrisyandsocialinjustice,butfinallyshealwaysinsistnottogofromthewesterntraditionofthemoralideasandreligiousculture,sothereisaweaknessandcompromise.AftershewasrapedbyAlex,shedidnotchoosetocompromise,butquietlyleftthere,relyingonherselftoseekhernewlife.Later,althoughshedidnotcompletelyagreewiththeshacklesandbeliefsofreligioustraditions,shestillsecretlywashedherdeadson,whichalsoshowsthatshedidnotcompletelyabandonthetraditionalfeudalethics.Butinfact,afterTessfellinlovewithClaire,shehadalwaysputherselfinaninferiorityposition,feelingthatshewasneverworthyofanexcellentClaire,andalwaysmaintainedastateofabsoluteobedienceinlove.Thisisallduetotheinfluenceofthepatriarchallivingenvironmentonher,andhasproducedthisunshakableinnerconsciousness.Althoughthetruelovebetweenthetwosideswaswhatshehadhopedfor.Shealsohasnointentiontocheatherlover,andClairestillcan'tstandtolosehervirginity,althoughshelovehimandloyalty,butshefoundthatshewillalsobeinthesocialreallifecontinuetofacethechallenges,inordertosavethefamilyshefinallychoosetoreturntothetraditionalfamilymoralityoflifetrajectory-againbacktoherown.Atthistime,shefeltalmostexhausted,untilananjireturnedtoherside,shesuddenlythoughtthatshewouldneverbeworthyofthehandsomehim,unabletostandwithhim,thatallthisisatragedycausedbyAlex.Shecouldnotresistthissociety,soshekilledAlexwhichwasthelastresistanceagainsther.Attheendtothe19thcenturyinFrance,becauseEnglandandtheconstitutionandreligiouslegislationareexplicitly"prohibitamantomarryhisdeadsister",soTessseemstobelookingforwardtohissisterLisa’smotherdied,Clairewillonedaycanremarryhersisterashiswife.Butinadditiontoherowncertaininnerhappinessandwill,Tessmayalso,inacertainsense,actuallyshowherownresistancetosomefeudalreligioustraditionsandotherfalsesecularmoralstandards.4.2FamilyFactorsFamilyfactorsarealsooneoftheimportantcausesofTess'stragedy.ItcouldalsobesaidthatitwasTess'sfamilythatdeterminedhersufferingandpushedherintotragedy.Intheoppressivenativefamily,Tesshasformedacharacterthatiseasytocompromise.Specifically,thefamilyreasonsforTess'stragicfateinclude:PovertyoftheFamilyandCorruptandIncompetentParents.4.2.1PovertyoftheFamilyTess'sfatherwasalwaysintoxicatedwiththegloryofthefamousandprestigiousfamily,andregardedthewineashislife.Tess'smotherearnsameagerincomebydoinglaundryforothers.ThiskindoffamilyforeshadowsTess'stragiclife.TessandAlex'scontactwasduetothepovertyofthefamily.TesswasarrangedbyherparentstomeetAlexduringthefirstcrisisinthefamily,butbecamepregnantafterbeinginsultedbyher.ThisledClaytoabandonherlater.Tess'sfamilyisonceagaininfinancialcrisisafterthedeathofherfather,andClaireisnotheardfromatthistime,andTess,whoislivinginpoverty,isforcedtoreturntoAlex'ssideandacceptAlex'shelp.Hardysaid:"Homeisapartofherbodyandlife."AslongasTessbearstheburdenofherfamily,shecannotescapethefateoftragedy.TheTessfamilyhasalwayslivedonthebrinkofpoverty,buttheparentshaveneverconsideredtherightwaytogetoutofpoverty,alwayshopingtodeveloponce,completelyignoringtheeducationoftheirchildren.Tessiscompletelyfree-rangeinsuchafamily.Herparentsalsoforcedhertogotoanaristocraticfamilytoconfessherrelatives,completelyignoringTess'sinnerfeelings,whichlaidthegroundworkforTess'sfinalunfortunateending.4.2.2CorruptandIncompetentParentsThecauseofTess'stragedyisnotjustinherpersonality,butalsobecauseofheroriginalfamilyeducation.InTess'soriginalfamilylife,herfathernevertaughtherhowtoprotectherownawarenessandtruefamilylifevalues.Heuseshisdaughtersasagoodtooltochangethemiserablelivesofhisfamily.Heoftencallsherfamily,buttheplanispregnant.Tess'soriginalfamilywasfullofvanity,butastheheadofthefamily,herfatherhimselfhasfundamentallybeguntoignoretheharshdisciplineofherchildren.AndTess'sfatherturnedouttobeanoldalcoholic,neverpayattentiontothefamilyaroundhim,liketogotothetavernboxtodrinkteaandplayeveryday.Finallybecauseofanoldhorseherodeanddiedinanotherserioustrafficaccident,hisfamilycannolongergooutforbusiness,TessfamilyhadtomovetotheAlex’sfamilytolivetogether.Tess'smotherisaverytypicaltraditionalhousewife,butshenevertriestointerferewithherhusband'sbehavior,doingtrivialfamilyaffairstoraiseherchildren.Thegradualabsenceofherfather'srolemadeTessbegantobearanimportanttaskoffamilyeducationwhenshewasyoung.Thecontentintroductionisanimproperwayofself-protectionofherchildren,whichmakesTessoftenatalossinthefaceofcrisis,whichalsomakesTessoftenhauntedbytheAsianthunder,andthuscausesTess'smiserablelife.4.3SocialFactorsThetragedyofTessinthenovelisdeeplystratified,andTess'stragedyiscausedbyfamilyandsociety.Thenovelmainlytellsthetragicfateofabeautifulinnocentgirlwholoseshervirginity.Throughthedescriptionofthesocialenvironmentinthenovel,andthenfromthecharacterandreligiousreasonsatthattime,thispaperrevealsthatTess'stragicfateiscausedbythesocietyatthattime,whichistheresultoftherestrictionofaneraofthought,traditionandorder.Specifically,thesocialreasonsforTess'stragicfateinclude:thecollapseofthesmallholdereconomyandcapitalistlawsandreligiouspersecution.4.3.1TheCollapseoftheSmallholderEconomyTessisaScottishBritisharistocracyandmembersofthefamily,withScottishnoblepureblood,accordingtothetemplerecords,theimmediateancestorofherfamilySirPatrickfromNormanIandWilliam,theconquerorofScotland,intheperiodofkingStephen,herfamilyancestorWilliam'srealnameisalsorecordedintheScottishpubliclibraryarchives.However,intheeraofCromwellAD,heraristocraticfamilyeconomybegantodecline,theancientaristocratichereditaryfamilyhadbeguntograduallygobankrupt,andthetraditionalfeudalfamilyofChinesetraditionalculturealsobegantofeelunabletobesatisfied,andthecapitalistproductiveforcesdevelopedendlessly.Later,withthedevelopmentoftechnologyinthefirstindustrialRevolutiongraduallyinfiltratingintovariousvillages,thesmall-scalepeasanteconomygraduallytendedtoclosedown.Therefore,theruralpeoplesufferedalargenumberofunemploymentintheruraleconomicpositions,andgraduallybegantobecometheobjectofslavery,oppressionandexploitationbythepettybourgeoisie.Inshort,withthecontinuousprogressandprosperityoftheBritishindustrialRevolutionbegantograduallyerodeandreplacethetraditionalagriculturalcivilization,thenaturaleconomyalsograduallycollapsed.Asindustrialproductionreplacedmanualmanufacturing,thenaturaleconomywasdamaged,andmanyfarmerslosttheirarablelandandliferesources.Thepeoplebegantoliveindirestraits.ThisalsohadagreatimpactonthecountrywhereTesslived,andonthewayherfamilylived.Italsopredictedherlatersadfate.Atthegrass-rootslevelofsociety,whiteTessisgettingpoorerandpoorer,thesocialstatusisgettinglowerandlower,andthelifedifficultiescannotbeduetosafety.Becauseofthis,TessjustfallsintothetrapthatAleccarefullyarrangesstepbystep,lostvirginityandbecomepregnant,fromnowonmiserablelife.Tessdidn’tgotohishome.Donotgototheevildoorofthethunderhomework,Tessalsodidnotstepintothetrap,suchafamilytragedywillnotappear.Shecan'tstopallthis.4.3.2CapitalistLawsandRel