Female characters in Literature

Learn more about the greatest female literary characters


Tess Durbeyfield

Tess

Tess Durbeyfield is the protagonist of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, written by English novelist Thomas Hardy and published in 1891. Tess is a beautiful, loyal young woman living with her impoverished family in the village of Marlott. Tess has a keen sense of responsibility and is committed to doing the best she can for her family, although her inexperience and lack of wise parenting leave her extremely vulnerable. Her life is complicated when her father discovers a link to the noble line of the d'Urbervilles, and, as a result, Tess is sent to work at the d'Urberville mansion. Unfortunately, her ideals cannot prevent her from sliding further and further into misfortune after she becomes pregnant by Alec d'Urberville. The terrible irony is that Tess and her family are not really related to this branch of the d'Urbervilles at all: Alec's father, a merchant named Simon Stokes, simply assumed the name after he retired.

From Sparknotes.com

Why we love her

Tess is such an enigmatic heroine. She is perceived as a pure and naive young woman most of the time, but we admire her passion and courage in circumstances that are painful and difficult. Tess is clearly a victim and we wish we could have protected her from her terrible fate.


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