Tess (Vocabulary Level 2800 for Senior 3 Students)

Author: Liu Wenjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is one of the greatest writers of Britain. Tess of the d'Urbervilles was written in 1891. Tess is a beautiful country girl who works for the aristocratic d'Urberville family due to her poor background. As a result, she is seduced by the master's son, Alec d'Urberville, and gives birth to an illegitimate child. Due to this "sin," Tess is deeply despised. Under immense pressure, coupled with the death of her child, Tess leaves home and works at a dairy farm, where she meets Angel Clare, the pastor's daughter-in-law. The two fall in love and get married. However, on their wedding night, Tess confesses her past to Angel, who abandons her and goes alone to Brazil. Struggling with poverty and humiliation, Tess waits in vain for Angel to return and is eventually forced to become Alec's mistress. At this moment, Angel, filled with remorse, comes back to Tess, wanting to reunite with her. Tess then kills Alec. During their escape, Tess is captured by the police and sentenced to death.