Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Introduction and Phase the First: Chapters 1 - 11

[Jan]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Jan wrote: "I'm going to read more to make certain I am in the right spot for discussion and can prepare to avoid spoilers ..."

Yes! Please do. We are now on chapter 41, with 4 threads open. Pleas..."

Bionic Jean wrote: "Jan wrote: "I'm going to read more to make certain I am in the right spot for discussion and can prepare to avoid spoilers ..."

Yes! Please do. We are now on chapter 41, with 4 threads open. Pleas..."

@ Jean per #299
I'm on my way to returning to the #40s chapters. I'll return to those discussions. Thank you for leading us all in such rich and enriching literary explorations.

My Best,
Jan

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

You're welcome Jan :)

[Darrin]

I have completed phase the first and am moving into phase the second. I have read about 1/3 of the comments here and find it packed with information but I think it might be better to skim the comment threads going forward as I finish each phase and hope to catch up to where you all are currently. It is a bit overwhelming and almost a complete novel's worth of information in and of itself.

Reading Tess is as enjoyable as I thought it would be.

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Darrin wrote: "I have completed phase the first and am moving into phase the second ..."

I'm so glad you're enjoying it Darrin. By all means read at your normal pace, and "glean the goodies" from our threads. Your comments on each thread will be most welcome.

We begin the final phase tomorrow, so please don't rush to catch us up! The after-read discussion will continue for the rest of the month, and all these threads will remain here as a resource for readers who join in afterwards.

[Michael]

Per request from Ms. Bionic, I copied this May Day 2023 greeting from the post-read discussion thread to here:

Happy May Day. Thomas Hardy opens this novel with the young women doing a procession and dancing for the May Day celebrations. He does a similar opening in "Return of the Native" with Guy Fawkes Night although he links the bonfires that time of year to much more ancient customs. Below is the procession from the 2008 adaptation of "Tess..":



Being an American growing up during the Cold War, May Day was associated with the massive military parade in Red Square Moscow. The interesting thing is the socialist and communist appropriation of May Day was inspired by the Haymarket riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, USA where a demonstration for an 8-hour day on May 4 ended with violence.

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Thanks Michael! What an extraordinary connection.

Here in England it is, as you say, an ancient rite, as I described in message 56 LINK HERE

We still celebrate in this way, especially in country areas, but I had no idea about the sad USA events which coincided.

[Stephen]

Reading Tess almost a year after everyone else. Not sure where to comment and most has been said already. I am midway through the novel.

I'm really enjoying all the additional resources folks are sharing - it is adding to the experience. What an astute and well read group we have.

One general observation - this is my first Thomas Hardy novel and I never knew there was so much theology in his writing. If the reader doesn't have some grasp of theology and its influence through the church on 19th century life what do they make of some of the themes that suffuse the writing?

[Erich C]

Stephen wrote: "Reading Tess almost a year after everyone else. Not sure where to comment and most has been said already. I am midway through the novel.

I'm really enjoying all the additional resources folks are ..."

Hi Stephen! I'm glad you've found this thread and are enjoying the novel.

Welcome to the world of Thomas Hardy!

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Hi Stephen, l'm delighted you took the trouble to look for these theads, thank you, and am so glad you are adding your comments 😊 After each thread is just fine.

Oh please never think "it's all been said before" as your take on it will be unique!

Case in point, yes, I think we as modern readers do miss some allusions, both religious, topical (and others). I know when I first studied this book, plenty will have escaped me. Reading just one chapter a day closely helps, and if you come along later, perhaps reading slightly faster, you will find (as you are doing) that others' research will help too.

But I think it is possible to enjoy this novel even without knowing much about English 19th century ecclesiastical differences. There is a bit of interdenominational argument, yes, but Angel (particularly) also muses on ancient philosophers, and basically whatever he has been reading in his non-structured way! That's a bit later though ...

Much of it in this section is the author musing on chance and Fate, as you have no doubt been able to tell. But the general readers of the time will have had far more Biblical knowledge than we. Even Tess will have been able to quote passages and been aware of e.g. the 10 commandments, although she will have not questioned what she read.